$80 Night-Vision Goggles?

[DoctorFinger]

Sometimes you see an product that just screams both 'cool' and 'useful'. This is not one of those products (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080928-hands-on-with-some-surprising-80-night-vision-goggles.html): an $80 pair of night vision goggles.
A little LCD screen turns on inside the goggles, and in the ghostly green glow of the mirror, I saw a bright light on the goggles. That's it? An LCD screen and a flashlight? Lame. Then I took the goggles off, and saw that I was standing in complete darkness, a perfect black. The light I saw was from the array of infrared lights on the goggles, and it was invisible to the naked eye. I put them on again and looked around. I could see everything! While the idea of cheap night vision sounds cool at first glance - easier varmint hunting is one reason - after a minute you begin to realize that it's sort of creepy. In fact, since it's supposed to be a toy, why not just put Pedobear (http://oculosis.com/maraby/tmp/pedobear.png) on the cover and admit who the target audience really is: stalkers. Definitely a bad idea, in my opinion.

[Straximus]

I can't begin to imagine how much fun I could've had with that as a kid.

[TrackZero]

For that price, some kids are going to have a very merry X-mas.

[Vasanni]

The latest predator movie, while horrible, had one very real life lesson in it. As soon as you give a child a pair of nightvision goggles and alien hunter from space will appear and rip your family apart. Just don't do it. Think of the children.

[Rogue_hunter]

Wow, I really want these. But did they really have to make them look like Sam Fisher's kit? Why couldn't they have made it look more like the googles in Ghostbusters? Those would have been cooler.

[skwish]

i wonder how many people these things are going to get aressted

[Jackel]

The father in me says:

These do seem rather creepy. I mean for the most part how often would you use these things in situations acceptable by normal standards.

But the Gamer says:
Cheap Night Time paintball!!!!

[Deadend]

Wow, I really want these. But did they really have to make them look like Sam Fisher's kit? Why couldn't they have made it look more like the googles in Ghostbusters? Those would have been cooler.

Ha, I had the opposite thought, "God I hope these look like the Spinter Cell ones" Sides, the Ghostbuster ones are not for night vision.

[J Arcane]

Eh. Boobs just don't seem as appealing when they're in monochrome green.

Knowing me, I'd probably buy a pair, and my buddy up in Van and I would use them to do room clearing drills in abandoned buildings.

Too much damn Rainbow Six, that's what my problem is.

[Zrikz]

I was actually looking into these last week and read some reviews; they got really good marks, but its monocle vision so depth perception is off. I might have to pick up a pair just for fun if I get some extra monies during the holidays.

[Iron Past]

Those are fucking huge! Seriously, damn.

[Disgustipated]

I want them. If they were smaller they'd be a must-buy.

[PathMaster]

With the goggles, you'd see three ninjas in this picture
Anyone else remember the line of toys that were geared toward this type of stuff. Heat detectors, etc?

[axion]

Pretty good idea for a Sam Fisher Halloween costume.

[wyeast]

If it's a Gen1 set (almost guaranteed at that price) it's going to be of dismal quality. At best you'll get a tiny dim grainy picture that just about requires use of IR illuminators in order to see anything - which typically give a red glow, so you're hardly ninja.

[Thanasimos]

I have: A forest green jacket that can cover my entire face, and black jeans to cover my lower body; as well as dark brown shoes. And now that I have these, I'll be spending a lot of time in the bushes after dark. Nobody will see me but I WILL SEE THEM

*slowfap*

[pomeroy]

Anyone else remember the line of toys that were geared toward this type of stuff. Heat detectors, etc?

No, but you saying "heat detectors" reminded my of Hypercolor shirts.

Those were the shit.