What’s worse than having a hipster as your greatest buddy? That’s proper; having to purchase your hipster greatest buddy a Christmas reward. There are solely a finite variety of Rick and Morty, uh, tea trays to go round. It helps that they’re into tech, however for the lifetime of you, nothing ever appears to please them. Something Apple is out as is one thing from Samsung’s catalogue. A Nokia telephone with a 1.77in show, although? Now you’re beginning to get it.
So what’s the trick? Disguise a chunk of tech in a retro-looking shell with the occasional splurge of leather-based and also you’re golden. Fret not. Stuff has compiled an inventory of all the perfect retro tech that’ll go away that hipster-retro buddy slightly happier on the opposite aspect of Christmas. We’ve executed all of the work — although you’ll want to select up a replica of the December/January concern of Stuff to get our meatier and significantly extra intensive listing. You’ll be able to both try this proper right here or attempt your luck with a kind of shops that promote magazines. There’s an excellent likelihood we’ll be there, however while you’ve bought a wonderfully good sofa calling your title, why take the chance?
2023 Reward Information – Retro Version
An precise Arcade Machine
In case you’ve ever introduced up gaming across the actual buddy we’re describing you’ve most likely heard this assertion (greater than as soon as): “Avenue Fighter 2 is the one recreation price enjoying,” earlier than describing a darkish and dingy room surrounded by LED screens he claims was the place he grew up. In brief, an arcade. So… get them that.
Not an arcade (except your Christmas bonus went tremendous effectively this yr), however a real-life arcade machine that gained’t require a mortgage software to get into your property. One which’s bought Avenue Fighter on it, alongside 1,999 different video games. Hell, it’ll even make that buddy some cash, in the event that they’ve bought a dark- and dingy-enough room of their very own to stay it into. We’d wish to see a PS5 pull that off.
R8,700 | cosmiccomics.on-line
Azio Retro Compact Keyboard
We completely perceive the urge to personal a typewriter. It someway makes you are feeling such as you’ll get extra writing executed – on a chunk of tech that hasn’t been used because the 80s. It doesn’t. We might know. However a daily keyboard that appears like a typewriter? Signal us up.
It’s slathered in that leather-based stuff we talked about earlier, can connect with a PC or Mac, and gained’t annoy anyone who occurs to be within the neighborhood. It’s nonetheless that bought a satisfying clicky-clack that’s all you’re actually after in a typewriter. The keys are backlit too, offering one more excuse for that buddy to place off their writing as they bemoan the keyboard’s authenticity. Belief us, they’ll find it irresistible.
$230 (R4,350) | amazon.com
Koss Professional-4AA Headphones
The Koss model goes again. Means again. It launched the topic of this information — the Koss Professional-4AA — a burly pair of studio-quality headphones that manages to carry out (and effectively) whereas holding onto all the standard hallmarks that simply scream ’70s’. Meaning a coiled wire, “superior noise isolation” and extra IBM Beige than you’ll know what to do with. They’re a useful reward for the retro-loving audiophile in your life who additionally occurs to be slightly clumsy, with Koss’ 70s construct high quality shining via. It helps that the sound isn’t all dangerous, both.
You’ll be able to thank Koss’ dynamic 10-25,000Hz frequency response for that. You’ll wrestle to search out these in South Africa although. Amazon will get it to you, positive, however in case you’re aiming for a pre-Christmas morning supply, you’ll need to get transferring. Quick.
$100 (R1,900) | amazon.com
Household Laptop Retro Recreation console
If a real-life arcade machine doesn’t match the Christmas finances, you’ll must get artistic for that gaming-loving retro buddy. You’ll be able to go down the licensed route of nostalgia-bait gaming with one thing from Nintendo or Atari straight. Licensed means costly. Unlicensed is one other story. We’ve discovered one thing that matches that invoice (and finances) — a Famiclone which seems practically similar to the unique Famicom. That’s all that issues right here, proper?
In case you do get the urge to tug this down off a shelf and switch it on, the included 132-in-1 cartridge ought to do an excellent job on Christmas morning. It’s bought just a few classics loaded up, like Tremendous Mario, Kung Fu Grasp, and Contra to call just a few, and even has two controllers that’ll get everybody concerned on Christmas morning. We are able to’t promise the provider will stick with a guaranty like Nintendo or Atari would, however for R600, we reckon it’s definitely worth the threat.
R600 | takealot.com
AKG Lyra C44
There’s an excellent likelihood the phrase “we should always begin a podcast” has been seared into the again of your mind. Any self-proclaimed retro-lover who desires to be something within the podcasting world has most likely heard of the AKG Lyra C44-USB microphone. Microphones are an important piece of package, and in relation to one which took visible cues from the AKG C414 condenser, it’s tough to disregard.
High quality comes at a price, although. You’re paying just a few thousand to come up with the mic’s HD audio, 24-bit/192 kHz conversion, a built-in shockmount, and a simplistic design that places us in thoughts of a Nineteen Fifties radio presenter. We’re not claiming that this particular microphone is a necessity for podcasting, vlogging and even producing music. It’s simply an added bonus that’ll make every part that rather more enjoyable.
R3,550 | a1sound.co.za
NAD C 3050 Stereophonic Amplifier
You would possibly need to sit down for this one. In case your eyes have already drifted off to the worth under, there’s no extra hiding it. Our subsequent reward — the NAD C 3050 Stereophonic Amplifier — will set your pockets again R38,000. Hell, we’d keep distant from choosing this up for a buddy. Slightly get one among these for your self. Choose up that unlicensed Famicom we talked about and snag your self an early Christmas current. Don’t fear. Your secret’s secure with us.
As with virtually every part on this listing, it’s the classic look that bought us . The tech is nice and all — particularly within the case of the C 3050 — however there’s simply one thing about that 70s look that will get us going. It’s straight impressed by the NAD 3030 amplifier, with twin illuminated VU meters, precise bodily button controls, and a vinyl cupboard that dons a walnut coating to finish the retro look.
R38,000 | audioholics.co.za
Olympus E-M10 Mark IV
Whereas we’re massive followers of the Instax model within the Stuff workplaces, the model’s less-than-retro look would possibly dissuade the group being purchased for from taking an curiosity. That’s the place the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is available in. It ticks loads of containers tech-wise; a 20.3MP micro four-thirds sensor, 4K video capabilities, and a beautiful 2.36m-dot OLED digital viewfinder. That’s not all it might probably do, however we’d be right here all day if we sat down and listed them.
It ticks all of the design containers too, being extra into leather-based than Tobias Fünke. It is perhaps lacking a ‘conventional’ strobe flash, however the silver steel end ought to do a adequate job at making up for that.
R13,800 | cameraland.co.za
Retro Fashionable Bluetooth Moveable Radio
Our last product is one which’ll make whoever owns it really feel like they’re out dwelling in some Fallout-themed world (earlier than s*** hits the fan, that’s). You’ll be able to’t ask for greater than that from the Bluetooth speaker/radio combo that’s on supply right here. It’s bought FM/AM/SW capabilities, a chargeable battery, and a reasonably wooden coating that’s the only real focus of its inclusion right here. That, and people two bodily knobs that deal with quantity and frequencies. The added USB port and three.5mm aux enter don’t harm issues, both.
R2,500 | takealot.com