Another year, another Christmas. So what did Santa Claus bring you this year? The latest and greatest gadget? Your favorite movie or video game? Something else?

On Christmas Eve night, my family and I went for a drive to look at Christmas lights, and while in one of the higher-end neighborhoods in town, we passed a house with a car in the garage that actually had a giant red bow on top. I thought that only happened in TV commercials.

Anyway, for this poll, you can select up to three answers. If you choose “other,” please tell us what you got in the Comments below.

Everybody knows Clement Moore’s famous 1823 poem, The Night Before Christmas. Most of our traditions about Santa Claus are based on it. So I was kind of flummoxed to learn that Donner and Blitzen the reindeer were originally named Dunder and Blixem.

According to Snopes and Wikipedia, the poem originally read:

Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on Dunder and Blixem!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now, dash away! dash away! dash away all!

That’s right. The Christmas reindeer you know as Donner and Blitzen were originally given the Dutch “Dunder” (as in Dunder Mifflin) and “Blixem” — names that translate as “Thunder” and “Lightning” (though the Dutch spelling of the latter would actually be “Bliksem”). From there, historical accounts tend to diverge.

But apparently, the two reindeer got updated names from an editor named Edmund Stedman when he published the poem in An American Anthology: 1787-1900. Instead of sticking with the Dutch names, he made them German. Dunder was changed to “Donder,” which eventually became “Donner,” largely due to its alteration in Gene Autry’s 1949 mega-hit song, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Blixem was changed to “Blitzen.”

All these years of hearing that poem and singing “Rudolph”… and I had no idea. Did you?

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for the geek in your life, look no further. Here are the must-have gifts, the absolute best of the best from 2011, in gadgets, movies, TV, video games, and more!

Best All-in-One Device: iPad 2

iPad 2

Nobody needs an iPad. If we’re being perfectly honest, it’s a completely superfluous device. But come on. Who doesn’t want one? The thing gets better all the time, and the apps being made for it are showing ever greater creativity. Sure, there are other tablets out there to choose from, and many of them do cost less than Apple’s “magical and revolutionary device.” But they’re just wannabes. Apple singlehandedly defined the computer tablet with the original iPad, and then refined the concept with the significantly faster, slimmer, and sexier second edition. Seriously, the only reason not buy an iPad 2 is because you’re waiting for iPad 3′s debut next year, which is rumored to sport Apple’s higher-resolution “retina display” and upgraded specs. Want to gift an iPad 3 now? Buy an Apple gift card so the recipient can use it next year. iPad 2 starts at $499.

Best Gadget: Belkin Wireless Travel Router

Wireless Travel Router

Wireless Travel Router bag

You know it, I know it: hotel wifi sucks. Belkin’s Wireless Travel Router is perfect for all of your geeky travel needs next year, such as that annual jaunt to San Diego Comic-Con. This sleek plug-and-play device creates a personal wifi hotspot in your hotel room for all your wireless needs. It’s about the size of an old cassette tape, and it comes with everything you need, including an ethernet cord and power cord (numerous adapters are available as extra accessories for power outlets around the world). It even comes with its own little zip-up carrying case that’s smaller than your [travel kit]. To work it, just plug the router into your hotel room’s modem, and then plug it into a power outlet. Passwords are already set and can be found in the installation pamphlet. Will be particularly useful if you’re rooming with a friend, and you both need to be online simultaneously. Retails for $79.99.

