Nintendo Monopoly: $28

If your man grew up in the 80s, chances are he’s well acquainted with Mario Brothers, Donkey Kong, and Zelda. These Nintendo characters and more will give him a blast from the past as he plays traditional Monopoly with a fresh theme. Okay, so maybe this isn’t really a techie gift, but he might like it anyway. The perk for you: if he’s a really big Nintendo fan, this game might even pull him away from his computer long enough to have some real live, human interaction with you.

Fly Pentop Computer: $100

Have a younger guy (like a little brother or a nephew) on your shopping list? A gift like this Fly Pentop might propel you into a permanent position as favorite sister or aunt. This pen can actually recognize what it has written and then speak back to you. Draw a calculator and tap the numbers to solve a math problem. Translate words into and out of Spanish. Draw a piano or a set of drums and play away. If you think this might be the perfect gift for your up-and-coming tech nerd, check out a demo at http://www.flypentop.com.

If all else fails in your quest for the perfect tech nerd gift, don’t be afraid to resort to gift cards. My poll of the one techie that lives in my house confirmed that the average tech nerd would rather have a gift card to Best Buy or the Apple Store than that really sharp new pair of pants from Banana Republic that you wish he would wear. If you’re worried that the card is too impersonal, set those fears aside. Just attach a note to the gift card says you’ll go with him to shop and let him show you all the tech gadgets in the whole store and you’ll act interested, and I guarantee he will be as giddy as a tech nerd can be this Christmas.

Cherissa Roebuck lives in Oregon with her favorite tech nerd, Lucas, and their 1-year-old tech nerd, Maximus.