Expensive Geek Toys Roundup

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Posted by michael on Friday October 3, 2003 @06:12AM from the put-it-on-my-credit-card dept.

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."

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Lego Mindstorms. by Irvu · 2003-10-03 06:13 · Score: 5, Informative

Not hideously expensive as things go but the Geekiness factor is astronomical.
1. Re:Lego Mindstorms. by Nucleon500 · 2003-10-04 06:15 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  To clarify, there are several Geekiness levels within Lego Mindstorms. The lowest level is using the lego-style graphical-intensive Windows-only macro language. One level up is using the OCX control in Visual Basic. For real Geekiness, you need to use NQC, which compiles to the RCX's limited bytecode, but has C-like syntax. Above that, there are Fourth and Java implementations that run on the RCX. And to be the king of the geeks, you must build yourself a cross-compiling GCC and use LegOS.
  
  --
  Litigious bastards
Check out Recomendo by Humba · 2003-10-03 06:13 · Score: 5, Informative

One of the best "Cool Stuff" Blogs out there is Kevin Kelly's Recomendo.

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
1. Re:Check out Recomendo by El · 2003-10-03 07:13 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  I was wondering where Kevin Kelly got the money to buy all these toys... until I saw his recommendation for the book "Revolution in Cannabis - State of the art in pot usage." That explains a lot...
  
  --
  "Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney
2. Re:Check out Recomendo by blibbleblobble · 2003-10-03 08:02 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  "One of the best "Cool Stuff" Blogs out there is Kevin Kelly's Recomendo."
  
  The other is Dan's Data, which conveniently doubles as a drop-in replacement for "Tom's Hardware"
A couple good ones by pbrinich · 2003-10-03 06:13 · Score: 3, Informative

One useful:

The Handspring Treo 600

One not as much

Airzooka Air Gun
1. Re:A couple good ones by xanadu-xtroot.com · 2003-10-03 06:19 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  /me rolls his eyes.
  
  That has a session ID in the URL. It will time out. You could've just done it the right way if you really wanted us to see that page...
  
  --
  I'm not a prophet or a stone-age man,
  I'm just a mortal with potential of a super man.
gizmodo by Sleepyguy · 2003-10-03 06:14 · Score: 5, Informative

check out gizmodo for the newest gadgets

http://www.gizmodo.com

_

--
b
1. Re:gizmodo by Anonymous Coward · 2003-10-03 06:25 · Score: 1, Informative
  
  bah, I can't stand people who are too lazy to make the click clickable.
Anything at Thinkgeek.com by Cyno01 · 2003-10-03 06:16 · Score: 4, Informative

Particularly this, i love it, but unfortunatly i bought the 256Mb before the price drop and also shortly before the released a USB2 version which isn't carried by thinkgeek yet.

--
"Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
1. Re:Anything at Thinkgeek.com by 514x0r · 2003-10-03 06:57 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  me too. analogue. or this
  
  --
  
  !(^((ri)|(mp))aa$)
Say no more... by teamhasnoi · 2003-10-03 06:23 · Score: 4, Informative

http://www.dynamism.com
I could easily spend a year's salary here.
mmmm, toys... by Tumbleweed · 2003-10-03 06:28 · Score: 4, Informative

the new 40Gig iPod is nice and pricey, and totally cool.

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/) Oh yeah. Great for hostile takeovers!
Also check out their remote control tanks that shoot BBs: http://www.backyardartillery.com/tanks/. Sweet. (don't forget the plastic Army men to go along with the tanks!)

Dan's Data (http://www.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 would do.

You can always check out the Sharper Image catalog, too. Lots of expensive junk in there.
Not Entirely Safe For Work by Anonymous Coward · 2003-10-03 06:37 · Score: 1, Informative

If your work has a company police of no nudity, please don't visit this link.
Re:Incredible earphones: $500 by matt-fu · 2003-10-03 06:39 · Score: 2, Informative

The E5s are pretty decent. I have a pair of Etymotic ER-4S, which I absolutely love, especially when I use them with a Total Airhead headphone amp.
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 or EAR-Yoshino V20. And don't forget the AKG K1k phones. Sacrilicioussss...
Re:What really is "cool" to a VIP? by Anonymous Coward · 2003-10-03 06:39 · Score: 2, Informative

Cool is teaching the Aibo to drive the segway while you control it via the 3G cameraphone taped to its head.

