Gadgets
Casio Data Bank Watch, Geek Chic
Posted by Mark Wilson at 3:05 AM on March 1, 2008
After losing our Paul Frank calculator watch to our arch nemesis the washing machine, we've been searching the Earth (a few internet sites a handful of times a month) for a suitable replacement. Our latest contender is this metal link Casio Data Bank watch, a sort of upper middle class citizen of the retro calculator watch world. While we debate as to whether or not this geek badge is worth our US$80, we'll turn away so you can shyly remove that calculator watch you've been wearing for the last 15 years...without the snarky, ironic intent. [product via retrotogo]

Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
SuppleMonkey
Posted 4:41 AM 1/3/08
It doesn't transform into a mini-robot? Sorry, not interested.
SuppleMonkey
Texas_technoman
Posted 4:41 AM 1/3/08
I still have my original Telememo, still works, wear it to work once in a while to impress the young geeks.....
Texas_technoman
Geisrud
Posted 4:41 AM 1/3/08
These calc-watches are notoriously sensitive to water. I never understood how some watches can withstand depths that can crush a submarine and work fine, but dribble a drop of water on one of these and you might as well buy a new one.
Geisrud
draconis2941
Posted 4:41 AM 1/3/08
I used to use mine to cheat on spelling tests in elementary school! That was back in the days when teachers really weren't tech savy.
draconis2941
spicedham
Posted 4:41 AM 1/3/08
Wow, memories. I started with just the calculator watch, and then got the memo version to store phone numbers. I went through three different models, each time painstakingly entering in all my contacts. Until I got to high school and it was brought to my attention that I wasn't cool.
spicedham
workingonyourinvoice
Posted 4:41 AM 1/3/08
just realized that this is the calculator only model, not the memo variant.
workingonyourinvoice
MrSmoofy
Posted 4:41 AM 1/3/08
Yea I remember having this back in elementary school as well although mine was black and not metal. I thought it was cool cause I could keep the info of my friends in it. Although wearing it made me a total geek and well the watch was always almost empty all the time.
MrSmoofy
ninjagin
Posted 4:41 AM 1/3/08
Mine was the Armitron variant. They're definetly coming back into geek-chic.
ninjagin
workingonyourinvoice
Posted 4:41 AM 1/3/08
Mine was the black one with the plastic band in elementary school. TeleMemo FTW!
It was the single greatest possession of my childhood, until it was ruined prematurely by some water damage (I think I pressed a button by accident in the pool once). One of the great tragedies of my life when it died.
workingonyourinvoice
MagnoliaBoy
Posted 4:41 AM 1/3/08
Who knew they could make calculators so small? What's next, computer watches, TV watches? Ha, sure, that'll be the day.
MagnoliaBoy
Stang70Fastback
Posted 4:41 AM 1/3/08
Are you guys serious? This watch has been around for YEARS. I had one of those all the way back in ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. The last one I had before I gave up on watches was one that looked almost exactly like that. It might actually have been that one. I remember it had TWO LCD screens - a black one and a blue one overlayed on top with icons to access like a menu. Pretty slick watch - and still very ultra-modern and gadgety, but you're still at least 7 years behind, lol.
Stang70Fastback
izim1
Posted 4:41 AM 1/3/08
still have mines from 1985.........
izim1
SchruteBuck
Posted 4:41 AM 1/3/08
Also known as the Casio Celibacy.
SchruteBuck
Weihovah
Posted 5:46 AM 1/3/08
$80? really? has inflation really been that bad? i feel so old now
Weihovah
Mr. Black
Posted 5:46 AM 1/3/08
This post brought up long forgotten repressed memories...I had one which was stolen from a gym locker back in middle-school...now I'm on eBay as "therapy".
Mr. Black
ideaman2020
Posted 5:46 AM 1/3/08
I actually owned, wore, and calculated on one of those old Casio calculator watches.
The buttons were pretty small, though.
Ahh... memories...
ideaman2020
thirdchild
Posted 5:46 AM 1/3/08
I actually owned one of those old Casio calculator watches. ^^
thirdchild
henri
Posted 5:46 AM 1/3/08
is what i was thinking of. picture found here: [thegame.jellytip.com]
Guess the game was called "Digital Invaders"
henri
apeguero
Posted 5:46 AM 1/3/08
Nice how they have the pretty model with buck teeth wearing one on the product page :)
apeguero
henri
Posted 5:46 AM 1/3/08
which one had that number matching game? I'm pretty sure it was a Casio from the early 80s
the game used a second row on the top right of the display for something...
henri
ashwinmudigonda
Posted 5:46 AM 1/3/08
Suunto Core.
Amen
ashwinmudigonda
Peter Cavan
Posted 5:46 AM 1/3/08
I wore a succession of Casio data bank watches from 8th grade through college and even into the 21st century. It's a wonder I got any dates and actually got married in that time. They were sensitive to water and slight g-shocks. I broke one in gym class and another by bumping it against a wall.
Peter Cavan
VinceA
Posted 5:46 AM 1/3/08
I've worn one of these watches for years (wearing one now). I've been married for years (so, not celibate or alone)
VinceA
sirtalis
Posted 7:09 AM 1/3/08
Still got several of those. I should have one of those mini-computer watches with an external keyboard for programming it's basic language somewhere in a cupboard. Hmmm... It's weekend, time for a dig!
sirtalis
workingonyourinvoice
Posted 7:09 AM 1/3/08
What a trip down memory lane. Just browsed through Casio's full product listings. Not much has changed since 7th grade.
workingonyourinvoice
origamimavin
Posted 7:09 AM 1/3/08
i have another casio data bank watch which is in a drawer right now. i got caught for cheating on a test- the only time i've ever cheated- in 7th grade by using the watch. i put the answers in it instead of contact names, and someone saw and told on me.
origamimavin
dantheman1000
Posted 7:09 AM 1/3/08
Im wearing a Casio Data Bank watch right now. The black strap has cracked and broken in so many places that its held on with staples and lots of tape. Still good though.
dantheman1000
maven2k
Posted 7:09 AM 1/3/08
I had the black plastic one and the game that was on it was the shit for killing time in study hall in Jr. High. My dad had the metal Data Bank one, though. It was hilarious watching him try to push the buttons with his sausage-fingers!
maven2k
evslin
Posted 8:11 AM 1/3/08
I used to have one, saved up my allowance for two whole months back in 7th grade for the prestige.
evslin
Gregnog
Posted 8:11 AM 1/3/08
I am currently wearing my Casio Telememo 30 Data Bank calculator watch, and damn proud of it (although I admittedly get very little use out of the actual calculator).
Gregnog
IndyJaws
Posted 9:55 AM 1/3/08
I always wanted to get one of these - calculator with built-in remote control. Great for messing with people at bars!
[www.casio.com]
IndyJaws
LeoSzilard
Posted 12:43 PM 1/3/08
My doctor wears one of these.
LeoSzilard
j1234
Posted 12:43 PM 1/3/08
$30 on 126th street in Harlem AND in gold! got it about a year ago...
j1234
hkicedude
Posted 3:28 PM 1/3/08
I just brought one a few months back. Not that I need any more watches but just for fun. I think people really need to update all the functions of the watch. All the functions are getting really old.
hkicedude
strider_mt2k
Posted 3:28 PM 1/3/08
I had the one that generated the DTMF tones.
It worked on all kinds of phones as long as they has touch tone service.
strider_mt2k
tinyhands
Posted 3:15 AM 4/3/08
5318008
tinyhands