Expensive Geek Toys Roundup 502
An anonymous reader writes "I was recently asked by a coworker to come up with a list of <implied> expensive </implied> and cool gadgets for a VIP. He was interested in anything that was up-and-coming, rare and the usual odd combination of devices (ie. anything with a camera/WiFi that shouldn't have it). I figured that since it was Friday, it may be a good day to see what the /. crew has up their sleeves."
For the love of god! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:For the love of god! (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:For the love of god! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:For the love of god! (Score:5, Insightful)
Some of us do. For instance, when I went to upgrade my sound system with a better surround setup, I didn't go to any of the big electronic chains, or huge stereo shops. I went (after a friend recommended them) to a small, family run shop that was actually close to my home and had been around for almost 60 years.
Not only did were they not pushy salespeople, but they actually *gasp* knew a lot about audio, video, and basically anything having to do with home theaters. It's such a breath of fresh air to do business with them compared to your usual stores.. no lackey salsemen that have no real knowledge of the equipment and push you to buy the more expensive items. These people would even recommend other stores if they didn't meet your needs.
Personally, I'm always willing to pay more for better service, and better choices. I refuse to shop at places like WalMart (god I hate that place) where it's just massive, crappy stock at cheap prices and some of the dumbest (and slow) people in the world as employees.
Lego Mindstorms. (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Lego Mindstorms. (Score:4, Informative)
Check out Recomendo (Score:5, Informative)
Not all of it requires a plug, and not all of it meets your "expensive" criteria, but it's full of great, high-quality stuff you didn't know you needed.
--H
Re:Check out Recomendo (Score:2)
I could live without the bud supply, but the Galls catalog [galls.com] link is definately full of stuff I didn't know I need.
Re:Check out Recomendo (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Check out Recomendo (Score:4, Informative)
The other is Dan's Data [dansdata.com], which conveniently doubles as a drop-in replacement for "Tom's Hardware"
A couple good ones (Score:3, Informative)
The Handspring Treo 600 [handspring.com]
One not as much
Airzooka [thinkgeek.com] Air Gun
Re:A couple good ones (Score:4, Informative)
That has a session ID in the URL. It will time out. You could've just done it the right way [handspring.com] if you really wanted us to see that page...
car mp3 player (Score:5, Informative)
or a kenwood music keg [kenwoodusa.com].
or a vw/audi phatbox [vw.com].
can you tell i love this product? works with the audio controls on my steering wheel. no need to look down at an ipod screen while speeding.
Re:car mp3 player (Score:4, Informative)
yes.
http://phatbox.sixpak.org/phatbox/ogg.phtml [sixpak.org]
and flac [sourceforge.net], too.
Give Him... (Score:4, Funny)
GAH!!! NSFW!!! (Score:2)
Re:Give Him... (Score:3, Informative)
Too bad you didn't post this before the "How Were You Fired?" story. I could have raked in Informatives, just like hig
gizmodo (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.gizmodo.com
_
Hammacher Schlemmer also (Score:2)
Re:gizmodo (Score:2)
Hey now! (Score:5, Funny)
Are you implying I don't have anything better to do on a Friday night?!
Well Sir, you are correct.
Re:Hey now! (Score:5, Funny)
He left out what the /. crew has on their belts, in their pockets, on their heads, ... Only a few really cool geek toys fit up your sleeve.
"Smart" Fridge (Score:5, Interesting)
http://www.zdnet.com.au/newstech/enterprise/story/ 0,2000048640,20268993,00.htm
"Korea's LG Electronics is selling a 26-cubic-foot Multi-Media Refrigerator, with a built-in 15-inch LCD (liquid crystal display) screen for watching TV, surfing the Internet or looking at digital pictures."
I don't know about the rest of you, but when I go to the fridge to grab a coke, I like to stand there and watch a quick sitcom on a 15" LCD display. Right...
Re:"Smart" Fridge (Score:5, Funny)
Re:"Smart" Fridge (Score:2)
Define overboard:
1. Using a webcam/lcd setup when a little plexiglass window would do the trick.
Reminds me of the old joke about how they developed some amazing technology that allows you to download streaming video at TV quality in real time from the television station to your computer, then output it to your TV.
Re:"Smart" Fridge (Score:2)
Plexiglass would work, but it lacks a good R-value. Fridges can't keep up with too much heat loss, a large enough window would actually warm your fridge up, a smaller one would still make the fridge run more often, thus wasting electrisity.
