ThinkGeek has produced a handcrafted replica of HAL 9000, the (fictional) homicidal robot from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Is this a must-have gadget?

Following on from Iris 9000, its Siri Voice Control module with a glowing red eye reminiscent of HAL, ThinkGeek has gone the extra mile to produce the "movie-accurate" HAL 9000 Life-Size Replica.

It would be more accurate to call it a HAL 9000 sensor replica but who would want a huge mainframe - having a wall mounted HAL with a red LED eye seems much more attractive.

This new gadget has a price tag of $499.99 so what can you expect?

It is based on the 1967 blueprints and studio files from the 1968 movie 2001: A Space Odyssey and is
machined in 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum with the black components being anodized. It has a custom-ground glass lens with red LED eye and a sticker is included to make this lens have the Nikkor wording as seen in some close-ups.

In terms of functionality HAL 9000 not only talks, producing one of 15 movie quotes at random, it also responds to your voice - say something to HAL longer than 1.2 seconds to activate a sound clip.

Alternatively you can point almost any IR remote at him and press a button for a sound clip.

Which sound clips?

Here are two examples:

• "I'm sorry, Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that. I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do. This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it."
  
  
• "You're going to find that rather difficult without your space helmet, Dave."

   

And of course it sings the Daisy, Daisy song.

See the video to get a clearer idea of this highly-prized gadget:

My only remaining problem is working out a justification for buying one for the office.