20 Perfect Things to Buy a Web Developer for Christmas
Let’s face it. Web developers are geeks. But that’s okay! Who wants to be normal? As I always tell the children – “Geeks rule the world”. The problem is that “normal” people don’t know what to buy us for Christmas. That’s why we always end up with “Photoshop 6 For Dummies”. They’ll say in a rickety old voice, “It’s a little old, sonny – but I got a good deal on it.”
So email this list to your family and friends and tell them, “This is what you should buy me.”.
Though it’s impossible to scan the minds of every web developer, this article will list a roundup of recommendations. Feel free to include your own via the comments.
*Note – Just for the record. This article was meant to inform, not make money. There are zero referral links.
-
.NET Magazine Subscription
As an American, I hate how the greatest web design magazines all seem to come from Europe – resulting in a high subscription price that I can’t justify. This makes it a perfect gift!
-
XBOX 360
It’s common knowledge that web developers make their way from screen to screen. We might say, “Man I need a break from work. Wanna go to a movie?” Though videogames may not be everyone’s cup a tea, there’s a high likelihood that a web developer will enjoy them. Though yours truly might prefer Mario Galaxy or Zelda, it seems that XBOX 360 currently stands as the “gamers platform.”
-
Macbook Pro
No one can deny how “dead sexy” these laptops are. You can’t hide from the huge price either! But if you have the money and want to dazzle your loved one, this will do the trick! Make sure you shop for a good price.
-
Coda
For the mac enthusiast, you’ll have trouble finding a more fluid code editor than Coda. If he or she doesn’t own it already, buy it!
-
IPOD Touch
Mac user or not, you won’t find a better media player for the price. But be a trooper and upgrade to the 16 gig model.
-
The Non-Designer’s Design Book
This book is for anyone who has to design a newsletter, job ad, flyer, business card, memo, report or whatever, but has no idea what separates good design from bad. Except, of course, that the first looks clear, professional, sophisticated and right, and the second is an ugly, unreadable mess.
-
PHP Solutions
For the aspiring PHP developer, or the experienced one for that matter, this book will help a great deal!
-
Don’t Make Me Think
Years old, but still relevant. Many consider this book to be their web dev bible. If your loved one doesn’t own it, buy it!
-
Iomega 1 TB External Harddrive
You can never have too much harddrive space! Nowadays, don’t bother getting a smaller capacity. You can purchase up to 1 TB of space for under $150. He’ll love it!
-
Wacom PC Tablet
We all want one because we all can’t afford it! But if you have the pennies and want to see a “grown man cry like a baby”, this will do the trick!
-
Apple 24 Inch LED Cinema Display
Another contender in the “blow your socks off category” is the beautiful 24 inch monitor. You won’t see him returning this the day after!
-
The Big Bang Theory – Season 1
Obviously, it’s impossible to determine the television preference of a complete stranger. However, I know many, many web developers that adore this show (including myself).
-
The Office
You’ll have trouble finding someone who doesn’t like The Office. Both the US and UK versions are fantastic and will fit quite nicely into his or her collection.
-
Nintendo Wii
Though irresponsible waggle can potentially destroy half of the items on this list, it’s hard to deny how enjoyable a well executed Wii game can be. And come on folks – they’re remaking Punch Out! That’s reason enough. If you grew up in the 80s, the updated music will give you goosebumps.
-
Learning jQuery
Learning jQuery is the best book available on the obvious subject. If your loved one is learning this library, buy it! (Shameless plug…Have you check out the “jQuery for Absolute Beginners” daily video tutorials over on the ThemeForest blog?
-
Logitech Cordless Laser Mouse
Wouldn’t we all like one of these? We touch the dang things enough!
-
Bose Around-the-Ear Headphones
Exceptional sound, lightweight, 5 foot cord….gosh I want one!
