i can haz birfday present ideas?

October 28, 2008 5:21 PM

What to get 19-yr old brother for birthday?

My brother is turning 19 very soon. Any ideas what I can get him for his birthday?

Here is some information about him:
he lives with parents
he likes:
- anime
- building computers
- video games
- rock/punk music
- being stubborn and not listening to anyone
he doesn't care about clothes/fashion
he's very very anti social.

He pretty much already has everything he wants that's gadget-related. Getting him anime/video games wouldn't work because I don't know what he has, what he would want - I'm clueless about that stuff. Asking him if he wants any of those things doesn't work, he said not to get him anything.

ANY ideas? What would an average kid like him want? I'd like to keep this under $50, or under $100 if the idea is really cool. Anything that's not a gift certificate would be ideal. Anything useful, or anything that a 19 yr old kid would actually find thoughtful from a big sister would be cool!

Thanks in advance!

posted by KateHasQuestions to shopping (18 comments total)

We're not "anti-social," we're "differently socialed."

That said, some big games he might be interested in this fall include Fallout 3, Far Cry 2, Left 4 Dead, Dead Space, and Red Alert 3 on the PC. I'm not as familiar with the console scene but I believe Resistance 2 (PS3), LittleBigPlanet (PS3), and Mirror's Edge are the "hot titles" this season. Dead Space is also available on consoles.

That said, a word of warning: buying games can be risky because they can't be returned if they're in a genre he hates or if his computer can't run it. Consider giving him a gift card just to avoid the possibility of epic failure.
posted by sonic meat machine at 5:29 PM on October 28, 2008

How about a record player? The old vinyl kind? If he has one already, look for a first pressing of a classic rock or punk album. It doesn't require any socialization on his part, and if he really is into music, he should appreciate it, provided he has an adequate sound system.
posted by valkyryn at 5:31 PM on October 28, 2008

If he says not to get him anything, get him something consumable. Homemade tamales and russian tea cakes are popular recurring birthday gifts in my family.
posted by Phssthpok at 5:43 PM on October 28, 2008

- pawn shop guitar
- a really awesome tool or knife.
- littlebigplanet
- if he already has a guitar, a distortion pedal kit from buildyourownclone (the overdrive sounds cool)
- bus ticket to somewhere really far away.
- monogrammed zippo (he sounds like a smoker)
- monogrammed flask
posted by jeb at 5:47 PM on October 28, 2008

How about a guitar? I gave a beginner's guitar for my 17 year old cousin who fits your description to a T. Now he wants a drum set! Things that I saw that are useful to him are: external hard drives (he has three 1 TB hard drives he uses for mainly storing anime+music), graphical tees of all sorts, and money! You can also get your brother this game card called an R4DS. i think he'll appreciate this if he's really into games. Since he seems to know a lot about computers, he'll probably know how to use the R4DS. =)

good luck!
posted by girlthursday at 5:50 PM on October 28, 2008

If you order a Leatherman tool from their website you can have it engraved with his name. He can use it to build computers and other electronic-gadget-tinkering projects.

An ex bought me one for my birthday a few years ago and I use it at least once a day. Best gift anyone has ever gotten me.
posted by bradbane at 6:10 PM on October 28, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

~ That said, a word of warning: buying games can be risky because they can't be returned if they're in a genre he hates or if his computer can't run it. Consider giving him a gift card just to avoid the possibility of epic failure.

Only true for opened PC games. I've returned opened console games a good number of times, and I'm fairly sure unopened, recent PC games are returnable.

I don't know enough about it to recommend something specific, but if you can find an audiophile recommendation for budget headphones, that would probably be an awesome present.
posted by paisley henosis at 6:11 PM on October 28, 2008

Do you know if he plays any online games/if he has any sort of gaming-related account (like on the Xbox, I think)? You could pay for a month/year/whatever's worth.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 6:18 PM on October 28, 2008

If you're crafty, check out Sprite Stitch for inspiration and make him a video-game themed gift - they feature all kinds of things, like Mario cross-stitch, tetris brownies, Zelda glassware ... or, if you're not crafty, a lot of the stuff featured is for sale, so nose around.
posted by bettafish at 6:21 PM on October 28, 2008

Sounds like he's a bit of a punk rock nerd. Devo ~ The Sword ~ Wolfmother ~ Buzzcocks ~ Stiff Little Fingers ~ is a good start for punk/nerds in a musical start. I'd stay away from Anime if he (still) lives at home. I'm a punk geek, always have been, but Anime is for 13 year olds... Video games are cool, but not as cool as bringing an awesome new(new to them and their friends) album to school, or just for themselves is one of the best feelings you can get. If there is any bands he likes maybe you could list them for better analysis. 100's of bands so little time...
posted by sharkhunt at 7:02 PM on October 28, 2008

I don't know enough about it to recommend something specific, but if you can find an audiophile recommendation for budget headphones, that would probably be an awesome present.

Grado SR60s are about $70 and basically considered the best headphones you can get for <$100.
posted by cosmic osmo at 8:25 PM on October 28, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Get him a good frisbee, and make sure you 2 toss it around on at least a couple occasions. Every 19 yr old should have a frisbee.
posted by TDIpod at 10:48 PM on October 28, 2008

I would get him a Ham radio - 2nd hand off ebay or Craigslist. Definitely. He needs to put his voice to his passion in real time - off the matrix. A hundred bucks might turn into 3 but that's what I can see for your brother as being an entry into a whole new world.
posted by watercarrier at 6:16 AM on October 29, 2008

I'd get him Rock Band if he has a PS3 or a Wii. It's hours of fun, and can be played solo or with friends.
posted by reenum at 6:58 AM on October 29, 2008

Costco membership.
posted by spatula at 1:34 PM on October 29, 2008

How about a Netflix subscription?
posted by Bizurke at 4:30 PM on October 29, 2008

Get him Gears of War 2, or a gift certificate to best buy or something. Hell, it may not seem "thoughtful" but just throw him the $50-100 and tell him to spend it on whatever he wants.
posted by OuttaHere at 5:38 PM on October 29, 2008

Er, just saw you didn't want the video game route. Gears of War comes out Nov. 7, so he doesn't have it yet, and it's going to be one of the bigger games of the season.
posted by OuttaHere at 5:39 PM on October 29, 2008