Okay, I normally don't just post about products in particular especially without wrapping a story around it, but this is too unbelievably cool (in the geekiest sort of way), that I couldn't resist. I'm talking about the Hammacher Schlemmer R2-D2 Home Theater System. The what now? Basically, it's an R2-D2 system that looks as cool as a garbage-can shaped droid can, except it actually can be about 500 more times productive than the "real" Artoo was in the Star Wars prequel movies.
Let's see, according to the write-up, this sucker's head "houses a DLP projection system with superior 1,500:1 contrast, and can project movies, TV shows, images, and video games from his radar eye at 1024 x 768 resolution onto walls up to 16 1/2' away, equivalent to an 80" screen; he can also rotate the viewing angle up to 65 to project images onto your ceiling. " Okay, so it's an amazing projection TV that even works on the ceiling. Not bad.
Then there's his mechanical arm housings in the front of his body, one of which has a DVD/CD player. CDs? What are those? Yeah, they thought of that too. For today's mp3-only generation, R2's vents rotate to reveal a docking station that fits most iPods, and he even has two 20-watt built-in speakers. And there's plenty of USB and memory slots to hook him up to your favorite useless tech gadgets.
And finally, he apparently moves. That's right. He moves. And R2's built-in sensors keep him from falling off tables or down stairs. So plug in your iPod, crank up some Duran Duran and see if droids can get "Hungry like the Wolf." Oh and to push the geek factor to 11, R2's remote control is concealed in a mounted model of the Millennium Falcon.
I'll take 2, please.
The bad news? Well, he's not available just yet, but models are expected in by the end of September. The worse news? He costs just a few pennies short of $2,800. There is some good news, however. At least you can snag free shipping at Hammacher Schlemmer with this coupon:
Free Standard Shipping with a purchase of $100 or more
In your shopping bag, find the box that says "Shopping from our catalog or through a special offer?" and enter code HOLAFS2. Free Shipping will appear during step 4 of checkout.
Valid through: January 31, 2008 11:59pm ET
48 contiguous United States only. Oversized or overweight items, shipping upgrades and expedited delivery will incur additional charges. Minimum purchase amount excludes taxes and freight. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount.
3 Responses to “Get your Geek On”
Well, if we combine holiday, birthday, and anniversary gifts to each other for a few years, then my husband and I could afford this as a joint gift to each other. Oh, and I wish we could trade the Millennium Falcon for one of the gorgeous silver Naboo fighters instead.
I like how you think! Now if you could only convince my wife to combine a few years' worth of presents, I'd be able to go order me up one right now. If only he came with a tap or a mini-fridge big enough for a six-pack...