To ask what you are getting your teen maths/computer science nerd for Christmas?

[DeRigueurMortis]

Hi,

I'm at a loss. I've asked him for ideas but he's not been forthcoming.

I've ordered a couple of books I think he will like but other than that I've drawn a blank.

He's already got the main gadgets (laptop/phone/watch/tablet) over previous birthdays/Christmas and none are in need of an upgrade/replacement (by way of example his phone/iPad mini are quite old but he's perfectly happy with them and doesn't want a new one).

He's not into music and clothes are "boring".

So has anyone come up with something cool for the 16/17 year old self proclaimed and proud of it nerd in their life?

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

DRM

If you are thinking about camping (or they have lovely yurts and cottages), the sky at Fforest Fields near Builth Wells is incredible. They have astronomy people staying frequently as its so dark there.
My ds and the other teens with us loved SpaceGuard. Mostly because the bloke who runs it is delightfully eccentric, but it comes up very frequently in discussions.
If your DS likes science in general, then a copy of Other Minds (about the evolution of intelligent life via octopus') might work - ds and I have just finished listening to it and he is just telling everyone about it. Life on the Edge (about quantum biology) is totally mind blowing and a really good read/listen.

CMOTDibbler
Thank you for the idea of D&D themed zipped pouches from Redbubble.

DS also has a backpack with "bag of holding" printed on it, but I bought it a couple of years ago, and can't remember where from.

Another vote here for the present indicative website.

My maths/ computer science nerd (ds2, 19) has asked for some retro games and console for Christmas, think he and his uni housemates have game nights

We're getting ours a chess set for his collection. He likes the forward-planning aspects of chess and enjoys plotting strategies, plus he enjoys beating me (every single time!). I enjoy him not always being in front of a screen and he gets some exercise going to his uncle's house to play.

What about a portable SSD backup drive? I never thought I wanted one, and now that I have it - I don't know how I managed without it.

I am graduating from engineering in the spring, and I can say it is the single most used item I have aside from my laptop.

Hugely recommend Turing Tumble already mentioned and a Kano kit. Or Sphero.

For a proper enthusiast, I would also recommend a BBC Microbit

For the person who was asking the ender 3 printer is around £160 and you can buy from amazon. The filaments are £15ish for a kilogram and that lasts ages. The files are mostly free from thingiverse though I did pay a few £ for the dragon file. I had no idea how good and cheap they had got either and am blown away by them tbh! Have printed so much already

Oh and you can design your own files too so can print anything! Great for creative kids! The one thing to be aware of though is it’s not instant. The dragon took a couple of days of printing. D&d type miniatures print in an hour or 2 though

On the Arduino theme, I got DD a crumble controller and components last year that went down well.
This year she wants game miniatures for painting.

All mathematicians need is some paper and pencils, surely?

If he doesn't already have it I would suggest the book Mad Science by Theo Gray - It is subtitled 'Experiments you can do at home but probably shouldn't'

amazon.co.uk/Theo-Grays-Mad-Science-Experiments/dp/1579128750/ref=sr_1_1?crid=PC9LYAIKDW07&keywords=theo+gray&qid=1575488702&sprefix=theo+gra%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-1]]

Grid it is a not very exciting but remarkably compulsive bit of kit.

I have a DH and two DSs like yours, I think the 3D printer will be next years Christmas sorted!

Subscription to Wired?

We got a deal - £9 for 6 issues (a year’s worth).

Oh I think he'd like the Wired subscription!!

Thank you!

This would be a good book choice:
The Thing Explainer

monthlyteeclub.com/?utm_source=Google%20Ads&utm_medium=Display&utm_campaign=Interest%20Targeting&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI76_Ln-mc5gIVWODtCh2hKwkIEAAYASAAEgKfsPD_BwE

A monthly t shirt subscription. You can set his interest la as science and maths and he’ll get some funky nerdy T-shirt’s - there are some really funny and clever ones

So I've tried to get the Turing Tumble but it's sold out everywhere apart from the company website and that seems to have an issue with the website wrt shipping and not accepting payment

I've emailed them to see what the issue is.

For DnD enthusiasts there are animated spell cards by DeckOfMany which we have bought for Ds2. There is also a video showing them in action so to speak.

thedeckofmany.com/collections/shop

We have also bought a VR headset for them as the lure of Beat Sabre was too much for me to bear!

Watsername
DS has a book by the same author on his Christmas list.

My computer-loving teenager would love a second monitor for his computer. And a third, and probably a fourth...

Every true geek I know and love has at least two monitors.

These are brilliant suggestions for DD. Thanks. I was struggling but now I have hope.

What does he watch / read / play?

Turing Tumble is still pretty new, OP, so hopefully just teething problems. Am not surprised it has been so popular. I want one for myself!

I am so saving this thread for ds1 in years to come. he is only 6 but is showing true signs of nerd.

He is getting a kano computer and a 3D printer pen