Holiday Gifts That Will Make a Hacker Happy

I got a fax from Santa asking me to recommend gifts for computer users. I suggested that he concentrate on accessories, games and reading material. It’s generally a bad idea to give expensive hardware or complicated business software unless you know exactly what someone wants.

Before Santa does give software, he sends an elf to check out the equipment to be sure everything is compatible. The elf makes a list (and checks it twice) of all the equipment, including the disk drive (3 1/2- or 5 1/4-inch) and monitor.

As for what you can give your computer-user friends, I’ll start with accessories. A lot of people can use a “power strip” that allows them to plug their PC, printer and other electrical devices into a single outlet. You can get an inexpensive six-outlet power strip with an on-off switch at just about any hardware store. Radio Shack and most computer dealers carry power strips with built-in surge protectors. A surge protector filters out electrical surges, or spikes, which could damage your computer.

Don’t forget to check your local office supply store. That’s where I found several varieties of diskette holders (make sure you know whether to buy the 3 1/2- or 5 1/4-inch size) as well as colored disks and lots of other gadgets.

I also saw a number of useful accessories from Curtis Manufacturing. I liked the Computer Tool Kit ($29.95), which comes with a variety of demagnetized screw and nut drivers and a device to remove chips from computers. Other useful Curtis products include a tilt-and-swivel monitor stand, a universal printer stand to elevate your printer ($24.95) and a $6.95 clip that attaches to your monitor and holds your papers. The company is at 30 Fitzgerald Drive, Jaffrey, N.H. 03452.

I like giving and receiving books. If you’re buying a gift for a Macintosh user, consider “The Macintosh Bible,” edited by Arthur Naiman (Goldstein & Blair, $28). It’s an indispensable tool for those who want to get the most from their Macs. It comes with a coupon for two free updates. If you can’t find it at a bookstore, you can order by phone (add $4 for shipping) at (415) 524-4000.

For the IBM PC user, consider “PC Magazine DOS Power Tools” by Paul Somerson (Bantam Computer Books, $44.95). This 1,275-page colossus contains tips and ideas, many compiled from the pages of PC Magazine. It comes with a disk full of programs to help streamline your use of the PC.

As much as I hate to spoil the spirit of Christmas, it does come right before tax season. So you might think about tax-preparation and financial record-keeping programs. TurboTax ($75) from San Diego-based ChipSoft is the leading tax program for the IBM PC, while MacInTax ($99) from Softview of Oxnard dominates the Macintosh market.

For budgeting and financial record keeping I recommend Quicken ($59.95), which runs on the PC, Macintosh and Apple II. Check your retailer for a special Christmas “bundle” that includes the IBM version of Quicken, Turbo Tax and a stock portfolio management program for $99.95. Macintosh Quicken, bundled with MacInTax, costs $109.

I don’t know a lot about computer games, so I sought the advice of Peter Spear, author of a recently published book called “King’s Quest Companion” (Osborne/McGraw Hill, $14.95). The delightfully literate 360-page book creatively provides tips to players of that popular game series from Sierra On-Line.

For science fiction fans, Spear recommends Neuromancer, an animated adventure game from Costa Mesa-based Interplay. There are versions for just about any type of computer at prices ranging from $29 to $49. Interplay can be reached at (714) 549-2411.

If you’re inclined to run for mayor, why not practice on a simulator? Sim City lets you create and run a modern city and solve problems related to taxes, crime, disasters and monsters. It’s available for the Mac, IBM PC, Amiga and Commodore 64. List price is $49.95 for all versions except Commodore, which sells for $29.95. A color version for the Mac II sells for $79.95. It’s published by Maxis Software of Moraga at (415) 376-6434.

If your friend is an Indiana Jones fan, you might consider giving Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure from the games division of LucasFilm at (415) 662-1902. It costs $49.95 and runs on IBM compatibles, Amiga and Atari ST computers.

Leisure Suit Larry 3 ($59.95) is the newest addition to the series about a “lovable nerd and world-class lounge lizard.” When the game opens, you play the recently divorced Larry “out for pure carnal pleasure.” Somewhere in the middle you switch roles and become “passionate Patti.” I’ll leave the rest of the plot up to your imagination. Don’t ask me why, but the series is quite popular, even among reasonably intelligent adults. It’s published by Sierra On-Line and is only for IBM compatibles.

Other versions are also available for the Mac, Atari ST, Amiga and Apple IIGS. Sierra can be reached at (800) 326-6654.

Personal computers offer a safe alternative for those among us who enjoy barnstorming or strafing villages. A host of flight simulation programs make it possible to take the controls of everything from an early biplane to a modern jet fighter. You can even fly an alien spacecraft by purchasing UFO ($49.95) from SubLogic of Champaign, Ill., reachable at (800) 637-4983.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 4.0 is one of the few flight games for people interested in noncombat planes. Version 4.0 ($59.95) lets you fly a broad variety of planes and even lets you create your own experimental aircraft. The program runs only on IBM compatibles, but users of a Mac, Apple IIGS, Amiga or Atari ST can take advantage of SubLogic’s Flight Simulator program.

F-19 Stealth Fighter from MicroProse is Computer Gaming World magazine’s top-rated game. It allows you to conduct combat missions in the Mediterranean, Middle East and Europe. The product runs only on the IBM PC and compatibles ($69.95) and the Commodore 64 ($44.95). MicroProse can be reached at (301) 771-1151.

For a more realistic flight experience, consider getting your own “yoke” to control the plane. The Maxx Yoke, which works with IBM and compatibles, lets you steer your aircraft into 60-degree turns and even has its own thumb controls to invoke your simulated guns. It can be ordered from the Tailwinds Catalogue for $99.95 plus shipping. For some PCs, you will need to buy a game port (available from Tailwinds for $49.95). Call them at (800) 992-7737.

If you’re looking for more game ideas, check out a copy of Computer Gaming World magazine at most major bookstores. A 1-year, 12-issue subscription costs $24 and can be ordered by calling (800) 827-4450.

Davka Corp. has a couple of interesting Hanukkah gifts for Macintosh users. HyperHanukkah ($39.95) is a HyperCard program that describes Hanukkah traditions with graphics, sound and text. HyperHebrew (also $39.95) features digitized sound to teach users to pronounce and identify Hebrew letters and vowels. For information or a free catalogue, call (800) 621-8227.

Finally, there is one product that you don’t even need a computer to enjoy. The Chocolate Software Co. offers a full line of “eat-ware” that includes chocolate diskettes and keyboards in a variety of configurations. The diskettes, whose capacity is measured in calories rather than kilobytes, are bug free but loaded with sugar. Call them at (213) 931-1527. Outside of California, dial (800) 332-BYTE.