Techies prefer to give personal gifts.

• Position: Technology - Brief article

Do not count on scoring a new laptop computer or PDA from the technology executive in your life. According to a survey developed by Robert Half Technology, Menlo Park, Calif., a provider of information technology professionals on a project and full-time basis, nearly two-thirds of chief information officers will not give computers, electronics, or other technology gadgets as gifts this year.

"IT managers may be experts on all things technology-related, but it doesn't mean their personal or professional gift-giving has to be limited to electronics and technology gadgets," notes Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology. Lee points out that executives may prefer to give items to friends and loved ones that are more personal. For office gifts, however, items that are too personal might not be appropriate. Lee makes the following recommendations for gift-giving in a professional setting:

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