Best TV: Doctor Who – Season 6 Blu-ray

Doctor Who: Season 6

Its detractors call it “too kid-friendly.” But fans know the truth: Doctor Who boasts some of the best writing, acting, and good old fashioned science fiction on TV. Season 6 of the show saw one of the most mythological seasons of the show ever with the long-awaited story of River Song. River is undoubtedly one of the show’s best characters ever, and it’s wildly entertaining to watch her history play out over the course of the entire season. Matt Smith came into his own as the title character, creepy new enemies were introduced (the Silence! Headless Monks! the mustache-twirling, eye-patch wearing Madame Kovarian!), and the Doctor faced mortality like never before. The extras on this crisp, gorgeous six-disc set include some awesome behind-the-scenes Doctor Who Confidential episodes, the final edition of which is required viewing because it includes the complete story of River Song from beginning to end, told from her point of view as narrated by Alex Kingston herself. There’s also prequels, new scenes that show what happened on the TARDIS between episodes, a pair of surprisingly good Comic Relief 2011 mini episodes, audio commentaries, and more. Season 6 on Blu-ray retails for $89.98, or DVD for $78.98, and it’s worth every penny.

Best Game: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Everybody has their pet favorite (this blogger’s love for Assassin’s Creed knows no bounds), but I don’t think any game this year generated as many kudos, conversations, and marathon play as Skyrim. Bethesda’s epic fantasy RPG was heralded by critics and fans both for its staggeringly vast, open world — and what a vibrant, living world it is. A place of tremendous beauty and never-ending quests, the land of Skyrim encourages players to explore its endless secrets like no other game I can remember. All of the fantasy trappings are here, including elaborate histories, races, locations, hundreds of names, and more. Few fantasy series can claim as complex a mythology as Lord of the Rings, but Elder Scrolls is one of them. (For another, see the next entry.) The many improvements Skyrim made over Oblivion — graphics and physics chief among them — not to mention its incredibly believable game world, make Skyrim the most compulsively playable game of the year. Is it the series’ finale? Who can say? If so, it’s a grand one. Retails for $59.99.

Best Book: A Dance With Dragons

A Dance With Dragons

I was sorely tempted to pick Steve Jobs, the riveting and unflinching biography of the late Apple CEO, but the real book of 2011 was George R.R. Martin’s fifth A Song of Ice and Fire novel. Weighing in at more than 1,000 pages, the lengthy tome found the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros in more peril than ever. Main characters died, the War of the Five Kings rages on, and Westeros is brought ever closer to the brink of devastation. A Dance With Dragons seemed to leave fans evenly split over its quality and necessity; some found it every bit as gripping as past entries, while others accused Martin of stretching his story to accommodate more books, and therefore, generate more profits. The one thing they all could agree on was that A Dance With Dragons was the book of 2011 that simply had to be read. Retails for $35.00.

Best Movie: The Muppets

The Muppets

It’s gotten a bad rap as a poor year for box office returns, but 2011 has nonetheless boasted some truly great movies — for “serious” film lovers and popcorn viewers alike. This was the year that brought us the revelation of Ryan Gosling as an action hero in Drive, Martin Scorsese’s brilliant adaptation of Hugo, the head-spinning scifi concoction Source Code, the sublime animated fun of Rango, the thinking person’s spectacle that is X-Men: First Class, the so-much-better-than-it-had-any-right-to-be origin story Rise of the Planet of the Apes, J.J. Abrams’ scifi love letter to moviemaking Super 8, and the superhero movie perfection of Captain America (my personal favorite). But towering over all of these achievements was the triumphant return of The Muppets, the one movie guaranteed to put you in touch with your inner, geeky child more than any other. You knew going in that Jim Henson’s beloved troop of puppets will win the day and save their beloved theater from Chris Cooper’s evil, rap-loving oil tycoon. That’s not the point. The fun is in the journey, and the Muppets’ life-meets-art reunion is jam-packed with inside jokes that only parents will get, lowbrow fart jokes that kids are still laughing at, and genuine heart. The home video version’s release date isn’t yet known, but there’s still time to take your favorite someone to see it in theaters as a special Christmas gift.

