If underwear, socks, ties and clothes are on your list, reach for the eraser! And don't even think of smelly cologne, particularly those old chestnuts that have been around since Grandpa was a kid.

Modern man's taste, it seems, is more refined – and, oh yes, he's also still a boy at heart.

Rock bottom on everyone's list is underpants. It doesn't matter if they're boxer, Y-front, thong, hi-cut, or the size of spinnakers, patterned, plain or rude. Leave them on the shelves, ladies.

Running a hot second are socks.

"Why would anyone want to give me something so boring that I can buy myself because I have to?" one man said. Good question.

"I think Christmas gifts should be something fun or a special treat – something classy that I would really enjoy but not necessarily buy for myself, such as a really, really nice bottle of wine or Scotch," another said, before adding: "Oh, and something fun I can play with on Christmas day."

Calm down girls, he didn't mean a Playboy centrefold or a pneumatic nanny. He actually wanted – wait for it – a toy. Not a fluffy bear or cap pistol, mind, but some whirring, spinning, possibly remote-controlled gizmo which actually does something interesting.

"Men like gadgets, especially new, cool gadgets," was the clear message heard over and over. Any kind of intriguing, really interesting gadget. One man suggested, "Something that appears to make life easier". (But not, ladies, a plug-in from the realm of household appliances – unless he is a man who enjoys cooking, in which case a multi-tasking food processor, mandoline, new crock pot or state-of-the-art utensil is welcome.

So-called 'novelties' are best left for the kiddie corps. Mere mention of the idea sent one respondent into spasms of irritation.

"Anything 'novelty', or that doesn't have an end use, drives me nuts," he protested. "Give me something that has a useful purpose."

Like what? we asked.

"A hover car would be nice," he smiled.

Well, of course.

Warming to the big-prezzie concept, his colleague thought a yacht would be nice.

Technology is very big in male minds. Eyes positively sparkled at the thought of Santa plopping down the chimney with a swank new computer and/or accessories to upgrade and enhance its performance. Cameras are popular, as are hotshot mobiles, iPods, Wii game systems, stereo systems, and the like.

Top of the technology list, bar none, however is the 42-inch flat screen TV, even if the living room to put it in is marginally larger than a rabbit hutch. In fact – and this will come as no surprise to women – the 'perfect' living room is apparently a shrine to minimalism, containing just the monster TV, with remote of course, a super stereo system, and a large sofa, although one wag suggested a pager to summon his wife with the beers would also be nice.

Rolling Stones wannabes hope the North Pole gang will bring "decent musical equipment", including a six-string electric bass guitar, into their lives.

DVDs are very welcome, especially action movies, but no mushy love stories please.

Clothes are a huge no-no. Gone are the days when taste-dead cave men roamed the Earth in whatever mom, the wife, or aspiring wife thought "perfect". Today, guys like to pick their own clothes, although some will allow the significant female to stand within paying distance and submit the odd comment or two.

"What is the point of giving me clothes that I don't like, which will just end up sitting in my closet for a year, or that I'll only wear once or twice to be polite?" is the collective sentiment.

Pyjamas? Pardon the pun, but a major yawn. Seems there are more bedtime commandoes than modestos out there.

Ties and after-shave or cologne? Avoid like the plague! Again, men have very specific likes and dislikes, and the odds of getting run over by a bus are less than picking the right one if you don't already know his taste.

The vote for books is mixed, and donors need "guidance", while diaries are not eagerly anticipated.

Sports equipment is always a no-brainer, with complete sets of golf clubs leading the field. Better still? A gift certificate to a sports shop so His Maj can choose the perfect ones himself.

Predictably, the all-male survey produced its share of sex-related wishes, none of which are printable in a family newspaper, as well as the unusual, touching, thoughtful and even odd wish. These included: an end to protracted divorce proceedings; more time to spend with his daughter; the vanishing of a mortgage; the end of racial rhetoric in Bermuda, not another Brown administration, having to cook on Christmas Day, white chocolate and flowers.

"Who the hell wants flowers for Christmas?" the man exclaimed.

Women actually – but that's a survey for another year.