So an incoming freshman on my team says to me, “Eugenia, how can I make the best of the year as a robotics geek?”. I looked at him and said, you know, you’re not quite my level of approved geekiness yet. So obviously I am on a mission to show him how to become a geek. I’d like y’all to help me. My first tool for Mr. Wannabe Geek is…
drumroll
l337 Translator
Well, I’d have to say duct tape is one major tool…though it’s not directly computer related, it certianly had lotsa applications. I’d also say a USB flash drive…Can’t live without one.
-Bill
cold heat soldering iron…not just any old soldering iron he needs a special cold one like i have…
Let’s just say MAJOR thinkgeek shopping spree is in question for the silly freshman.
Well, if you want to be a computer geek (like myself), Here’s what I’d do:[ul]
[li]Know you’re chosen OS. Intimately. If you use linux, compile the kernal a few times (with some changes that actually work) and know Bash. If you’re running Windows (which doesn’t disqualify you from geekiness), know hacks and don’t be afraid of the registry
[/li][li]Get rid of the Alpha interface in WinXP (if applicable)
[/li][li]Get a USB Key (aka USB Mass Storage Device or Jumpdrive if you’re talking to normal people). The larger the better. And make sure it supports USB 2.
[/li][li]Learn a Programming language or two. I happen to do Visual Basic 6 and PIC C. (and learning Visual C++)
[/li][li]Get Freeware/open source apps. I can recomend a few:[list][/li][li]ConTEXT - A great text editor for coding. Includes a customizable highlighter and support for compilers.
[/li][li]OpenOffice - Replaces MS Office.
[/li][li]Maxthon (formerly MyIE2) - A souped-up version of MS Internet Explorer[/ul]
[/li][li]Get a sourceforge registration. Also a good idea to join some projects
[/li][li]Get a CVS client (for Sourceforge). I can recomend TortoiseCVS, which integrates itself with Windows.
[/li][/list]
I think this is a good start, but I know I’m missing something…
ThinkGeek.com calls it “**An essential geek tool”. **
I’ve got one on order…thanks Microsoft…lol
Now THE essential geek tool, as we all know, is teh firefox.
Oh YES! The perfect thing he needs is a laptop found at a yard/garage sale for CHEAP. Notice the word CHEAP.
The summer before my freshman year I found a laptop manufactured in May of 1992 from the now extinct company AST. The lady selling it offered it to me for $5! No kidding, she previously wanted $20 for it, but it was the last day and wanted to get rid of it. It was STUFFED with goodies, MS Word, PP, Excel, 4.0, a designing lab, Win 3.1, etc. I loaded other goodies into it, fixed its registry, and it became a beastly machine. Sadly the LCD ribbon tore and I had to rip off the screen and give it a monitor. 
But it still is what it was.
So, I recommend he goes out and looks for one, there is still plenty of time in the summer for sales to pop up.
PS: anyone have a site I can goto to find a replacement LCD signal ribbon for it, I would like to make it mobile again.
You could try Impact Computers. I have dealt with them several times and have been very satisfied with them. They are located in Florida. I bought a Toshiba Satellite 2800 series off Ebay with a damaged keyboard and dead battery. I replaced the keyboard and battery and also maxed the memory out with parts from Impact. They were cheaper than going through Toshiba. The Satellite has performed flawlessly for me so far. I don’t know if they would have the parts you need or if they list all of them on thier website but it’s worth a shot.
Try googling the model name. You may be plesently surprised.
Try beating this guy: Super Mario Brother’s 3 Time Attack
If you can beat that game faster than he does, I’ll … give you a high five. Or something. 
Pertaining to Thinkgeek,
I saw “I am JVN” on the fortunes page! :yikes: It’s spreading!!!
http://www.thinkgeek.com/fortune.shtml surfer beware, occasionally has inappropriate language
There are other great, completely random things that appear on that page also.
A paper clip, key chain LED light and a good knife.
The days of ejecting stuck 3.5 disks may seem over- but mark my words, I use a paper clip on a daily basis. Watch some Mcguiver for ideas on how to best implement the paper clip.
LED lights are just so cheap and geekish these days theres no excuse not to have one.
I actually prefer non swiss army knives. Sure, they have 50 tools, but they are clunkers. I find I use my normal folding knife far more then even my Leather-man. Although, that wave is always nice to have in the pits…
Oh, and a good hammer. Sometimes, you just have to beat something (someone?) into submission. Yes, you can use your head, but its a lot easier with a hammer.
-Andy A.
how about a good set of calipers? i can’t believe they haven’t been mentioned yet…
Assorted Sharpies are a necessity. :]
Zip ties are a must. I always carry around some small 4" zip ties in my pocket. They are good for when you need zip ties or just to chew on. Also, lots of cool small tools to put on your keychain are fun.
Eric
We all know duck tape is good for keeping things from moving, but what if you want something to move and it won’t? I recomend some WD-40.
It also makes a great cologne if you buy the small 5" travel sized can. 
Mod everything is site!