Best Comic Book: Daredevil

Daredevil #1

Letting Mark Waid write the Man Without Fear was just what the doctor ordered. As great a character and a series as Daredevil has always been, we’ve seen Matt Murdock plunge further into darkness than ever before in the years prior to Waid’s run (Shadowlands, et. al.) so a writer coming in and deciding to show some new and different colors on Daredevil’s emotional palette was smart, daring, and utterly refreshing. Daredevil has always been a superhero, but his most riveting moments of drama have always stemmed from his terrible losses and inner guilt. Waid’s decision to turn that on its head and have DD show off more of the “hero” side of his superhero persona was incredibly bold, and could have easily fallen flat on its face, particularly among the hardcore fans. But Daredevil instead became the most consistently enjoyable read on comic book stands in 2011. Waid somehow managed to hold onto the title’s “street-level crime” sensibilities while pushing Murdock into far more inspiring, heroic territory. And yet all the while, eagle-eyed viewers are secretly wondering if Murdock’s turning-over-a-new-leaf sincerity… isn’t playing with a full deck. Waid’s Daredevil is this medium at its most engaging and its most fun. Issues #1 through #6 of Waid’s run are in comic book stores now, as well as Marvel’s digital comics store; the trade paperback collection arrives in February.

Celebrants participating in Wookie Life Day (circa 1978's Star Wars Holiday Special)

Now that the holidays are upon us, we here at ForeverGeek are curious. What winter holiday do you celebrate?

Holidays are typically dictated by one’s religious beliefs, and that’s certainly the case for winter holidays — but not for everyone. We know that some people celebrate more than one winter holiday (and if that’s you, feel free to tell us in the Comments), while others don’t celebrate anything (Festivus, anyone?).

We’re not looking for apologists to explain why you celebrate what you do (or don’t). We just want to know how all our geeks make merry with friends and family for the holidays. And from all of us at ForeverGeek, Merry Christmahanukwanzukkah to you and yours!

There’s something so simple and genius about these LEGO ornaments, which are sold exclusively at lego.com. They come in three festive holiday colors — green, gold, and red — and you can hang them as they are, or you can open ‘em up and build something Christmas-y.

If you’re really clever, maybe you could even use the bricks to build something small enough to fit back inside the clear globe, to be hung again on your tree. The bricks inside are a mixture of solid colors and tinted clear bricks. There are 40 bricks in each 3-inch-wide ball.

LEGO sells these ornaments for $7.99 a pop, though if you order now you’ll find them on back-order. Hopefully lego.com will get more in time for Christmas!

It’s that time of year: time to string up the lights, deck the halls, and all that jazz. So when you’re picking out the family tree (or putting together the artificial — hey, no judgment here, my family uses a fake every year) and considering the most optimum placement of your decorations, I humbly submit what may be the geekiest tree topper of all time: Master Yoda.

Yeah, it sells for $60. But this is next-level geekdom here, people. It’s priceless.

Plus, Yoda’s lightsaber actually lights up! Come on! Yoda stands one foot tall, and is tapered in shape to perfectly fit the top of any Christmas tree. And it would go great with your collection of Hallmark Star Wars Christmas ornaments.

[Photo credit.]

Simply perfect, and perfect in its simplicity is this little LEGO minifigure scene explaining why they don’t celebrate the holidays on the Death Star.

Mike Stimpson created this clever image that comes with the following caption:

“The Empire does not celebrate Christmas. Now get back to your post, TK-421.”

Stimpson, a computer programmer and photographer, is well known in the adult LEGO fan community for his minifigure stills that capture the often hilarious, usually mundane lives of LEGO Star Wars characters. Visit his website to find out more about him and head back to Flickr (via the link above) to see his hundreds of cute LEGO photos.

Now here is one snowman that will kick Frosty’s butt any day. A guy posted the photo at Syracuse.com, and you have got to admit that it is pretty neat. R2D2 on your lawn – can you top that?

Does anyone have other pictures of droolworthy snowmen?

Oh, I just realized that this is my last post for the year. I hope that you all have a blast tonight, and that you have a rocking 2011!

So this group of researchers probably got tired of being frustrated when stuffing stockings and ending up not having enough space. Armed with M&Ms and some D&D dice, they set out to discover the best way to put things in a stocking.

