The 2017’s Christmas Gift List For Software Developers (And Other Tech Geeks)

by John Sonmez | Dec 6, 2017 | Advice, Cool Stuff, YouTube | 0 comments

Christmas is here and, as is tradition, I made my ideal gift list for software developers, programmers, and tech geeks.

This list is for those tech-lovers (or friends/family of tech-lovers) who want a great gift and have no idea where to start.

Without further ado, here are some items I found (in no specific order) that will make fantastic gifts.

Microsoft Surface II

I have some experience with this and it’s definitely something I would recommend. I have the first version and it is excellent.

This second installment shows great improvement with its high-performance graphics card, ideal for running games (yeah, I know there are A LOT of game developers here).

If you are a “Mac Lover” and you have a few (ok, a lot of) dollars to spend, you can buy the latest version of the MacBook Pro, one of the most sought-after notebooks by developers who are not very fond of Microsoft.

This laptop has similar characteristics to the Surface II.

iPhone 10 / X

The iPhone 10 / X is an excellent phone, in fact, I acquired it recently.

Within the updates, we have facial recognition, fingerprint identification, an awesome camera and although it is a smaller phone, its screen is bigger than previous versions.

Google Pixel 2 Phone

Google Pixel 2 Phone is definitely a very popular phone in the Simple Programmer community. It is presumed to be in direct competition with the iPhone X.

The Pixel 2 has the best camera quality of any Android phone, and updates like water resistance and a best-in-class processor, which makes it a top pick.

SNES Classic Edition

Relive your childhood with the amazing SNES Classic Edition. The Super Nintendo is a pretty classic gift option that will bring you good memories and even better games.

The SNES is one of my favorite options on this list. It can be a bit complicated to acquire, since it seems to be out of stock lately, but they should be available again soon.

NES Classic Edition

This is another option for those who love video games and want to revive their childhood memories.

I tried to buy this version last year and I could not find it, so if you want this equipment you should probably look for it in the secondary market.

Samsung 960 PRO Series – 512GB PCIe NVMe

Designed for high-end PCs and workstations, the Samsumg 960 Pro is definitely a top pick in terms of SSD performance.

The NVMe™ interface of the 960 PRO supports PCIe® Gen 3 x4 lanes for an enhanced bandwidth and lower latency than SATA SSDs. You can experience massive sequential R/W (read/write) speeds up to 3,500/2,100 MB/s and random R/W speeds up to 440/360K IOPS, respectively.

Optane SSD 900P 280GB AIC

The new opponent of the Samsung 960 PRO Series is the Optane SSD 900P. Some say it’s the fastest on the market and the king of SSD, but it’s also the most expensive.

The Optane SSD 900P is intended for high-end desktop systems and workstations with very disk-heavy workloads. The Optane SSD 900P isn’t for everyone and won’t be displacing any existing products.

CanaKit Raspberry Pi 3 Complete Starter Kit

The Raspberry Pi is an amazing low-cost computer, which was designed to be a full-blown computer from the start.

It can run various flavors of Linux/Unix, act as a Media Center, and even moonlight as a Microcontroller, which is great for developers who are looking to learn how to hack.

ARDUINO K000007 The Starter Kit

This Exclusive Arduino Deluxe Bundle includes everything you need to get started with Arduino – including the only Official Starter Kit.

If you’re interested in learning programming and hacking, this is a great option.

Oculus Rift

This is another one of my favorite items. I bought an Oculus last year and since then I haven’t wanted to play anything else.

It’s quite fun, interesting, and allows you to play in 3D. I highly recommend it. You can check out a review I did here.

Dell U3415w

Within the ultra-wide monitors range, I own this Dell U3415w, one of the first versions at an affordable price.

If you’re looking for a ultra-wide monitor and you want something basic and cheap but still great, this should definitely go on your list.

Dell 3417w

The Dell 3417w has a 34″ screen and excellent graphics performance. This one is more of a mid-range monitor in terms of price.

Dell 3818dw

If you want to go all the way and really invest in a high performance ultra-wide monitor, then the Dell 3818d2 should be your pick.

It has a 37.5″ screen and superior graphics performance. Definitely a great investment.

Your Slide Laptop Monitor

This product has 2 additional monitors that attach to your Mac or Microsoft laptop depending on your needs. The advantage of these screens is that they are completely independent and you can perform 3 different tasks at the same time.

Apple Watch 3

This is another great product from Apple. In fact, I have the first version and I’m pretty satisfied with it.

The Apple Watch 3 is an improved version of its predecessors and features new qualities like a built-in GPS.

Nintendo Switch

I’m a big fan of video games and I was pretty much blown away by the new Nintendo Switch.

I got it on my birthday this year and I’ve been enjoying it a lot so far. As a “hybrid” console, you can play it on your TV screen or you can take it out and use it in portable mode.

Zelda Breath Of The Wild

If you want to try out your Nintendo Switch with a brand new game, I’d definitely recommend The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild.

It is considered to be the best game of 2017, along with Super Mario Odyssey. The visuals are stunning and it plays really well.

Super Mario Odyssey

I recommend this game simply for being Super Mario and for scoring an incredible 97 on Metacritic. Definitely a must pick if you own a Nintendo Switch.

Pluralsight

If you want to improve yourself as a developer, I’d suggest that you buy a one-year subscription to Pluralsight, a developer-oriented platform where you can learn everything you can.

Interview Cake

Interview Cake is an awesome service for those who want to crack the coding interview and get the programming job you’ve always dreamed of.

I have received a lot of feedback from my audience regarding this platform, so I consider it an excellent gift.

Computer Glasses

Computer Glasses were designed for those who stay in front of a monitor for a long time. It will prevent your eyes from dryness and also make you a nerdy-chic developer.

SOL REPUBLIC 1430-00 Wireless Air Tracks On-Ear Headphones

The SOL REPUBLIC Tracks Air are an awesome solution for those who are looking for wireless on-ear headphones that block out noise.

Apple Airpods

I recommend them, I have mine and they are great.

They connect automatically to your iPhone, they are quite comfortable, and they have a particular feature that stops music if they are suddenly removed.

Amazon Echo

Amazon Echo (shortened and referred to as Echo) is a brand of smart speakers developed by Amazon.

The device is capable of voice interaction, music playback, making to-do lists, setting alarms, streaming podcasts, playing audiobooks, and providing weather, traffic and other real-time information. The perfect gift for developers who like music and also want to test and play with some programming.

Anker 20000mAh Portable Charger PowerCore 20100

This portable charger has 20000mAh, which is a considerable amount, especially for a portable charger. You can charge your iPhone up to 8 times in row, making it a great pick for those who use their phone a lot and are not able to have a wall charger always near.