Few people have heard of it, yet many consider John Blankenbaker's KENBAK-1 to be the first commercial personal computer.
Your Very Own Star Trek Tricorder
By James Grahame
Based on the classic 23rd century design, this $49.99 reproduction Star Trek Tricorder measures a compact 8" x 4" x 2". It requires four AA batteries (Dilithium cells are best, but no-name Alkaline batteries will work in a pinch).
The manufacturer cleverly markets the device as a role-play replica, which is a polite way of saying, "toy for grownups who like to run around in outfits that cause four-year-olds to mistake them for The Wiggles." Kids will be equally confused by the array of sound effects taken from the original series along with some cheesy blinky lights and a removable scanner accessory.
And am I the only one who wishes that real geek gear looked a bit more like this?
Available June 4, 2009 at a Starfleet supply depot near you. Oh, a matching phaser and communicator set is also available, should you lean that way.
