[UPDATE: It was pointed out to me on Twitter that ThinkGeek is the actual manufacturer.]
This price is maybe a little less obnoxious than it looks at first glance: this Pip-Boy isn’t a glorified phone case. It’s something that syncs to your Bluetooth-enabled phone or tablet and lets you use it via proxy. Which is admittedly kind of cool:
…and also explains the price. A little. They still know darn well that enough Fallout 4 fans with sufficient disposable income will buy these things at that price point.
Want.
Impractical.
Want.
Expensive.
Want.
Well, at least one thing you can say about Bethesda: they understand the burning desires of the fanbase when it comes to memorabilia.
*muttermutter* When I was young, a calculator watch was the height of consumer-based technology.
.
And you kids get offa my lawn! *muttermutter*
You can still spend $90 on a TI-84 calculator if you really want.
It’s surprising nobody’s written an Android/iOS app that does all the same stuff a lot cheaper (unless someone has, of course.)
I remember when I was a senior in high school, one of my classmates was showing off his new scientific calculator. It was an SR120, I think, and he said it cost $350. In 1975 dollars. Sheesh. Sone things, at least, have improved.
A chance to tell a calculator based funny story does not come along all that often.
–
When I was a sophomore in High school, I had been using my dad’s old scientific calculator (that he had been using when he was in the army and in college afterwards- late 60’s early 70’s.) It was a massive thing. Well, around 20 years into it’s life (’89 or ’90) it’s rechargeable batteries burst and kind of ruined it. My parent’s took me to a store to buy a new one (and I do not remember the store.) The one I picked out was a Hewlett Packard 20S.
–
I picked it because I really liked the way the keys had a lot of tactile response to them. It had a good weight to it. It was expensive (like $40-60) and Mom (dual Art and English major) scoffed at the price. Dad (electrical engineer) said something along the lines of: a calculator that will not crap out on you during an exam or when you need it (and you will find you need one more than you think) is something that was worth the money.
–
So I used this thing throughout high school, throughout College (Chemistry), and at work for the next 20 years or so- and it never once let me down and I used it at least once a week the entire time. I had never had to change the batteries. It is powered by these three massive watch batteries (no solar assist for this one.) So around 5 years ago, I bought some replacements for when the original ones crapped out.
–
This year, I moved, and while unpacking, I pulled the calculator out of a box and turned it on to make sure it worked. My girlfriend, who was in the room, was wondering why I suddenly started laughing my ass off, staring at a calculator. I had to try to explain to her why a low battery light on a calculator I had bought 27 years ago was so funny.
I think a Google search might show that you have the first usage of the phrase “calculator based funny story”.
Well, they had me ready to break out my credit card until I read at the bottom of the item description “Does not interface with game”. Umm….no sale. Cute idea and all, but if it doesn’t function with the game it’s really just an expensive piece of cosplay gear. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but not what I’m looking for.