EDITOR’S NOTE – MARCH 24, 2009 – I get a lot of traffic to this story, a few e-mails asking questions, and great comments left for this blog entry. I’m really curious how you readers are finding this bit of text. Please leave a comment telling me how!
Behold, puny mortals, my latest thrift store acquisition! St. Vincent De Paul got the shaft as I saved 50% off this $1 piece of raw computational power. The 1986 Talking Computron by VTel features a membrane keyboard, eight-character red LED alpha-numeric display, 20 built-in programs, cartridge slot, and even a real electronic voice! It is powered by 6 C batteries or a 9v 300mA adapter. On the top of the unit written on tape it says verbatim “WURKS NEEDS BATTERYS.” Because I do not have C batteries available to power the unit I am left to wildly speculate as to the true capabilities of this device. To put this all into perspective I will compare and contrast with another deus ex machina, the Sony PlayStation 3.
- The Talking Computron has a built-in keyboard whereas the PS3 only has USB ports to plug one in. Advantage Computron.
- Both systems have fonts on the side of the machine that demand your focused attention. Advantage none.
- “Talking Computron” is 16 characters long while “PLAYSTATION 3” is only 11. Advantage Computron. Plus one for correct spacing for Computron. Minus one for PS3 for using CAPS LOCK.
- Both systems produce an image that hurts to look at in low definition. Advantage none.
- Talking Computron came with twenty built-in games plus a cartridge called “Dress Up and Theatre” while PS3 came with the Cross Media Bar. Advantage Computron.
- PS3 collects dust superbly on its shiny black surface. Talking Computron collects dust in impossible to clean edges. Advantage none.
- PS3 can interface with the PlayStation Portable. The Talking Computron has unknown interface capabilities. Which is scarier? The known or the unknown? Talking Computron plus one.
- I am drinking a tasty beverage responsibly whilst writing this. Plus one to me for responsible drinking and plus another for usage of “whilst.” Minus one for drinking it alone.
- Talking Computron features built in math software while the PS3 does not. Obviously people who blew $600 do not know the value of money. Advantage Talking Computron.
- The PS3 and Talking Computron both lack rumble functionality. Advantage none.
According to my rudimentary and lackluster American public education math skills the final totals come to Talking Computron with 6, PS3 with -1, and myself with a point. Not bad for a $0.50 investment.
September 3, 2009 Update: The Talking Computron sold for $23 on eBay sometime last month. I had no clue that it would fetch so much, let alone sell at all.
Hahaha… I have this. I have had it since I was born. It’s awesome. I can’t believe it still works. I wish I could find some games or cartilages for it.
haha 😀
Thank you for this post!
I got one of this when i was a kid, and today when sorting out my parents storage, i suddenly hear that familiar computervoice! I can not believe it is still working 😀 Mine looks slightly different – smaller and shaped monitor.
It is a great learningtool for children. As an 8 year old norwegian in mid 80s it was the most interesting and useful ‘toy’ i could ever have.
Like Robin i hope to find some of thoseadditional games.
You should go find some batteries and test it further – and save it for your kids 😀
WOW! My mom sent this link to me and I almost peed my pants! Not only was I in shock to see a computer I myself once owned, but I was also given the joy of reading your body copy! Its crazy to think that something that costs you only $.50 could beat something that costs $600 by 7 points!!! Thanks for the laugh!!!
Ha Ha!!!!!!!!! I paid $2 for this at a garage sale. It’s better than the V-Smile games. This is the first time I’ve ever seen one of these and my 60 yr old husband enjoys playing with it. Better than the PS3, most definetly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yeah. i usually dont leave comments on blogs, but i had to come in and tell you how awesome you are for bringing back computron. i am now on a mission. lol.
Mine has been sitting on the kids shelf and I finally put in batteries,wo…it still works after I broungt it for my little tikes which are now 27 and 24. I have a lot of my kids toys still. I even have the Teach Me Reader. I took a chance to look this toy up. I will be practicing tonight-LOL
I got one but the screen on the left side is missing. I love the computron man and you can not beat that eigther. And mine still work great. Lets all bring back the 80’s computron.
I too had one of these, probably in 1986, too. I had one cartridge (something to do with a Space Adventure). All the cartridge did was change the games around to make them sound different (Space/Sci Fi oriented words for the spelling games and such). When I’d get bored, I’d take out the cartridge and listen to it get confused.
Also, when it’d ask you to spell the word biscuit, it would pronounce it ‘besket’. Ahh, the wonders of 23 year old technology. I’m sure it’s collecting dust somewhere in my old room back home…
I had one as a child too! I really want another one. I remember my mother, brother and I having a blast playing Hangman. (makes me miss my mom, as she passed away two years ago)
Computron Hangman – the most awesome game ever!
if anyone wants to part with theirs, i’d be more than willing to take it off your hands! (sswett at gmail dot com)
“please choose an activity”
I got one of these at a junk sale for $1 and my nephew loves it. I wish I could find some of the other games for it… maybe someone here knows a ‘source’.
abadcar atat cox dotdot net