Not electronic, he'll discard it in a year or two. Get something enduring, like an engraved high quality pocketknife, something that he can carry that's small and useful. If he goes to work he can carry it, if he goes to college, he can carry it. Think Buck, Gerber, Spyderco, or Balimade.

I'm a senior in college this year and asked for a cheap Swiss army knife off amazon for Christmas figuring it would be useful. It has two knifes (big and small) a pair of scissors, a can open, a bottle opener and some other competently useless stuff that I can't even remember. Wish I had gotten it when I was a freshmen as I use it all the time now. I figure it will last me forever and it comes in very handy so I will second the good leathermen or Swiss army knife recommendation, espcially if he is going to live in a dorm room next fall.

- Your watch (more sentimental value) or other item he has admired
- swiss knife is good for the bottle opener part
- ipod/ipod touch
- notebook computer if he already doesn't have one

Economics:
- stocks or the idea of a starter fund to let him invest on his own. I regret not doing this. Idea is to start him on his money education rather than just giving him cash.

On the Adult side:
- trip to the phillipines ;-) (never done it myself, but the word is -- never will forget)
- year supply of condoms -- takes away the pressure of buying a carton

Ditto on the watch. Another suggestion that isn't a joke is a cooler.......Don't have to be a party animal to enjoy a decent cooler, especially one that will keep ice for several days.

I am 17 and wear a watch all the time. I hope someone will get me a nice new invicta or some type of automatic to replace my 3yr old fossil when I graduate in may.

I like the leatherman tool.

I have a few nice watches, never wear them, don't like having anything on my wrist. I should give my Tag Heuer to my brother.

I like the hooker idea, he'll never forget that and if he tells his buddies about his new watch - big deal, but when he tells them about the hooker you will be the god of all uncles, get one for your self while your at it, you pick for him and he picks for you , let me know when your going , I'll get one too, who else is in?
Scott

and blow