Their conclusion? Forget toys and trinkets that are shaped oddly. Never mind that the shape is not the first thing that comes to mind when you choose toys/gifts to give the kids. If efficiency is what you are after, then all you should buy for stocking stuffers are those that are spherical in shape.

The scientists – a curious bunch who had nothing else to do – found out that if you simply throw everything in a stocking without putting much thought into it, you can utilize up to 64 per cent of the space. If, however, you are meticulous about it, you can use up to 74 per cent! How neat is that?

You still have time to fix things in case you’re already tearing your hair out because of those darned stockings. Go get M&Ms or chocolate balls wrapped in bright foil. Just wrap those other toys in something else. Nothing beats a nicely stuffed Christmas stocking, right? ;)

For those of you who want the concrete details, download the study on Platonic Solids.

Like these.

Dalek Tree

Such a perfect marriage, it’s a wonder no one’s done it before. It’s all the more impressive when you zoom in and see just how simple it was to make out of ordinary household items like a laundry basket and a plunger. By Lindsay Testolin.

Lightsaber Tree

Okay, so technically these aren’t lightsabers — they’re flourescent light bulbs. But you know you thought “lightsabers” when you saw it, too. By Gareth Pugh.

Tron Tree

At first pass, this tree looks like it came straight out of the old-school Grid from the original Tron. But zoom in and you’ll see that these rows of lights are just that: lights still inside their plastic holders that they come in when you buy ‘em. Very clever. By Richard Whittaker.

Hard Drive Tree

They may look like CDs, but these are really old hard drives, repurposed as a shiny, metal Christmas tree. It took 70 hard drives to create. By Trigger.

LEGO Tree

Straight from this year’s Christmas display at Legoland in San Diego, this is reportedly the world’s largest LEGO Christmas tree. It stands 30 feet tall and was made using 245,000 green Duplo-sized bricks. It’s decorated with over 240 LEGO ball ornaments, and real lights.

Tesla Tree

Made using a huge Tesla coil and a long photo exposure, it’s not technically the exact shape of a Christmas tree (the traditional triangular pine), but it’s still wicked cool. Even more impressive are all of the different colors that electricity addict Peter from Australia managed to create with it, which you can see more of on his website.

Old Computer Parts Tree

What better use for old computer parts like keyboards, motherboards, mice, and chipsets could there be than to paint them red and attach them to a wagon? By Sunny Brook.

Pac-Man Tree

By now, I’ll be more surprised if you haven’t already seen this popular Pac-Man inspired Christmas tree from Madrid. It’s been a yearly installation for a while now. But it’s still awesome. Photo by Antonio Garcia Rodriguez.

Cars Tree

This one’s for my son, who’s obsessed with all things Cars. It took one devoted parent to create this spiral, winding ramp and fill it with Pixar characters. By Danny Novo.

Spinning Tree

You know those tacky LED/fiber optic Christmas trees? This is what they look like when they’re attached to a motor and spun around with a long-exposure camera running. I want one. Even though it reminds me of that Doctor Who episode where Rose and her family were attacked by a killer Christmas tree. By Kevin Kotterell.

Apple Tree

Because there’s no such thing as a “geek list” that doesn’t include at least one Apple entry. By Metamorphosis.

OLED Tree

The computer geeks at GE made this tree a couple years ago out of some of those shmancy, bendable OLED computer screens that will someday allow us to wear flexible screens as bracelets and whatnot. A world’s first, at the time. By GE.

Love Hina Christmas Special

Poor Keitaro still can’t find a way to confess his love for Naru, but with a little luck and some help from the girls at Hinata Inn, a miracle might just happen. This is one of my favourite anime Christmas episodes and if you’ve seen it, you’ll know why.

Toradora episode 19

Angel Taiga sets up the stage for Ryuiji to finally tell Minori how he feels, but ignores her own feelings towards Ryuji. This was a bittersweet episode which marked a huge turning point in the relationships between the characters.

