Adafruit's Monochron retro clock now on sale, changes time with every match point

You might have the vaguest of memories seeing this piece before -- it made a cameo in an Engadget Show segment -- but here we are with a much clearer picture of Adafruit Industries' Monochron clock, now also on sale! As is its modus operandi, the timepiece is open source... but should you plan on sticking to default, you'll be gifted with a great retro-style Table Tennis for two. The best part? The time changes whenever the clock "loses" -- something tells us that gives one side at least a 59-to-1 advantage. See for yourself after the break.

[Sonicjet Posted Feb 26th 2010 9:34PM]

Ok....I want one of these......where is the price?

[Sonicjet Posted Feb 26th 2010 9:36PM]

@Sonicjet
Ok..I did some research and it is a kit and is $80.
http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=39&products_id=204

[sweet greggo Posted Feb 26th 2010 9:35PM]

I will have this.

[choeppner Posted Feb 26th 2010 9:44PM]

420... really?

[SaggyBalls Posted Feb 26th 2010 9:48PM]

@choeppner

Good catch, you beat me to it.

[Special Agent Steve Posted Feb 26th 2010 10:26PM]

@choeppner
I don't get it...

[Special Agent Steve Posted Feb 26th 2010 10:28PM]

@choeppner
Unless you mean... the "cannabis event". For some reason I was thinking along the lines of 24.

[SonnySideUp Posted Feb 26th 2010 10:49PM]

@Special Agent Steve
I dont get it ... because I got high, because I got high, because I got hiiiiigh

[sweet greggo Posted Feb 26th 2010 10:37PM]

@arsenalPV4
I will have them all!!!

[SonnySideUp Posted Feb 26th 2010 10:50PM]

@arsenalPV4
Let's see.. pay 300 or 80.. TOUGH choice /sarcasm

[SaggyBalls Posted Feb 26th 2010 11:08PM]

@arsenalPV4

Haha, look at the seller's username on the auction, it ends in PV4. This dude is spamming Engadget to direct traffic to his listings. What a doucher. But, since you're here, please explain the difference between "fake" and "real" pong clocks.

[Shadyman Posted Feb 26th 2010 11:11PM]

@SaggyBalls:
Ladyada's open vs "original" closed source? :D

I like the line on the ebay page.. "LIMITED EDITION OF 400 - SOLD OUT IN LESS THAN A DAY!!!"... Because he bought them all? Hmm...

[arsenalPV4 Posted Feb 26th 2010 11:34PM]

@SaggyBalls

Good one Poindexter.

I didn't tell anyone to bid... but when one of the original Pong clocks comes up for sale - something that hasn't happened since 2006 - it's a bit of news when compared to this knockoff junk.

Maybe if you had the connections to acquire technology instead of posting on Engadget all day you could make it somewhere. Bit harsh but the truth to be fair.

[arsenalPV4 Posted Feb 26th 2010 11:36PM]

@Shadyman

http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/10/pong-clock-unboxing-finally/

You're right. You shouldn't listen to Engadget.

[p0p0 Posted Feb 27th 2010 12:08AM]

@arsenalPV4

What makes these "Original Famous" clocks? I mean bloody hell, I have a sub $200 tablet that I could easily write a program to do this with.

Its a silly novelty. Its not even a unique silly novelty now because of these.
You really love tooting your own horn don't you bud?

And what "connections" do you need to acquire technology? As far as I know, all you need is the internet and a credit card. You, you're in a special group called "everybody".

Oh, and way to look like a jackass, jackass.

[arsenalPV4 Posted Feb 27th 2010 12:18PM]

@p0p0

You're right... "everyone" can get something that Engadget can't even get its hands on.

[mryuk Posted Feb 27th 2010 12:22AM]

This seems to be a pretty blatant rip-off of the Pong Clock. I know that Atari was very strict on the licensing for it so I will be surprised to see Adafruit get away with this one.

[bohoy2k Posted Feb 27th 2010 1:18AM]

I actually have a free screensaver called "PongSaver" which is identical to this.

[wreckerxxx Posted Feb 27th 2010 4:30PM]

I built a PongClock out of an old laptop using this screensaver. I had started off trying to build a Digital picture frame, but this way more cooler to display. Cost me about $125 ($45 for the frame, $60 for an old lappy and some misc supplies).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLkhT-J2vaQ

[SaggyBalls Posted Feb 27th 2010 1:50AM]

@arsenalPV4
You make me laugh.

[mtnDewFTW Posted Feb 27th 2010 4:49AM]

lol I wonder why they stopped at 4:20 ;)

[JimJam707 Posted Feb 27th 2010 1:03PM]

If I had this I would go and check the time and just spend hours staring at the clock. I would then forget the time and repeat the process.

[GeneKam Posted Feb 28th 2010 2:52AM]

I hope it's cheap :). This might be one on the best ideas for a table top clock to date!