Hmph. Asimo. Aibo is too light.
How about an X-Files Lantern ($1800-$4000) by joe_n_bloe · 2003-10-03 06:44 · Score: 5, Informative

Everyone needs a ruggedized 6 million candlepower flashlight with an adjustable 40 degree wide to 2 degree spot beam ... right? I would certainly accept one as a gift. The only catch is it's just a bit pricey.
Ipods by johnmearns · 2003-10-03 06:48 · Score: 2, Informative

Apple ipods are awesome. It may not be cutting edge any more but it is an expensive gadget. And actually useful unlike most.

--
"I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it." -Voltaire
car mp3 player by joe_bruin · 2003-10-03 06:50 · Score: 4, Informative

how about a phatbox car mp3 player. it plugs into your stock stereo and emulates a cd changer with voice feedback. linux software is here. up to 60 gigs.

or a kenwood music keg.

or a vw/audi phatbox.

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.
1. Re:car mp3 player by joe_bruin · 2003-10-03 06:57 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  But does it support OGG?
  
  yes.
  
  http://phatbox.sixpak.org/phatbox/ogg.phtml
  
  and flac, too.
Re:Give Him... by Otter · 2003-10-03 07:04 · Score: 2, Informative

Tanya Danielle and Cassandra Knight (a spectacular blonde newcomer to the trample fetish scene) are a couple of disgruntled ex-employees who have decided to get even with the boss. They show up at his place of business one night, dressed in tiny bikinis (but of course!) and nasty high heel shoes. He expects them to serve coffee. Little does he realize that he is going to serve up vengeance!

Too bad you didn't post this before the "How Were You Fired?" story. I could have raked in Informatives, just like highly plausible stories like this and this.

--
What I'm listening to now on Pandora...
A Japanese toilet? by autophile · 2003-10-03 07:12 · Score: 2, Informative

Get a Japanese toilet...
Wired Review on toilet from Toto
Toto USA

--
Towards the Singularity.
Re:speaking of geek toys... by bluGill · 2003-10-03 07:22 · Score: 3, Informative

Try making them. A little wood or metalworking, and some help from a Surplus store and you should be well on your way. For comptuer interfaces, game controllers or keyboards are dirt cheap, buy one to take apart.
That's Googolplex by oldmacdonald · 2003-10-03 07:26 · Score: 4, Informative

A googolplex is not "sometimes just called a google." Well, I guess it is, but only by mistake. A googolplex is 10^googol or a 1 followed by 10^100 0s. Note that the search engine is spelled google, and the number googol.
Surprised no one mentioned this ... by JSkills · 2003-10-03 07:39 · Score: 2, Informative
The Archos Multimedia Jukebox 20.
- It's a:
- portable 20 GB hard drive (USB / Firewire)
- MP3 player
- JPG viewer
- MPG viewer
- MP3 recorder
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 ...
For Linux geeks: Sony Ericsson T610 mobile phone by Nailer · 2003-10-03 12:39 · Score: 3, Informative
I recently brought a Sony Ericsson T610. Its sexy, powerful, and works with Linux. Much fun to be be had with Bluetooth, IRMC, GPRS, and the inbuilt camera. So far, it:
- Takes photos with inbuilt camera, which I can then transfer to my laptop.
- Syncronizes its contacts, Todo list and Calendar with Evolution.
- Allows me to read Slashdot via WAP on the tram into work.
- Add and edit entries in my Movabletype blog.
- Gets net access for my laptop wherever I am via GPRS (only about modem speed, and kinda expensive, but good enough for email on the road).
- Recieves wallpaper, ringtones, themes and java apps from my computer. Uses JPG, GIF, MIDI and Tar (yes, that tar).
- Looks very shiny.
Future applications: being a remote control for my laptop (playing MP3s, or controlling presentations).

Software used: Bluez, Multisync, Bluetooth Transfer Manager, K68 and (on the phone) KaBlog.