Fans of The Big Bang Theory probably remember Raj Koothrappali’s room as a monument to awkward genius, and there was one thing that constantly stood out: a 22-inch monitor with speakers that appeared to float, wrapped in a coating of glass. Dell created the Crystal (model C22W). It debuted in early 2008 for $1,199 (about … Read more
In January 1977, a peculiar box appeared on the shelves of American electronics retailers, marking a company’s attempt to carve out a share of the expanding video game business. RCA, the radio and television behemoth, introduced the Studio II, a home video gaming device that transforms your TV into a “entertainment center for family pleasure.” … Read more
In 1991, SEGA released the Game Gear, a handheld console that dared to challenge Nintendo’s monochrome Game Boy with a color backlit screen. But SEGA didn’t stop at games. They pushed the boundaries of what a portable device could do and introduced an accessory that turned the Game Gear into a pocket TV. The TV … Read more
Mattel, the company behind Barbie and Hot Wheels, entered the video game business in 2006 with the HyperScan, a console for tweens that combined physical trading cards with digital gaming. It was released on October 23, 2006, for $69.99, just as the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii were expected to dominate the holiday season. Its … Read more