Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • Accounting
  • CRM
  • Academy
Resources
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Newsletters
  • Resource Library
  • Forums
  • Sponsored
Go Premium
Popular Topics
  • Top Products
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • Accounting
  • CRM
  • Academy
  • Project Management
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Big Data
  • Tech Jobs
View All Topics
Go Premium
After Hours

TechRepublic members’ first geeky gifts

By Wally Bahny December 18, 2011, 8:48 PM PST

Image
1
of 13

_Monty_Python_and_the_Holy_Grail.jpg
_Monty_Python_and_the_Holy_Grail.jpg
TechRepublic members’ first geeky gifts

First Geeky Gift: Monty Python and the Holy Grail script

First Geeky Gift: Monty Python and the Holy Grail script

ntTechRepublic Senior Editor Mary Weilage asked members to tell us your first geeky gift, and this gallery is a compilation of some of the responses we received. (If you prefer, view the gallery items in list format.) If you haven’t already, please list your first geeky gift in the discussion.

n

ntFor many geeks, Monty Python and the Holy Grail is the epitome of classic comedies. For TechRepublic member Beth3West, receiving a copy of the script was her first really geeky present.

n

ntImage courtesy Amazon.com

TechRepublic members’ first geeky gifts

First Geeky Gift: TI -1200 Calculator

First Geeky Gift: TI -1200 Calculator

ntIn 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.

n

ntImage courtesy Vintage-Technology.info

TechRepublic members’ first geeky gifts

First Geeky Gift: Nintendo Entertainment System

First Geeky Gift: Nintendo Entertainment System

ntFor 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.

n

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

n

ntImage courtesy Amazon.com

TechRepublic members’ first geeky gifts

First Geeky Gift: Super Nintendo Entertainment System

First Geeky Gift: Super Nintendo Entertainment System

ntReleased 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.

n

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

n

ntImage courtesy Amazon.com

TechRepublic members’ first geeky gifts

First Geeky Gift: Erector Set

First Geeky Gift: Erector Set

ntOne 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.

n

ntMember 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.

n

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

n

ntImage courtesy Amazon.com

TechRepublic members’ first geeky gifts

First Geeky Gift: Cobra 29 CB Radio

First Geeky Gift: Cobra 29 CB Radio

ntOne 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.

n

ntI’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.

n

ntImage courtesy Amazon.com

TechRepublic members’ first geeky gifts

First Geeky Gift: Fidelity Chess Computer

First Geeky Gift: Fidelity Chess Computer

ntAnother 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.

n

ntImage courtesy Spacious-Mind.com

TechRepublic members’ first geeky gifts

First Geeky Gift: TI Little Professor

First Geeky Gift: TI Little Professor

ntI’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.

n

ntImage courtesy DataMath.org

TechRepublic members’ first geeky gifts

First Geeky Gift: Mechanical Pencil

First Geeky Gift: Mechanical Pencil

ntMember 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.

n

ntImage courtesy Amazon.com

TechRepublic members’ first geeky gifts

First Geeky Gift: Merlin (Classic)

First Geeky Gift: Merlin (Classic)

ntIn 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.

n

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

n

ntImage by Drew McBee for TechRepublic

TechRepublic members’ first geeky gifts

First Geeky Gift: Sony Walkman Cassette Player

First Geeky Gift: Sony Walkman Cassette Player

ntWhen 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.

n

ntImage courtesy Amazon.com

TechRepublic members’ first geeky gifts

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

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

ntMember 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.

n

ntImage courtesy Ottmar Rollmann of Radio Museum.org

TechRepublic members’ first geeky gifts

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

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

ntMember 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.

n

ntImage courtesy DataMath.org

  • After Hours
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    TechRepublic members’ first geeky gifts

    Your email has been sent

Share: TechRepublic members' first geeky gifts
Image of Wally Bahny
By Wally Bahny
  • Account Information

    Contact Wally Bahny

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Wally's content

Daily Tech Insider

If you can only read one tech story a day, this is it.

TechRepublic TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on X
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on YouTube
  • TechRepublic on Pinterest
  • TechRepublic RSS
Services
  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • Careers
Explore
  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Editorial Policy
  • Legal Terms
  • Privacy Policy
© 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
CLOSE

Create a TechRepublic Account

Get the web's best business technology news, tutorials, reviews, trends, and analysis—in your inbox. Let's start with the basics.

Already registered? Sign In
Use Facebook
Use Linkedin

* - indicates required fields

CLOSE

Sign in to TechRepublic

Not a member? Create an account
Use Facebook
Use Linkedin

Lost your password? Request a new password

CLOSE

Reset Password

Please enter your email adress. You will receive an email message with instructions on how to reset your password.

Check your email for a password reset link. If you didn't receive an email don't forgot to check your spam folder, otherwise contact support.

Back to login
1 Finish Profile
2 Newsletter Preferences
CLOSE

Welcome. Tell us a little bit about you.

This will help us provide you with customized content.

No thanks, continue without
1 Finish Profile
2 Newsletter Preferences
CLOSE

Want to receive more TechRepublic news?

Newsletter Name
Subscribe
Daily Tech Insider
Daily Tech Insider AU
TechRepublic UK
TechRepublic News and Special Offers
TechRepublic News and Special Offers International
Executive Briefing
Innovation Insider
Project Management Insider
Microsoft Weekly
Cloud Insider
Data Insider
Developer Insider
TechRepublic Premium
Apple Weekly
Cybersecurity Insider
Google Weekly
Toggle All
No thanks, continue without

You're All Set

Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye out for a confirmation email from our team. To ensure any newsletters you subscribed to hit your inbox, make sure to add [email protected] to your contacts list.

Back to Home Page
×