-
The PHP Cookbook
“This book is absolutely packed with quick solutions to common obstacles or ideas in PHP. The chapters on security are worth their weight in gold, as you’ll learn how to properly protect your site against unauthorised use.”
-
Adobe CS4 Creative Suite
We’ll all eventually upgrade to CS4, if we haven’t already. It costs a whopping $1400 to purchase the entire suite. But how quickly will it pay for itself?
-
Notebook Engraver
I came across this one via a tweet from Collis. Consider purchasing an engraved notebook for your designer friends. You can engrave images, drawings…pretty much anything.
So that’s it for now. What do you think should and shouldn’t be on this list? What did we forget?
- Subscribe to the NETTUTS RSS Feed for more daily web development tuts and articles.
Enjoyed this Post?
Subscribe to our RSS Feed, Follow us on Twitter or simply recommend us to friends and colleagues!
By Jeffrey Way
Join our newsletter!
Create a Tutorial, Get Paid!
Have something to teach the world? Want to earn money doing it? Tutorials, screencasts, and articles published here on Nettuts+ are largely contributed by readers just like you! We'll pay you great money for good content. Find Out More
I only Santa gave me all of these!!
For $150 you can buy a USB-tethered Wacom tablet. Sure, you don’t write directly on your computer screen but it works very well and is much cheaper.
=) i live in the UK and orderd my .NET mag subscripton last nite.
A Wii for 30 bucks?
That must be a mistake, the like does also point at The Office Season 4
I could really use the laptop. Man I wish Santa wasn’t affected by the economy down turn like eeryone else.
Nice ;) hope to get some of this stuff ;)
greetz
http://www.opensourcehunter.com/
hmm… could really use a .net subscription along with about 10 other things on that list. Might just have to update my Amazon wish list.
The Wii is $30? lol
Anyway good list :)
Love the article. I’m kind of surprised that they sell 1tb externals that cheap. Also, I may also look into buying a .net mag subscription.
Thanks for the article.
us version of the office? philistines :(
Yes, yes, and yes!!! I Agree with all of it!
- Greg
I just bought an xbox 360 for myself, but from my wife. Only bummer is that I can’t open it until christmas :(
Whoops! Sorry about the Wii link and price. It’s been fixed.
Don’t we wish it was $30!
opensourcehunter – your ‘greetz’ are getting annoying.
haha. are we all really this alike?
i start my new developing possition in Janurary. so hopefully santa will get me alot of this stuff in time to have a suitably geeky festive period :]
“the big bang theory”?? hahahahaha i love that show!! :D
haha good list >.<
I have those headphones, they are amazing.
Wasn’t planning on commenting… but I just loled at the bose headphones idea. Bose is junk
Big bang Theory and The Office!!! I would also add Fringe for sci-fi lovers!
I hate that stupid association: designer = apple fanboy. Sorry, but I prefer IBM/Lenovo, HTC and iRiver (laptops, phones, mp3 players). The first thing I’d do with an Apple gift would be selling it. I wouldn’t even run it so it stays in the foil and I can get a better price.
@H-a-r-v – That’s ridiculous. It’s not good to be an extremist for either side. I personally work on a Dell, but love my IPOD touch.
To be honest, the PC/Apple wars make me sick.
They’re both good! Each have their own advantages.
I wish I got at least one of the gifts from here!
Excuse me; you forgot the PS3. ; )
Nice list, apart from that. haha.
I wish I could have a lot of the things on this list … but i’m broke.
Jeffrey Way: I don’t want to be misunderstood, especially we understood each other pretty well in the other article, so let me put myself clear: I don’t like troll forum wars either, not my league, and I’m not about to start one. But everywhere I go Apple is being stick to designers as if it was the perfect choice and this is what I’m sick of – creating an illusion.
