Great Gifts for Giant Geeks

Got a major computer enthusiast on your wish list this year? Check out these gifts for the hardcore techie, especially if the sky's the limit on the budget (or, if you just want to drool).

• Dell XPS 710 - Perhaps the most state of the art desktop money can buy (at least today). Configurable with the Core 2 Extreme CPU, dual Nvidia video cards, up to 2 terabytes of disk space, standard 7.1 audio, and a free 20-inch widescreen LCD. Plus, it looks amazingly cool.
• eVGA e-GeForce 8800 GTX - 768MB of video RAM on Nvidia's latest 8800 series graphics processor. At $650 it isn't cheap, but your tech lover will never look at gaming the same way.
• LaCie 1TB Big Disk Extreme - A full terabyte of external storage in a surprisingly compact shell. Plenty of room for all junior's digital goodies.
• Logitech MX Revolution - Yes, Virginia, mouse technology continues to advance. The cordless, rechargeable mouse has two scrolling modes (a smooth one and a click-click-click one), ergonomic styling, a thumb wheel for flipping among windows, and a laser sensor for extreme accuracy.
• Microsoft Entertainment Desktop 8000 - A slim, rechargeable keyboard and mouse combination that lets you surf the web from anywhere in the room. One killer bonus: The keyboard is backlit, letting you find QWERTY in the dark.
• Nikon Coolpix S9 - This svelte pocket camera has 6 megapixels of resolution plus a unique feature: A "stop motion movie" mode overlays your previous photo on the LCD, so you can capture a series of posed, still images to create a movie-like effect. (Think Claymation.) If you don't understand why this is useful, don't worry, your giftee will.
• Pioneer BDR-101A - While Blu-ray DVD players aren't ready for prime time, you might consider a Blu-ray drive if your giftee has extreme storage needs. This $995 drive can burn 25GB to a single Blu-ray disc. But you've really got to need that space in order to pony up that kind of cash.
• Gateway FPD2485W 24" LCD - A gorgeous, high-definition LCD display, with 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution and amazing contrast. Nothing makes an old PC look new like a fresh, giant monitor.
• Dyson Root 6 - The handheld version of Dyson's sexy upright vacuums. I've read reviews that said it can pick up a foot-long 2x4 board. Imagine what it can do to Cheetos crumbs.
• Guitar Hero II for PS2 - It's not just a game, it's exercise, assuming you rock out while standing up.