Lots of potential ideas here. Playing with the bowtie idea, and also of course the '8 bit' icon concept. Also, a circuit board inspired design for consideration. :-)
Apologies, I should have looked at your website before I started submitting. :-) I didn't realize your colors were red black and gray, and that you would do best with a horizontal design. I revised a few entries as such. Please note any colors can always be changed.
Just playing some more ideas on a more simplified version of the logo. I took a couple ideas from your cartoon nerd guy without using his face. The yellow tie, the pocket protector.
Also, a circuit board wordmark style logo, the classic 'Nerd' emoticon, and some different shaped glasses as well.
Please note I am switching out font choices just to give you some options. If you see one that you like better than another, please let me know and I can incorporate that into my designs.
I really like 32, it just seems so simple though... I know we said simple but gah, that's simple! However, I don't know what else to do to it to make it look better. I'm horrible at these things, apparently.
:-) Not horrible. That is why I post lots of different options.... to find a direction. I am not sure right off the bat what to ADD to it, besides a graphic, but I am sure I can build on the idea somehow. :-) It just has to come to me.