Maybe it's a cellular-telephone account or online access. If the service provider doesn't provide gift certificates, just make out a check for the monthly fee and put it in a festive card. Cleaning supplies for electronics are always appreciated. Dusty monitors and dirty portable phones are recurring problems. Make sure you buy antistatic cleaners, such as those made by PerfectData, that won't mess up delicate electronics.
Notebooks are far more vulnerable to theft than desktop machines.
One answer is a cable and lock from companies such as Secure-It. If your computer buff hasn't hooked into video yet, consider the color QuickCam from Connectix. It's a digital organizer that lets users download their schedules and address files from their computer and carry them around in a shirt pocket. The credit-card sized device has a small screen and five buttons to navigate the information. An external drive, the DPD-200, is also available.