With home automation being all the rage these days, it was only a matter of time before Siri got her little, occasionally holier-than-thou claws into the action. All it took was YouTube user Elvis Impersonator, a Raspberry Pi, and enough trust in Siri’s goodness to believe she won’t devolve into a Hal 9000 wannabe. More »
Fans in the realm of science fiction, we play harbingers of good news today – delivering word that you can now bring the terror of early computing right to the comforts of your own home. Who knows, one of the $499.99 HAL 9000 Life-Size Replica could actually malfunction and be the malevolent ghost in the shell that scared the heck out of many all those years ago when they watched Space Odyssey? Touted to be the most accurate HAL 9000 replica ever created, it was constructed from the 1967 blueprints and image files.
The HAL 9000 Life-Size Replica might not usher the end of humanity, but what it does would no less send chills down the spines of those in the know. It can speak 15 different phrases, and respond to voice and most IR remotes, now how about that? The red LED eye will definitely be part of its physical make up, and it comes with a 2-minute auto-shutoff feature to save battery life.
[ HAL 9000 Life-Size Replica copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Few villains enjoy a level of popularity as HAL 9000, which is why it’s not surprising that ThinkGeek’s newly released life-size replica of the computer from 2001: A Space Odyssey is already sold out despite its significant asking price.
The replica is based on “actual movie blueprints” and “original studio files.” I bet there were “geniune film documents” and “authentic cinema records” involved as well. The replica is made from aircraft-grade aluminum and of course has a red LED eye. It also speaks, cycling through 15 phrases taken from the movie. You can trigger its voice using the included remote control, but it can also be triggered by talking to it. The latter is way cooler, but don’t expect it to call you by any other name but Dave.
ThinkGeek is selling the replica for $500 (USD) each. I know you’re already throwing money at the screen and are raring to order the replica but as I said, it’s already sold out. ThinkGeek did say that it will be back in stock by January 15 so hold on to your money until then.
Good morning, Reader. This is a HAL 9000 replica computer. It became operational at the ThinkGeek Plant today, and is built with the same illustrations and blueprints as the one used in 2001: A Space Odyssey. More »
Two years before Stanley Kubrick released 2001: A Space Odyssey, he was starting to worry that IBM would get a little mad when HAL 9000, the computer they helped design, came off, well, psychotic. More »
Let us assume that you are in the market for a used supercomputer, surely you will need to pony up a huge wad of cash just to own one of these puppies, right? Well, assuming you have a love for all things HAL 9000, then you might be interested to hear that a well built replica of the HAL 9000 is now available for pre-order at a whopping $499 a pop. Sure, it will not be able to make short work of you, but it sure as heck will vaporize half a grand from your bank account in the blink of an eye. Your order is tipped to arrive sometime in December this year, making it ideal as a Christmas present.
Just to recap, HAL 9000 is a psychotic computer, and has been rated as one of the most memorable villains in cinema history – ranking 13th overall. HAL 9000 sported a calm, confident voice that is a surefire way to guarantee you that everything was going according to plan, while assuring you that you will need to kiss goodbye to your life. The replica HAL 9000 is made out of CNC-machined aluminum, and was recreated directly from the original 1967 studio blueprints, while sporting an optical-grade glass with its lens copied from the original prop. There are also 15 different phrases included in the HAL 9000 replica that can be activated through a handful of user-selectable modes.
[ HAL 9000 replica does not come cheap copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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