Ask Engadget: What to get that SO for Valentine's day?
by Ryan Block 
posted Feb 3rd 2005 at 7:45PM
It's that time of year
again—some call it February—when if we're nice (and if we got 'em) we hook up our significant other with a
little gift, a little wine, a little backrub, a little bouquet. So reader Dan R. wants to know:
My lady isn't much of a gadget fan, but she's got a few select devices she can't live without, like a cellphone, an iPod, that kind of stuff. Any ideas for a gadgety something short of, say, a laptop that'll get her motor running without putting me in the poorhouse? In fact, any gadget that doesn't get me sleeping on the couch'll do just fine.
Time may be running thin, but you've still got eleven days to treat your special lady (or mister) right!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Steven Fisher @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
My wife has already told me she wants a pink iPod mini. The only question is if I can afford one or not, and whether I can get it to her in time (we're separated by a long flight for a few months).
Steve @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
How about a gift certificate to iTunes so she can fill her iPod with some of her newer, favorite songs? I think I've seen them at Target and I'm sure Apple stores would have them available for sale.
Of course, this would have to go in a mushy card, and be delivered with chocolates and flowers... :)
Marke @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
lunacandle.com kinda geeky, kinda neat, kinda small, I just got mine for my wife.
http://forums.anandtech.com/categories.aspx?catid=40&entercat=y
go to this site and search for lunacandle for a discount..
ventivent @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
I was thinking of getting my SO a
v3 RAZR; she currently uses a v180. But I have difficulty justifying the cost. Still, if it's a splurge gift for someone who isn't going to miss what the RAZR doesn't have, it might not be a bad idea.
Bill @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
You can't go wrong with a Hitachi Magic Wand.
Spriggan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
I bought my girlfriend a pink iPod mini for Christmas, which made it difficult to figure out what to get her for Valentine's Day.
Since the iPod headphones aren't that great, I decided to buy her a nice pair of replacement headphones (the Etymotic ER-6i's) and wrap them over a cute stuffed animal, along with some quality chocolates. So, it's a little bit of the cliche classic stuff with a dash of gadgety goodness. :)
Hope that helps.
Rhett @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
What's funny is how you start off saying she's not a big gadgets fan, yet you're still planning on getting her one. If you want to make it until the next valentines day, I suggest you change your strategy.
Kapila Wimalaratne @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
Myers in Bondi (Sydney, Australia) is selling pink iPod minis at $100 off (Australian) until this Sunday.
Kap
Anna @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
If she's already got an iPod, how about accessories? I've been eyeing off Griffin's new SmartDeck car iPod adaptors myself :)
Jiggs @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
I can't believe I got the wife a gadget for Valentine's (actually, she's been buggin' me to find one since it first appeared on this site).
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43459&item=3871645896&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
jojo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
Tivo or other DVR is a good one, tell her she can record all those episodes of Gilmore girls she is always missing because pilates class conflicts.
Jojo
Glen Murphy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
I gave my girlfriend a domain and an account on my server for Valentine's day just after we got together three years ago. She had just bought a PHP/MySQL book, and had no place to work it. She seemed to like it at the time (but didn't seem to appreciate the 'got root?' t-shirt I gave her as a followup present later in the year).
The best part of it is that the domain expires at the end of each year, so I know what to get her EVERY Valentines day! It's the gift that keeps on giving!
It's also insurance; If she ever breaks up with me, no webpages and email for you, missy! *kapow*!
Max. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
"You can't go wrong with a Hitachi Magic Wand."
"thatll get her motor running"
Ladies' Man @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
That's an easy one. Get her a dildo, brother!
jorell @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
I'm getting my wife the Bose dock for her iPod. I couldn't afford a 12" G4 Powerbook.
st. valentine @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
fear not fellas.... if she already has a dildo, get her the Rolls Royce - the Rabbit Pearl.
"Often imitated, but only one original."
http://www.goodvibes.com/cgi-bin/sgin0102.exe?T1=1+2+AL+BE03&FNM=51
And you get geeks points too for it's tech factor...
CamBob @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
Dump her and save your cash for the PSP. Seriously, can't people stop breeding? There are too many people on this planet.
Rudy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
If she's a coupon cliper, get her the 2005 Entertainment book ($40)(lots of dinning for two at the cost for one); if she's on a diet, forget the candy, and buy her a basket of fruit ($40-$80); if she owns a cell, buy her that gadget that she clips on her car's air conditioner, and lights up everytime somebody calls her (since you can't always hear the cell phone ring while driving); And if she likes stuff animals, buy one from Japan (ebay)- their quality is far better than anything what we have here.
cLOUDFAn @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
I "heard" the thingy in #16 aint that good...
The Director @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
She will get a grey iPod Mini.
The iPod Mini must be the most wanted present ever.
pat w @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
If she's into taking pictures, a slim budget digi cam is a nice idea. "aww"-factor for first putting some nice meaningful pics in.
