Cool techie gift ideas for a 'family of nerds'

Dear PropellerHeads: I have a bunch of geeks in my family, about half of whom have summer birthdays. Do you have any cool techie gift ideas for my family of nerds?

A: I'm not sure that "cool" and "nerd" belong in the same sentence, but I'm all about being COOL as it's 103 degrees here today. So here are my ideas.

Most techies that I know aren't particularly outdoors types, but for those who are, there's a self-filtering water bottle that might keep your family member refreshed. The Clear2GO water bottle is available from Amazon (www.amazon.com) for only $14.99. It has a 24-ounce capacity and comes with one filter. Replacement filters are available in a 2-pack for $12.99. Product reviews mention that the top of the bottle is large enough to add ice. How exciting - I feel a chill coming over me just thinking about it!

For the geeky child or child at heart, there is the Marshmallow Mforcer Semi-automatic pistol available from www.thinkgeek.com on sale for $34.99. Load up to 15 mini-marshmallows at a time, and get firing. Oh, and even marshmallows can sting when fired with force, so let's hope whomever is at the receiving end of the shot will stay cool when hit!

Next up is the Remote Control Snack Float for those geeky friends and family who stay cool in the pool. It is available from www.homewetbar.com for $54.99. The float holds 5 drinks and a snack bowl and can be directed to your pool pals via the handy remote. This is a sure-pleaser since it delivers cool refreshments, and what geek doesn't want another remote control? None that I know!

A little on the expensive side, but definitely able to bring a chill to your room, is the Dyson Air Multiplier fan available from Best Buy (www.bestbuy.com) and other retailers. The fans start around $300 (depending on size), and take air in on the base and propel it through a circular frame, multiplying the air intake about 15 times. The fans are easy to clean, as there are no blades to get dirty, and with no blades there is also no wind buffeting. The fans look cool, and will keep your family chilled too!

Finally, for the nerd who also loves golf is the Garmin Approach G3 GPS-enabled golf handheld. The GPS is pre-loaded with 12,000 golf courses all over the U.S. Your favorite nerdy golfer will be able to get out of a hot and sticky situation by using the handheld device to locate the next hole and the distance to it. The GPS is available for around $300 from Amazon. For a review of the product, go to http://bit.ly/a7EAfV.

I hope this helps bring some chill to your summer fun. Now, where is my ice pack when I need it? At 103 degrees, I'm too hot to trot (outside) so I'll hunker down and wait for fall!

When the PropellerHeads at Data Directions aren't busy with their IT projects, they love to answer questions on business or consumer technology. E-mail them to questions@askthepropellerheads.com or contact us at Data Directions Inc., 8510 Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23116. Visit our Web site at www.askthepropellerheads.com.