Card Captor Sakura episode 35

Sakura worries about what to get Yukito for his birthday/Christmas. However, when the two of them go out on a date, the appearance of a clow card threatens to ruin everything. This was a cute episode and we get to see Sakura seal another elemental card.

Shakugan no Shana Second episode 22

It’s almost Christmas and Yuji must make a choice between Shana or Kazumi. Things turn for the worse though when Fumino attacks.

School Rumble 2^nd Semester episode 19

It seems like forever since Harima started writing his manga. With the final chapter now complete, will he be able to get through Tenma’s thick head how he feels about her this Christmas? It’s hilarious how nothing ever goes right for Harima, but you’ve got to enjoy seeing the lengths he’ll go to in order to impress his love.

Minami-ke episode 12

While Chiaki may seem mature most of the time, she still believes in Santa Claus so it’s up to everyone to keep her dreams alive. Kana may seem dumb and annoying at times, but she shows her affection for her little sister in episodes like this one.

Lucky Star episode 11

Considering Lucky Star has no plot, it’s really hard to sum up what this episode was about. Just know that it took place during Christmas and has some funny jokes.

Kimi ni Todoke episode 22

This will be the first time that Sawako has been invited to spend Christmas with her friends, but how can she tell her parents that she won’t be spending Christmas with them? What’s worse, her dad has mistaken Sawako’s present for Kazehaya has his own. Kimi ni Todoke always makes you go “aww”, but this episode really makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Hayate the Combat Butler episode 1

Hayate has been self-sufficient for most of his life due to his irresponsible parents, but when they leave him a Christmas present of a 156,804,000 Yen debt, he’s forced to kidnap a girl for ransom. As luck would have it, he accidently ends up saving her instead, and so begins a comical series about a super-rich hiki girl and her butler.

DiGi Charat Christmas Special

The cast is invited onto a luxury cruise, but discover that it is actually a trap set up by Piyoko. While filled with nonsensical fighting, there is a message about the importance of family.

Chrono Crusade episode 12

Azmaria looks for a gift for Rosette and Chrono while they try to make this Christmas a special one for Azmaria. This episode takes a short break from the usual demon-slaying in order to remind viewers of the importance of spending time together.

Tokyo Godfathers

On Christmas Eve, three homeless people find an abandoned baby in the trash. Together, they look for the baby’s parents, leading them on a wild adventure where they each confront their past mistakes. This compelling story will have you believing in miracles.

Call it crazy, weird, even borderline sacrilegious, but I think that many of you will agree that SayUncle – the guy who originally shared the photo – is a genius for having come up with this set up.

Not much I can say about it, is there? Bacon and sausages – how can you go wrong? Now here’s the challenge: who can come up with better bacon-themed Christmas decor?

Boutique Academia has an impressive collection of accessories for both men and women – accessories which are “smart but subtle”. For now, they only have jewelry pieces, but they aim to have more accessories in the future – something that I am sure you will look forward to after seeing reading this post.

Talk about smart but subtle – what do you think these earrings represent?  Trees?  Mother Nature?  Close enough. Hint: the earrings represent a cell that is electrically excitable and transmits information. I know that my cells got quite excited about the prospect of owning a pair of these earrings! $18.99 for a pair.

The uninitiated might simply remark “What a cute penguin!” if they see this pendant, but I know you know better.  Linux fanboys and fangirls – here’s another chance to show off!

This pendant-necklace is a little less subtle as the previous items as no one can miss the label. Adrenaline junkies will not be able to resist this one. While I am no adrenaline junkie, I have to say that the red got me. The necklace goes for $21.99.

Serotonin is the happy chemical, and this pendant-necklace will certainly contribute to one’s happiness – for the same price as the Adrenaline necklace.

If I had to choose, though, I would choose Theobromine – the chemical found in chocolate. Let’s speak Greek for a bit. The root words are: theo, which means God and brosi, which means food. Chocolate? Food for the Gods. I’ll settle for food for ME.