If your house is humid the window will fog up, depending on your goals this may or may nto prevent realizing them. (if you just want to know if the light really goes off, you might be able to see enough to tell that. If you want to see what is in there it won't work)
Re:"Smart" Fridge (Score:3, Funny)
Re:"Smart" Fridge (Score:2)
Anything from ThinkGeek (Score:2, Redundant)
Anything at Thinkgeek.com (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Anything at Thinkgeek.com (Score:2)
Attached Cable (Score:2)
Since you have one do you mind tell me if the little cable attached to the watch is removable, and if yes where to keep it short of having it loose in a pocket. I looked at the pictures but it is not obvious.
Thanks
Re:Attached Cable (Score:2)
Re:Attached Cable (Score:2)
Since you have to ask, I guess they've done a good job of hiding it. The USB cable snaps into the band of the watch, it's pretty clear once you realize that's what it is in this picture:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/watches/5eec/ima g es/ [thinkgeek.com]
So the cable's short, which means you probably would have
Re:Anything at Thinkgeek.com (Score:2)
Re:Anything at Thinkgeek.com (Score:2, Informative)
Green Laser pointer! (Score:4, Interesting)
Green Laser Pointer at ThinkGeek.com [thinkgeek.com]
New RIM Colour Device (Score:3, Interesting)
G5! (Score:4, Interesting)
Segway (Score:3, Insightful)
OF course a 30+inch flat plasma wide screen HDTV also qualifies.
Re:Segway (Score:5, Funny)
I dunno. What about a Sony Aibo riding a Segway?
If you want really expensive ... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:If you want really expensive ... (Score:2)
Will it try to escape it's captor and return home?
Does it have a lowjack system?
Do you know anyone who has purchased one of these robots?
Please answer, serious questions
Re:If you want really expensive ... (Score:2)
International Robotics has a whole like of cool but useless stuff, some of which they sell to theme parks. There's an air-cushion skateboard, a full-sized robotic killer whale, fibre-optic illuminated clothing, and really big lava lamps.
cool desk to put all the stuff on.. (Score:4, Interesting)
Heh (Score:5, Funny)
After that, spend 4 weeks writing your report.
8)
Then... (Score:2)
Of course.
G5 cluster (Score:5, Funny)
btw, can we use that as a noun yet? Like a gaggle of geese, a herd a cattle or a school of fish, can we have a Google of computers?
That's Googolplex (Score:4, Informative)
An Apple iPod (Score:5, Interesting)
I want one so bad...
Say no more... (Score:5, Informative)
I could easily spend a year's salary here.
CLK-GTR Roadster. (Score:3, Interesting)
'Nuf said.
Early Adopters (Score:3, Interesting)
The iPod (Score:2)
Incredible earphones: $500 (Score:5, Interesting)
They are even better if you get custom made inserts [sensaphonics.com].
I've been happy with my similar (but $50) Fontopia MDR-EX71SL headphones from Sony, but have been eyeing these others for a while.
Re:Incredible earphones: $500 (Score:3, Informative)
It's really easy to spend money on really good headphones and amps. If the boss wants something really nice, suggest the Blockhead with stepped attenuators [headphone.com] or EAR-Yoshino V20 [headphone.com]. And don't forget the AKG K1k [headphone.com] phones. Sacrilicioussss...
Well, (Score:2, Funny)
such a waste... (Score:2)
it's so sad.. I hate seeing all that technology being wasted into the hand of a clueless person.
I know, I know - money equals more research on it and price dropping.
But I feel sad about that anyway.
mmmm, toys... (Score:5, Informative)
Perhaps the new 1GHz 12" Apple PowerBook?
Certainly a Sony Aibo is expensive and unnecessary, but can be useful in harassing the interns.
Or a UX50 CLIE(TM) Handheld PEG-UX50 PDA. Very cool, and uber-sexy.
If you want impractical, get a Rubberband Machine gun (http://www.backyardartillery.com/machinegun/ [backyardartillery.com]) Oh yeah. Great for hostile takeovers!
Also check out their remote control tanks that shoot BBs: http://www.backyardartillery.com/tanks/ [backyardartillery.com]. Sweet. (don't forget the plastic Army men to go along with the tanks!)
Dan's Data (http://www.dansdata.com/ [dansdata.com]) reviews a lot of fun toys like the above. LED flashlights, tanks, and what-not. Maybe a super-modded computer case? Maybe a Powerball (http://www.dansdata.com/gyrotwister.htm#pball [dansdata.com] would do.
You can always check out the Sharper Image catalog, too. Lots of expensive junk in there.
Some links, some ideas (Score:3, Interesting)
Alternately, you can always shop at thinkgeek [thinkgeek.com] or compgeeks [compgeeks.com]
Of course, much of my geeky pipedreams have involved cool places to put a flat panel display. How about something rigged up with a USB-flat-panel that looks like a desktop picture (but can change, or is animated). I know I've seen support for usb-flat-panel in my recent kernel version, so I'd assume the hardware is out there. Better yet, if you could fit it into a real picture frame so that it looks realistic, and enable it as default output for video-conferencing software: functional+geeky.
