The holiday season is upon us, and that means joy, cheer, a monologue from Linus (Peanuts, not Torvalds), and gifts.
If you have an open-source fan on your list, what do you get them? Socks? A tie<!–>? A tin of various popcorn flavors–>?
Or you can skip those gifts and consider, instead, something from my list of unofficially sanctioned open-source holiday gifts for 2024 (and beyond).
Also: The best holiday tech gifts under $25
Are you ready to get your Ho, Ho, Ho on?
Slip into your Reindeer onesie, grab a mug of cocoa, and read on.
Hardware
Hardware is always a hit with open-source fans, so why not start with a gift sure to put a smile on their faces? If you want to splurge, consider a laptop pre-installed with Linux, such as one of these fine machines:
- A System76 laptop<!–> System76 not only produces high-quality laptops, but their customer service is some of the best I’ve ever experienced.
- Purism Librem 14 laptop–> This is a powerhouse Linux laptop with a gorgeous chassis, coreboot, and a disabled Intel Management engine that includes hardware kill switches for camera and mic, wireless, and Bluetooth.
- StarLabs StarBook<!–> This laptop includes one of the best displays of any Linux laptop I’ve ever experienced.
- Malibal Aon S1–> The Malibal Aeon S1 is one of the most powerful Linux laptops I’ve reviewed to date.
- TongFang GX5 15.3-inch Metal Ultrabook<!–> If you’re looking for a budget laptop that doesn’t lack power (and has Linux pre-installed), this is the one. It’s also one of the few you can get with elementary OS pre-installed.
- Slimbook EVO 14–> Another beautiful laptop, the EVO 14 has a massive battery, outstanding performance, and kill switches for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mic, and camera.
- StarLabs StarLite<!–> The StarLite is one of the few convertible Linux laptops you can buy. Use it as a tablet or a laptop; either way, it performs like a champ.
If you don’t want to go the laptop route, maybe a System76 Thelio desktop–> or a Raspberry Pi starter kit<!–>?
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Software
Software is the tricky part because most open-source software is free. However, that doesn’t mean there’s zero software to be purchased. For example, consider a DaVinci Resolve Studio license<!–> if your open-source fan is a budding filmmaker. Or maybe they’d like a Proton VPN license–> for an added security/privacy boost.
Other bits of software you could get for your open-source fanatic include:
Books
Since I’m an author, I feel compelled to add books to the list. Besides, who doesn’t like a good book? How about Linux Administration: A beginner’s guide<!–>, maybe the Linux Bible–>, or one of my favorites, In the beginning… was the command line<!–>.
Of course, if your open-source fan is more of a fiction reader, I’ll plug one of my own books, Lament–>, which is filled with Linux references.
Games
Chances are pretty good that your open-source fan is also a games fan. If that’s the case, you can grab them a Steam gift card<!–> or – even better – a Steamdeck–>! Of course, the Nintendo Switch 2 is coming out in early 2025, so you could always get them a Nintendo eShop gift card<!–>. One card game I used to play quite a bit was Netrunner. Although that game is no longer available, you can purchase Android Netrunner–>, which is similar.
Miscellaneous gifts
If none of the above piques your interest, here are some miscellaneous gifts you can give your open-source fan:
From this list, you should be able to find something for your open-source enthusiast this holiday season. If not, there’s yet another option: Donating to your loved one’s favorite open-source project, such as their favorite distribution, any one of the projects listed on Meaningful Code, Mozilla, GIMP, Geary, or just about any open-source project on the market.
Open Source
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