Let’s go mathematical now. I don’t need to tell you what this pendant stands for, do I?

They also sell this in other color schemes.

THIS is the pièce de résistance, folks. I really need not say anything more about it, do I?  I want!!!

Geek gals (and boys), show this post to your significant other (if you have one; if you don’t, then show it to your friends and family members) and drop a hint that cannot be mistaken for anything else.

I don’t know if you decorate for Christmas – I don’t. If I were to put up my own tree, though, I already know what ornaments I would be using. For those of you who are yet to put up their trees or are in the process of doing so, here is a bunch of tree ornaments that you just might want to grab.

This set of game controller ornaments was a big hit last year when they were put up for sale at an Etsy shop. They also come in white and black (white shown below).

A pack sells for $25, plus shipping ($10 for the US, $15 for Canada, and $17 everywhere else).

This year, the owners of the shop decided to create another set, following the huge success of the controller ornaments. They are now selling game console ornaments – indeed a perfect complement to the controllers. You may opt for the Full Pack, which goes for $35.

Alternatively, you can go for either Pack 1 or Pack 2, which goes for $20 per pack.

If those laser-cut ornaments are a little too plain for you, here are ornaments made from used motherboards.

This set of three ornaments costs $14.99. Then again, you probably have some old boards just lying around. Why don’t you just cut them up yourself and save some money while you’re at it?

In fact, I paid for an earlier version, lost the registration number somewhere along the line during a hardware upgrade, emailed the company for a new one and received it, lost it again, then downloaded an updated version that required a new purchase anyway…

You get the picture.

I really am planning on paying for the software — it’s not expensive and it’s definitely one of my favourites.

Lemke Software, who makes the Mac-only GraphicConverter, don’t nag for registration, but instead gradually increase the amount of time that the splash screen appears every time you launch the software. It’s no big deal.

In December, though, they decided to get a little festive by displaying this Christmassy splash screen.

The Santa looks a little emaciated (yeah, I know, because people like me aren’t paying for his software).

I’m also not quite sure what the guy in the chair has plugged in to the back of his Mac. Looks like some kind of game controller.

Anyway, it’s quite a cool, seasonal shareware reminder. I might even get the credit card out for it.

WordPress.com (the free hosted version of the WordPress blogging platform — you knew that) has decided that the new snow effect is cool enough to add to its front page.

Having suffered a range of CPU-killing websites over the years — on both dinosaur computers (my fault) and high-spec ones (website owners fault) — I’m wary of the following statement on WordPress.com’s announcement:

Older computers may run slow or stop responding due to snow.

It proves how little I visit WordPress.com blogs (or the blogs of people that turn the effect on) because I hadn’t realised the snow had been around for the previous two years.

I’ve visited plenty of websites that add seasonal effects, but the number does appear to have diminished recently.

Maybe that’s because people running professional web sites are keener to keep things simple, or because we no longer live in a GeoCities world, or because animated GIFs are generally naff.

Still, JavaScript lovers rejoice. Let’s hear it for snowstorm.js!

Do you like the wintry effects added to web sites or should we save it for the real world and leave cyberspace free from snow and flashing Christmas decorations?

1. Features matter

Given the choice between two similarly priced gadgets, one with more features and the other simply covered in crystals or other “precious” bling, you should definitely pick the feature-laden item.

Features trump bling any day. Even if you think you’re dealing with a girly geek, chances are high they are much more interested in what their new gadget can do than how much shiny stuff there is on the outside.

And definitely no Hello Kitty. Please.

Example: You might think those Swarovski crystals add a much needed wow factor, but your geek will simply be looking for the extra 2GB of memory, expansion port, megapixels, extra controllers…

2. Brand matters

If you know that your geek is after a specific brand, then it’s for a good reason. It doesn’t matter whether the reasoning (assuming you’re told it) matches your perceptions or not — it has been well researched, is there for a good reason, and is generally set in stone.

