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."
"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...
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)
If you want really expensive ... (Score:5, Interesting)
cool desk to put all the stuff on.. (Score:4, Interesting)
An Apple iPod (Score:5, Interesting)
I want one so bad...
CLK-GTR Roadster. (Score:3, Interesting)
'Nuf said.
Early Adopters (Score:3, Interesting)
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.
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?
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.
Flying spycams! (Score:1, Interesting)
easy (Score:5, Interesting)
A donation in his name.
SkyMall (Score:5, Interesting)
How's this for a desk? (Score:1, Interesting)
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]
AirScooter II (Score:2, Interesting)
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.
Nixie Clocks (Score:3, Interesting)
Didn't feel like reading the whole thing (Score:2, Interesting)
one of these monitors and a nice laptop for travel.
Pimp Monitor [go-l.com]
Dtagan Flyer (Score:1, Interesting)
http://www.rctoys.com/draganflyer4.php
Computer assisted electric RC Helicopter with a camera.
here's a collection with pics.... (Score:3, Interesting)
Archos AV340 Does All Of This And More... (Score:2, Interesting)
Of course it costs nearly as much as a cheap laptop, but you can't beat the functionality for its size!
Also, a great site to check regularly is I4U. [i4u.com] This site is updated on a daily basis with the greatest drool-inducing toys you've ever seen!
Four monitor stitched together? (Score:3, Interesting)
Monitor resolution of 6400x1200 sound good?
mahlen
Succumb to natural tendencies. Be hateful and boring.
TiVo, Hacking TiVo book, and a torx screwdriver (Score:2, Interesting)
1) Buy him/her a Series1 TiVo (much easier to hack, or if you know their up-to-speed, then you can get him/her Series2 40 or 60 hour model if you can find one, rather than the 80).
2) Hacking TiVo: The Expansion, Enhancement and Development Starter Kit with CD-ROM [amazon.com], by Jeff Keegan.
3) A #10 Torx screwdriver.
You can let him/her go buy their own additional hard drive, though if you decide you've gotta buy that too get 120 gig or 160 gig IDE drive (doesn't have to be faster than 5400 rpm).
(By the way, the B in IMHBO stands for biased.