TechRepublic members' first geeky gifts

First Geeky Gift: TI -1200 Calculator

In the 1970s, calculators were a relatively new type of device -- and were fairly pricey. In 1975, a five-year-old Donovan Colbert asked his family for a Texas Instruments TI-1200 calculator for Christmas. This was one of the first signs of the level of geek he would achieve.

Image courtesy Vintage-Technology.info

First Geeky Gift: Nintendo Entertainment System

For many of us born in the late '70s and early '80s, the 8-bit graphics of the Nintendo Entertainment System had a major impact on our early lives. (My favorite games were the Super Mario Brothers series.) In later years, a revised console was released that featured the top-load cartridge slot like the Super Nintendo (which means we didn't have to wedge another cartridge in on top of the one we wanted to play anymore). Member Greg.E.Meyer fondly remembers having to hunt for a VHF/UHF adapter to be able to play his Nintendo.

The Nintendo Entertainment System is still available for purchase on the Amazon Marketplace!

Image courtesy Amazon.com

First Geeky Gift: Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Released a few years after the original, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System offered 16-bit graphics and continued some of the favorite game franchises while adding a few of its own. Member Slayer_'s first game was Mario Kart. The Super Nintendo also went through a slightly less impactful redesign in its later years.

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is available for purchase on the Amazon Marketplace.

Image courtesy Amazon.com

First Geeky Gift: Erector Set

One toy that has been enjoyed for generations is the Erector Set. The brand name has changed over the years, though it ran under the ownership of Gilbert from 1913 to 1966 according to this list.

Member NickNielsen is wistful that his Erector Set 4, #10354 did not survive his brothers' childhoods. For those of you across the pond in Europe like member HAL 9000, you may remember the Meccano brand name, which is (now, at least) the same product.

To remember the good old days, pick up a new set at places such as Amazon.

Image courtesy Amazon.com

First Geeky Gift: Cobra 29 CB Radio

One gift that defined member techr's childhood was a Cobra 29 series CB radio his dad and he received for Christmas. "Little Professor" could "DX" 20 miles from home barefoot with this.

I'm surprised that the 29 series is still for sale - new - today at places such as Amazon. I guess CB technology hasn't changed in 30 years.

Image courtesy Amazon.com

First Geeky Gift: Fidelity Chess Computer

Another of techr's childhood geeky toys was the Electronic Chess game from Fidelity. Collector Nick at Spacious Mind has a huge number of Chess computers including those made by Fidelity, which he has archived on his site.

Image courtesy Spacious-Mind.com

First Geeky Gift: TI Little Professor

I'm not sure if this was the item member MikeGall was referring to, but his comments reminded me of the Texas Instruments Little Professor math game many kids in the '70s and early '80s owned. Little Professor prompted the child with simple math problems in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division and asked them to enter the answer.

Image courtesy DataMath.org

First Geeky Gift: Mechanical Pencil

Member HAL 9000 also shared his memory of his first Propelling Pencil (which, to be honest, took me a while to realize it is the same as the Mechanical Pencil). Mechanical/Propelling pencils are common stock these days, ranging in price from a few cents up to $13 or more. I hope the pencil featured here is a reasonable facsimile of the type of pencil HAL 9000 refers to in his discussion post.

Image courtesy Amazon.com

First Geeky Gift: Merlin (Classic)

In 2008, contributor Drew McBee cracked open his classic Merlin game and gave us a peek at what was inside this classic 1978 game. Member necessaryevil remembers his Merlin game fondly. He still owns the game, and it still works.

An updated version of Merlin, made by Hasbro, is available for purchase.

Image by Drew McBee for TechRepublic

First Geeky Gift: Sony Walkman Cassette Player

When I was a kid in the '80s the Sony Walkman Cassette Player was a highly sought-after product, earning kids who owned one high status among his classmates. By the time I wanted such a device, there were plenty of competitor brands, but the Sony Walkman still reigned supreme. Some sellers still have them available on the Amazon Marketplace.

Image courtesy Amazon.com

First Geeky Gift: Radio Shack 150-in-one Electronics Project Kit

Member techr also suggested the Radio Shack 150-in-one Electronics Project Kit. This kit is one of several that Radio Shack and other vendors had available for aspiring electronics geeks to build their knowledge of various components and learn how they interact to build complex electronic systems.

Image courtesy Ottmar Rollmann of Radio Museum.org

First Geeky Gift: TI-59 Calculator and PC-100C Printer

Member AnsuGisalas remembers his dad's TI-59 Calculator that could dock to a PC-100C printer, thereby converting it into an adding machine. Quite an interesting concept from the '70s, making a calculator that could be converted into an adding machine. It probably made it cheaper because you only had to purchase the calculator portion once.

Image courtesy DataMath.org