Dream Cheeky makes a variety of fun, novelty tech gadgets. From their site, they appear to have redesigned some of their more popular items to work with the iPad series, as well as with both Windows and Mac OS. To be fair, I am uncertain if this would work under Linux. As it says that it works with Skype, and Skype is Linux compatible, it may. It may also work if run through WINE.
Star Trek went on the air in 1966. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, Uhura, Sulu, Chekov, some recurring characters, and a host of ill-fated redshirts traveled the galaxy, exploring strange new worlds, seeking out new life and new civilizations, boldly going where no man had gone before.
In a lot of ways, the show did just that, both culturally and technologically. While the idea of the computer was nothing new; the devices used in the program, and later movies, spinoffs, sequels, reboots, and even copycats would go on to inspire devices we have today. We still don't have transporters or warp drive, but we do have something very much like the communicator in some of our cell phones.
Star Trek has developed and maintained such a following over its 4+ decades of existence, that there are always merchandising opportunities. This product from Dream Cheeky takes advantage of the popularity of 'Trek, and the popularity of VOIP communications (Skype, MSN, AIM, Yahoo!, etc). Great attention to detail of the Original Series model was taken. It even makes the famous "chirp" noise, that they were known for, when opened
Bought for yourself, or that special Trekkie on your shopping list, this is a fun accessory for frequent users of these communication programs. The MSRP is $49.99 from the manufacturer, but can also be found on sites such as Amazon. User reviews have been fairly favorable, with no criticism on craftsmanship. Two ** ratings involve one "the speaker is not loud enough" and one "it would be better if cordless" criticisms.
So, the Communicator Phone is practical for Trekkies that use VOIP service. How economical is it? The $49.99 manufacturer price seems a bit steep to me. I'm not a big user of Skype (or other) programs, so I would not be able to get the right use out of it. If I did, however, I think it would be fun to use. Dream Cheeky products are available at other retailers (like Amazon), and sometimes for lower prices. In this case, Amazon lists this available new from 3 sellers starting at $23.99.
Depending on budget and final cost, I think this looks to be a fun and practical gift to for the right person. It's safe to say that non-Trekkies may not appreciate it the same way, and non-VOIP using fans may have more suitable gifts.
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Another Star Trek gift here:
Star Trek brought these lovable, fertile, and hungry little critters into our lives in the Star Trek episode The Trouble With Tribbles.
Think Geek assures buyers that these tribbles are "engineered to be sterile". So, you only will have what you order. They are said to have a calming effect on most humanoids (except Klingons). These tribbles also eat AA and AAA batteries, instead of quadrotiticale.
Think Geek's price of $14.99 for small, or $19.99 for large or pink seems fairly reasonable. While it may appear to be just a hairball, it is a licensed product, and is interactive. It will make noise and move about when disturbed. Quite possibly, this would be a better gift for your favorite Trekkie than Furby. Sorry Hasbro.
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