Toy Chest: Omnibot 2000
When I was 11 the Omnibot 2000 was at the top of my holiday list (catalog description). It came with a remote control with a built-in microphone. It had a digital alarm clock and a cassette player that could play normal audio tapes, but you could also use it to record and play back programming commands. So you could program the robot to wheel itself up to Fido and freak him out by playing your voice remotely. Also important was the included beverage tray which would have been great for being served Tang at ankle-height. All of this nerdy awesomeness came at a hefty price. Sadly, costing $500 in 1985 put it solidly in the same category of attainability as an Apache attack helicopter, which I also wanted.
Rita Smith Said,
November 14, 2007 @ 9:13 pm
Sorry you never got this essential gift. Here is hoping it hasn’t marred you permanently. We did however give you a helicopter ride. Does that count? Isn’t it nice to be independently wealthy so you can buy yourself all you desire? I actually thought the Death Star was the essential gift. Oops.
Love you, Mom
Aaron Said,
November 14, 2007 @ 11:14 pm
I remember that ride, and yes, that more than makes up for it. I know this sounds trite, but if I got everything I wanted when I was eleven, I’d be a worse person than I am today.