And of course, if you wanted to go outside the office (I doubt this would fly in most companies), replacing the ol' car stereo with a custom-wired miniPC (don't forget voltage-backing capacitors or a failsafe for when spikes/ignition), and perhaps an LCD that pops out of the glove?
Wireless is always cool. Go with the picture frame, but set it up wireless somehow so that it's as hard-to-figure as possible. You might even be able to do something with an old ebay laptop and a little wiring of the video connector through the desk. Anyhoo, just suggestions, and personal preference, but I'm sure there are lots of cool things one could do with miniturized PC components and a little time, and the custom-job is often much more unique/cool/geeky than stuff you find in even semi-geeky retail stores.
my dream toy, zorb. (Score:4, Interesting)
they don't sell them, only to franchises, but everyone can be pursauded with cash, how much you got?
Top 10 Expensive Geek Toys (Score:5, Funny)
9. The Dobbertin Surface Orbiter. It is still not yet a submarine.
8. "Green Laser Pointer at Think Geek.com"
7. Hey McFly! How much would you sell that Delorean for?
6. Knight Industries 2000
5. Friggin' sharks with friggin' lasers on their heads.
4. That Saturn 5 lying on its side at that space museum. Time for destination moon!
3. "The Jupiter 2". Forget a trek ship: this thing once passed through a galaxy in one night.
2. The Atari 1450XLD. I'm still waiting for one after all these years. If Alan Alda still has his, I bet he won't let it go for cheap.
1. SCO. What geek would not love to buy this company and play with it fo a while? Muhahahaha.
Melinda Gates (Score:2)
0. Melinda Gates
Well, there's always... (Score:2)
I mean, we ARE talking about expensive, geek toys.
Standard run of the mill geek.. (Score:2)
Perfect idea if the VIP... (Score:2)
Feel free to get me one too. The Learjet 60 perhaps?
Really cool... (Score:2)
I recommend Weyland-Yutani corporation. (Score:3, Funny)
"The Bioweapons division of the Weyland-Yutani corporation is proud to release its new Predalien-model drone! This beautiful marvel of roving mayhem is capable of a forty foot vertical or horizontal pounce, can head-bite your enemies from up to several feet away, can sneak up on competing executives along ceilings, walls, and through air ducts, and is armed with a six-foot barbed tail, nine inch claws, four inch fangs, and a sixteen inch extensible subjaw with three inch fangs! Optional Architect remote control not included. Satisfaction guaranteed!"
BUT, of course, you should read the disclaimer (it's in very tiny print at the back of the catalog):
"Weyland-Yutani corporation makes all AlienTech(tm) available on an As-Is basis, with no warranty whatsoever. Additionally, customer agrees to fully indemnify Weyland-Yutani corporation from any and all legal repurcussions that may result from customer's use of AlienTech(tm) products, including (but not limited to) impregnation by larval AlienTech, deaths of coworkers, family, pets, entire community, or detonation of spacecraft or Atmospheric Processor Units. Use AlienTech wisely."
Depends... (Score:3, Funny)
High end audio gear! (Score:2)
World's best portable headphones: Etymotic ER-4S, $270
World's best headphones, period: Sennheiser HE90, $7500
Get the former from www.toddthevinyljunkie.com and the latter direct from Sennheiser. Note the former needs a good portable amplifier ( www.jmtaudio.com ) and the latter a good electrostatic headphone amplifier (send an email to ddmitriev at uwaterloo dot ca , he builds the Gilmore Hybrid, which happens to be the world's best electrostatic headphone amp)
DIY robotics kit! (Score:2)
[acscontrol.com]
ACS parallel port stepper motor controller lately. Sure you can build your
own controller but this way you don't risk frying a parallel port (and it's only
20 bucks) It's really easy to program it in basic, and i've been using the
C examples to get an idea on how C works (My brain is bastardized by atari
basic)
I was also going to suggest some lego's or erector sets as a platform for the
stepper motors, but then I came across this link [8020.net]
to a company called 80/20 that makes Indu
hmm... (Score:2, Interesting)
Oh wait... you wanted hi-tech...
Pioneer DVD-R with HDD and Tivo (Score:3, Interesting)
Yes, you've been able to do this for some time in a garden variety of ways (extract to PC, analog copy to standalone burner), but all-in-one makes it pretty damn cool.
Pioneer's site isn't carrying this yet, but there was a full page ad in the USA Today ("tomorrow the world") for this. Rumor has it its not as good as the Panasonic DMR-E80H since it doesn't allow for any editing, but there's been a dearth of solid info about it thusfar.