I have nothing against MacBooks – they’re powerful and I recommended it to some people few times. in case of Apple monitors – well, they get pretty good reviews, still, not best (display is pretty important for designers so I guess I wouldn’t pick it as the “best monitor for a designer”, but ok, LET’S SAY is a good choice). But an iPod Touch? C’mon, you’ve just confessed you have it and you love it, but you didn’t read any serious reviews in this matter, right? I don’t know the reasons you bought it, but the truth is iPods are in the end of the line of ‘the best sounding players’. So it’s about being objective, that’s all.
Jeffrey Way: one more thing, MX Revolution rocks, doesn’t it? :)
Big thing missing on that list is any 2nd monitor rather than the 24″ Apple display. For anyone who doesn’t have two monitors, it’s probably the single thing that can boost your productivity the most.
Good headphones (for those who work while listening to music), a good mouse and a good keyboard are essential too. I’ll vouch for the Logitech MX Revolution shown above. It’s an excellent mouse for working. Very comfortable. If you game seriously on the side, you might want a backup though (I don’t game, but I know the mouse isn’t a gaming mouse)
You can’t go wrong with any of logitechs higher end keyboards either. All are very nice.
And one more thing on Apple:
Considering who we are and what we do it’s kinda ironic that some of us use their stuff and/or want it hard. Personally, I admit: I hate my freedom limited and that’s what Apple’s policy about. Not to mention their deluding marketing. Their product design is a subjective thing so I won’t comment. I suggest you learning the latest research:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/04/apple_more_closed_than_microsoft/
I will have to agree with h-a-r-v in that Apple’s monitors tend to be on the consumer grade level, mid-range quality. I’d stick to promoting and gifting higher professional grade monitors in the Ezio or NEC’s professional grade line-up. Sure they’re ghastly far more expensive – but you get what you pay for, not just a neato casing.
Hi Jeff, many thanks for including .net magazine in your list :) I’m the current editor, and if anyone has any questions about subscriptions, or anything else related to the magazine for that matter, please mail me at dan.oliver@futurenet.com. I always reply, though sometimes it may take a few days.
Wow I want that cinema screen 24″ :D
I already own all these things… no seriously I do.
iPod Touch and PHP Cookbook are amazing. I borrowed the book from the library and I’m really tempted to but it.
@Dan – Not a problem. It’s a fantastic magazine….one that I wish NETTUTS was mentioned in from time to time. :-)
Buy me a year of hosting so I can launch my own projects and I’ll be happy. :)
Eh!!!!…. But if you have the pennies :O hehe! Anyways like it though! neat collections of wanna haves :)
*Passes it on to friends in hope of receiving one of these things*
Those are awesome! Thanks a ton for the list! I know what list I’m giving to everybody I know! :D
I agree with the wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!
LOL
Pour tous les p’tits Frenchies… A l’approche des fêtes, n’hésitez pas à mettre à jour votre liste d’envie cadeaux sur Kadolog (http://www.Kadolog.com) !
Joyeuses fêtes à tous….
I want a Mac! I dont care which one!
I’m using Ubuntu/Linux + Windows by now, but let me be honest: osx is better :)
Just ordered the Learning jQuery book today before this article was posted. Looks like it will be a little Christmas present for myself :)
Nice list!
This list would be perfect if you would put the ps3 instead xbox 360, hehe, but whatever i’ll send this to my girlfriend
A .net subscription is really nice. I’ve made it a necessary part of my budget for the past 3 years and think it’s really worth it!
“greatest web design magazines all seem to come from Europe”
I noticed that too, but with Linux magazines (www.linux-magazine.com).
Clicked on the “.Net subscription” here, and it doesn’t seem to be $50, but rather it appears to be $97 for 13 issues.
well,
i prefer to send some flower for my fiance in Boston…
Geek’s Girls need flower too, dont you? :D
I really want a Macbook Pro. I think its gonna be way more than $1500 though!
What a great ideas, Jeff! Maybe I’ll buy some of these for my wife :)
Playstation3 + large hdmi screen
From a Microsoft .Net developers point of view, Apple products are a No No. Every Microsoft technology developer will tell you this.