[neil_s_wood]

Like John, I like to get money from people so that I can put it to whatever I want. I have found from experience that it's not wise to let people who are unfamiliar with a subject go to a shop and attempt to buy things for you. They are often steered into buying things that are of no use to me by local hobby shop people. I then have to ebay or return whatever they have bought.

In terms of buying for other people, you want something self contained that is ready to run; literally. You don't really want to give them a present which requires them to get other stuff which they will be unfamilar with.