Even without the editing ability of the Panasonic, combining DVD writing with the great Tivo UI would be super cool.
It'd be on my Christmas wishlist, but the wife just recently quit mumbling about the cost of the S2 and lifetime sub, so I think I'll just ask for the Panasonic instead.
Terapin Mine (Score:2)
Get him a gift certificate on ebay... (Score:2, Funny)
Me, I'd say use the money to buy as many old Macs as he can, run Linux on them and create his own VIP Beowulf cluster. Er...wait - VIP? Nevermind.
Bluetooth Vibrator (Score:2, Funny)
Band organ (Score:2)
Portable if you own a large truck, but recomended for stationary use, I;d love to see if few more Band Orgrans [stinsonbandorgans.com] around. Those will a smaller budget may have to "settle" with making their own [carousels.com], while those with a larger budget can get a restored antique to impress their friends.
Anyway you look at it, a beatiful and useless toy that every geek would love the opportunity to play with.
How about an X-Files Lantern ($1800-$4000) (Score:5, Informative)
Gas Powered Blender (Score:3, Funny)
No one really needs one of these, but they are pretty cool.
http://www.totallygross.com/ [totallygross.com]
easy (Score:5, Interesting)
A donation in his name.
SkyMall (Score:5, Interesting)
That small? (Score:2)
That's 400 pics at 20K each....barely large enough for buttons in web graphics.
In terms of megapixels, that's 0.2 megapixels. In an age where you can get 1 mp cameras for 20 bucks, this is not pushing the envelope for sure.
Ipods (Score:2, Informative)
Break your neck like millionaire with PowerSkips (Score:2, Funny)
Cough..Brownnose..Cough (Score:5, Insightful)
Who's to say your co-worker doesn't run to the very same VP and rat you out. When the boss comes back to check it out and asks you about the "toys" you sink yourself when you answer him thinking he just wants more information.
Having worked at a company fill of back-stabbing goons, tends to put me on a very careful stance.
-Goran
If he's a smoker (Score:2, Funny)
I know... (Score:3, Funny)
Garmin PDA/GPS Nav (Score:3, Interesting)
A palm PDA, plus NAV with GPS all built into a normal PDA sized box. It even talks to you and tells you to turn around when you've gone the wrong way. About 475$.
ique 3600 [garmin.com]
The best geek gadget of all time. (Score:5, Funny)
Then I can ask the geek to do things like "round up all of the coolest geek gadgets and let me know what they are". I will force my pet geek to address me as a "VIP" and interface with slashdot when they can't ask my questions (which makes me feel like I own many more geeks by proxy).
I will keep my geek in a cubicle next to my aquarium full of scuba-divers.
As long as you don't work at the post office... (Score:3, Interesting)
Not every day you run across a selective fire BB gun.
Imagine how "The Christmas Story" would have gone with this instead of the Red Rider BB gun.
Surprised no one mentioned this ... (Score:3, Informative)
The screen is small (2"), but ok for viewing Office Space for the 10th time while I'm commuting via train. Having all of your recent photos on board is nice too (who needs that plastic thing in your wallet?). And it does hold 500 CDs worth of music and supports mu3 playlists.
It's easily mountable to my Linux box and I believe it is less expensive that the iPod of the same hard drive size. No it doesn't look as cool as the iPod or weigh as little, but the rechargeable batteries do go about 7 hours. It's an alternative at least ...
A copy of Office Space (Score:4, Funny)
Chip H.
Nixie Clocks (Score:3, Interesting)
Follow my yellow brick org-chart (Score:4, Funny)
If the VIP's in management, how about, I dunno, a brain?
Or for that matter, a heart or some courage [imdb.com].
here's a collection with pics.... (Score:3, Interesting)
For Linux geeks: Sony Ericsson T610 mobile phone (Score:4, Informative)
Future applications: being a remote control for my laptop (playing MP3s, or controlling presentations).
Software used: Bluez [sf.net], Multisync [sf.net], Bluetooth Transfer Manager [usefulinc.com], K68 [sf.net] and (on the phone) KaBlog [rawthought.com].
Four monitor stitched together? (Score:3, Interesting)
Monitor resolution of 6400x1200 sound good?
mahlen
Succumb to natural tendencies. Be hateful and boring.
Re:What really is "cool" to a VIP? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:What really is "cool" to a VIP? (Score:2, Informative)
Hmph. Asimo. Aibo is too light.
Re:speaking of geek toys... (Score:4, Informative)
Try making them. A little wood or metalworking, and some help from a Surplus store [sciplus.com] and you should be well on your way. For comptuer interfaces, game controllers or keyboards are dirt cheap, buy one to take apart.