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."
Lego Mindstorms. (Score:5, 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
A couple good ones (Score:3, Informative)
The Handspring Treo 600 [handspring.com]
One not as much
Airzooka [thinkgeek.com] Air Gun
gizmodo (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.gizmodo.com
_
Anything at Thinkgeek.com (Score:5, Informative)
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...
Say no more... (Score:5, Informative)
I could easily spend a year's salary here.
Re:gizmodo (Score:1, Informative)
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.
Not Entirely Safe For Work (Score:1, Informative)
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...
Re:What really is "cool" to a VIP? (Score:2, Informative)
Hmph. Asimo. Aibo is too light.
How about an X-Files Lantern ($1800-$4000) (Score:5, Informative)
Ipods (Score:2, Informative)
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:Anything at Thinkgeek.com (Score:2, Informative)
Re:car mp3 player (Score:4, Informative)
yes.
http://phatbox.sixpak.org/phatbox/ogg.phtml [sixpak.org]
and flac [sourceforge.net], too.
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 highly plausible stories like this [slashdot.org] and this [slashdot.org].
A Japanese toilet? (Score:2, Informative)
Wired Review on toilet from Toto [wired.com]
Toto USA [totousa.com]
Re:Check out Recomendo (Score:5, Informative)
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.
That's Googolplex (Score:4, Informative)
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 ...
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"
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].
Re:Lego Mindstorms. (Score:4, Informative)