You might be tempted to buy a cheaper unit from a different manufacturer, but be aware that smiles on Christmas morning are highly unlikely if you do this.

Example: if your geek wants an Apple iPod Touch, don’t buy a Zune or something by Creative. And so on.

3. Speed matters

Don’t buy a slow gadget, either on purpose or out of naivety.

As mentioned in point two, a great deal of research will likely have gone into your geek’s choice of gear, and buying something that doesn’t do the task (quickly enough or at all) just won’t cut it.

4. Capacity matters

You’d expect this to follow point three.

If a geek has told you that the latest gadget needs 16GB of storage, it’s because that requirement has been painstakingly measured. Buying a gadget (even when all else is equal) with just 8GB of storage will leave your geek in a quandary.

Better buy the right capacity in the first place. Memory is cheaper than a broken relationship.

5. Platform matters

Please make sure that you know what computer platforms or games consoles your geek has before trying to buy software for it.

Software can be quite a personal choice as it is, but at least get the platform right.

Example: Buying a Mac user something that only runs on Windows will not go down well.

6. Power matters

Find out what most gadgets of a certain type run on, and stick to that.

For example, many geeks turn their noses up at digital cameras that don’t use lithium-ion rechargeable batteries because it’s the standard for decent cameras.

Many geeks will have invested in USB battery chargers for AA, AAA and other usually disposable batteries, but they tend not to go down so well.

7. What I want matters

The best way to know what to buy is to ask the geek, but with technology and gadgets it can be so easy to get the choice wrong because you didn’t get the product code quite right.

Why not ask your geek for their Amazon Wish List instead?

The geek may well have preferred vendors for really specialise geek stuff, but knows that nearly everyone has heard of Amazon and knows how to use it, so will oblige with a list for that purpose.

8. The Store matters

If you’re not using the Amazon store, you might want to give vouchers, but make sure they are for a store that actually sells decent geek stuff.

If you’re unsure, find out in advance. Examine old packaging lying about the house for clues.

If all else fails, money works well.

9. Snacks matter

(Photo: Terren in Virginia)

It’s not all about the gadgets. It’s about what geeks eat when they’re using them.

Sometimes, proper mealtimes fall by the wayside while a new piece of hardware or software is investigated, so find out what their favourite beverages and foodstuffs are, and buy them a large supply.

10. Duplicates matter

You can never have too many of certain items, but others are a pain to have in duplicate, so do check that your geek hasn’t already got the same, or very similar, item you’re thinking of buying.

11. Boredom matters

(Photo DaveFayram)

Some gadgets are the equivalent of socks, underwear and toiletries — useful but boring.

Items that fall into this category are USB memory sticks, cables, discs, hubs, and so on. Unless your geek has specifically asked for them, avoid them.

12. Deconstruction matters

(Photo makelessnoise)

Most geeks are sensitive enough not to disassemble their presents in front of you, but you need to understand that it’s not cool for you to be offended if one day you visit their house and find that present in bits all over the living room floor.

Maybe it went wrong, or maybe it’s being upgraded (even if it’s not supposed to be), or maybe your geek just got bored and decided to see how it works.

You might shudder at the thought of doing anything but the norm with your gadgets, but it’s merely second nature and child’s play to your geek.

So there you go. Twelve tips for buying decent presents for the geek in your life.

I can’t guarantee you’ll buy a perfect present because every geek is different, but at least you have a better chance now.

Geeks, help me out here. What tips would you give to non-geek friends and relatives in their quest to buy you decent presents?

Once you’ve decided on the tree itself, you’ll need to work out what to hang off it.

Yes, you could stay fairly traditional and use baubles and candies, but how about decorating the tree with miniature replicas of your favourite games console?

Bear Duck Designs has five different console ornaments to choose from: Nintendo Wii, PS3, PS3 Slim, Xbox 360 Arcade and Xbox 360 Elite.

Choose a selection or pledge allegiance to just one, it’s up to you.

$30 each, the ornaments come in a metal box for protection the rest of the year.

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