A logitech pocket digital cam is a really slim one that ladies love, my girl friend takes it everywhere for shooting random stuff and for work as a landscape archetect. It's definately NOT designed for quality pics however for its ease of use, slim design, and stylistic values, it's not a bad gift choice especially when it won't hurt the pocket ($20-30) when you guess the lady's heart wrong ;P
Deea @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
Heck, if she doesn't have a neat looking Nokia phone yet (7280), get her one :) There's a real frenzy here with these phones and they look great
Kyo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
Here's what I did...
http://www.users.on.net/~ted55ling/engrave.jpg
http://www.users.on.net/~ted55ling/engrave1.jpg
Yes, it's a real V600 that's been engraved... :) She got it earlier than normal though, coz she really needed a phone. Yes, she loves it to bits... her reaction was priceless!
KD @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
I'd really recommend (as a woman) if she likes to cook or make deserts a Kitchen Aid mixer. I've had just as much fun with this thing as my ipod and it comes in a verity of colors. I know it's dangerous giving a Kitchen appliance for valentines day but after making some heart shaped pancakes or pizza she'll love it. Just make sure it says Kitchen Aid the imitation mixers are Junk.
http://www.kitchenaid.com/catalog/category.jsp?categoryId=310
AK @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
My favorite techy gift to my girlfriend was a digital camera, spare memory, batteries, Flickr account and instructions. I wanted something she would use and what better way than letting her show her pictures to her friends and family?
The camera was an Olympus (model number escapes me) for $150ish from BestBuy. Simple point and shoot, boots up immediately, uses regular batteries (what a big difference it makes to ease-of-use while traveling) and 4 MP is plenty. It came with 16mb XD card so I purchased a 128MB. Installed the software, taught her how to use it, set her up on flickr and since then she's been posting pictures, sharing her memories, and just plain old being silly.
I know her parents (who live out of state) are happy to see this, so brownie points there!
bertram @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
They're cheap as hell and chicks dig 'em. Get her a couple of these for her 'pod.
http://foofpod.com/
Permanent4 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
Buy her DVD versions of "Reservoir Dogs" and "Scarface." Because Valentine's Day sucks. It's a fake holiday that Hallmark created to try and convince guys walk into their store once a year, and all it does is remind us singletons that someone else is having sex and we're not.
St. Valentine was beheaded back in the day. That thought comforts me on a cold February night.
Of course, if her cellphone has Bluetooth, a Jabra headset might be nice...
Hugh Conyac @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
I vote for a LaCie 16xDVD+-R. It is available direct from LaCie for $129 which includes free shipping and no tax either. Wal-Mart is selling them for $139 and they won't have anymore until the end of Feb. This unit is USB 2 and will play and record about anything CD or DVD. You still have time too as mine came in under a week.
Hugh V. Conyac
Phil @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
I'm building my girlfreind a california closet for valentine day. But since this is a gadget site, I guess I should say I'm building her a california closet with a built in USB flash drive, and a really long cable running to her computer in the living room.
Phil (another Phil) @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
Strange. Nobody on engadget is talking about finding a girlfriend. Or building one.
Phil (the first Phil) @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
No but the girl who is getting the 16xDVD+-R might be looking for a new boyfriend soon.
gadget girl @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
Is this gadget push to try to tempt her to be more of a gadget girl? 'Cause unless she likes gadgets, an electronic gift is probably not going to bring the same enthusiasm as say, a nice bracelet or romantic night out.
Here are my ideas for a girl who sorta finds gadgets useful and will buy into media hype-
Superslim digital camera in a snazzy color.
Tivo/Media Center Pc is a great idea if you also get the subscription.
ipod shuffle for her gym visits, imac mini is almost affordable.
If she likes puzzle games like tetris, get her a gameboy/ds and tetris-ish games.
"Bling" out her cell phone with a custom crystal encrusting job if she likes Paris Hilton.
http://www.strapya.com/top.htm sells some great decorative cell phone accessories if you're looking to get something less expensive.
When in doubt for gadget cuteness, http://www.audiocubes.com/ buy a Japanese import meant for girls. They know cute. Like Hidamari no Tami's - Solar powered bobble heads. http://www.collectiondx.com/feature.asp?ID=12
However, my real advice would be to get her what she actually wants if she's not into gadgets. Like a pair of really great designer shoes or handbag. That'd get you off the couch to somewhere much more comfortable. If she isn't a gadget lover she might just see it as a utility instead of lusted-for-toy. And that won't get you any luuuvv.
dion @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
I got her one of the last available iPod Shuffles :) She's going to love it.
Lamar Cole @ Dec 19th 2005 1:04AM
Love is a path to the heart that knows its own way.
liberalgeek @ Feb 2nd 2006 6:44PM
at least you have an so
Steven @ Feb 2nd 2006 8:14PM
http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/science/7dfd/zoom/
This is what I'm getting my girl.