Crap gadget that I like because of its crapness
This is not a tale of shit quality or poorly designed tat. The item is actually pretty well built, and does what it's supposed to do very well. What's so crap about it is the entire idea, but that's also why I like it so much.

It's my watch. Which is one of those which shows the time in binary. So it's currently showing *-*- **-***

Now I've had it for a couple of years now, so I'm pretty good at reading it, but it still requires thought (some numbers more than others). Which rather defeats the object of a watch, which should be as simple to read as possible.

The other thing which appeals to me is that there are two ways to build such a device: the obvious one would need almost no circuitry, since a very simple set of binary flip-flops run from the crystal could drive the lights directly.

But I can guarantee that in fact a standard watch chip, which goes to great lengths to work in decimal / base 60 / base 24, has been used to drive custom circuitry which converts it BACK into binary. Laughably inefficient.

Yes, I'm a geek. I know that, you don't have to tell me. But I'll tell you one thing: I've never before had a watch which makes complete strangers come up and ask me about it. This happens all the time, often in foreign countries, which does strain my limited linguistic skills... What's "binary" in Portuguese?
(moon monkey is busy making memories worth repressing, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 11:05, 5 replies)

A friend of mine has one of those
When people ask him for the time, he replies "Look for yourself".
( MatJ LOOK, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 13:46, closed)

There are 10 kinds of people in the world
...etc
(moon monkey is busy making memories worth repressing, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 14:22, closed)

oh dear
upon reading this, I immediately went to ebay to look for a binary wristwatch, I will buy one. Because I am weak.
( discomeats This canoe, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 19:12, closed)

I've always wanted one until i read your post
This binary-decimal-binary ugliness puts me off. It means that if i did buy one like this then somewhere, somehow, a geek will be sniggering at me.
(CADmonkey rollllllllled another one, just like the other one, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 19:54, closed)

I've got one of those
nice, flashy, makes people talk to you.
The bloody battery ran out last month so I popped it open and guess what.
Impossible to change it. Bloody welded in.
(Captain Spacker I lick windows, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 20:02, closed)