Is a cyberpunk calculator worthy of a souvenir?

Question

Do it yourself

Greetings to all community members!
The topic is created in order to study the demand. Although, this is a strong word ... to find out the opinion of Khabrovites - it will be more correct that way.
In general, the essence is this. I have a friend who is a good engineer. In his free time, he constantly designs and solders something. Now he wants to upgrade an old desktop Soviet cyberpunk calculator (or steampunk - I'm incompetent here, sorry). Those. modern electronics are combined with warm analog, and the design is appropriate. The fact is that initially commerce was not supposed, it will be done for the soul. It is planned to make several copies, but not at once, but in turn - so that ideas and execution evolve. The cost of one copy is about 7 thousand rubles, and the salaries in our regions are so-so. Therefore, we see only such a scheme: making a copy, selling it, receiving money for the next project. And the question is: is the community interested in such crafts? As for me, it's an original gift for a geek.
As for the price, the forecast is as follows - the first few copies will be sold almost at cost. How it will look like - I will attach pictures with similar products found on the network to the post (if you recognize your product and are against using its photo, then let me know and I will delete it) and the calculator itself in stock. True, there are mostly watches, but the train of thought is in the same direction.
Please speak up in the comments.
Thanks in advance for your participation.

Answer 1

this is steampunk) in cyberpunk there should be holographic displays and the same keys) it is also desirable to cut down the connector for direct connection to the brain)
and steampunk is just a kind of retro style, with a predominance of brass in details. they usually decorate the whole thing with all sorts of gears from watches or tubes (for a steam type)
and, as far as I understand, people do this themselves more often than they look for where to buy, because there is a buzz from the process itself. it's like with modding, you can buy yourself a computer from alienware and stop perceiving its appearance after a month, or you can do everything yourself, write a bunch of posts on the Internet and then tease guests, constantly poking "that's what I drank myself"

Answer 2

Well, if you make a calculator on such lamps, to be honest, I’m not sure that it will be comfortable to count something for a long time, so I would suggest putting the clock in there, at least somehow it will be used.)

Answer 3

About 4 years ago, I brought home 4 calculators from a warehouse with ancient pieces of iron, like the top one, only with gas-discharge indicators. Awesome comfortable keyboard and generally a pleasure to work with. Three immediately went their separate ways, as far as I know people use it. My own broke down six months later, but there was absolutely no desire to fix it (to the question of the reliability of warm tube, but sometimes unreliable products.
It is quite possible to distribute homemade products in small quantities via the Internet, but of course at an affordable price, with an outstanding or unique external appearance and assembly.
But I note: if you execute it on microcontrollers, you will lose three-quarters of the possible sales market, because you can buy such a remake from China, and the buzz is not the same. It's like a vinyl player on one and a half chips in a plastic case. You can buy a lot of used calculators on the Internet, including faulty ones for a couple of thousand rubles per bag. Leave the filling, the keyboard is also possible, make the case and indication. Steampunk? An opening door, where rows of transistors are visible, or a translucent window, illuminated by warm neon. And compare this spectacle with a microcontroller.

Answer 4

Looks amazing! Especially if you sing the clock!

Answer 5

Well, the last 3 options look promising. In terms of execution, I don’t see anything complicated - even a schoolboy will be able to collect ATMEGA on some thread. Here the price will be accuracy and design.

Answer 6

The market is specific.
If you make sure that the product is in demand not only by stubborn geeks, then there will be success
. If not, then it will remain a hobby.