Will every gadget turn girly? Last week Nintendo announced that its DS Lite handheld console has given in to the cuteness. The “Noble Pink” DS Lite is only available in Japan for now—not too upsetting because there are plenty of other domestic gadgets that come in the Pepto-Bismol color. There’s a pink USB flash drive that cleverly resembles a lipstick case, a pink tool kit equipped with a pink hammer and five meters of tape coiled in a pink tape measurer, and even the Roomba robo-vacuum has turned cleaning into a pink frenzy.
All this pink is putting me in need of some Pepto myself. Isn’t it just a little patronizing of companies to suggest that technology has to be pink for the gadget-conscious female to buy it? A pink emergency car kit? Come on! I’m stuck on the side of the road; the last thing I’m worried about is how pretty the jumper cables are. But when the gadgets go toward a good cause—many of these pink gizmos include a donation to breast cancer research in their price—I guess I don’t feel so silly when my crib looks like the Barbie Dream House. —Carla Thomas
Related:
What Women Want: Is this Swedish car concept sexy or sexist?
Build Your Own Roomba Robot
LOVE this article! And the author :-) ...but in all seriousness, I think the cute girlie gadgets are great across the board. Ladies these days are organized movers and shakers who deserve to be fashionable and functional. Two thumbs WAY up!
As a young professional, I say Get iT girl!
* miSS Quan*
Posted by: MiSS Quan | July 05, 2006 at 11:56 PM
Fashionable flash disks? LOL Women!
Posted by: ksmith@msn.com | July 06, 2006 at 01:40 AM
Exceptional article. I enjoy the well placed comedic undertones. However, pink does not need to classify every female. Pink is a color for little girls,hence the use of the word, "cute". I'm sure little girls have no idea how to use these high tech gadgets, companies should stick to classic black and gray. Nevertheless, I'd like to read more from Carla Thomas, great article.
Posted by: Mr. Smith | July 06, 2006 at 01:43 AM
you jerks. man not everything is gurly. god why are you stereo typing us gurl. thats so wrong
Posted by: muha | July 10, 2006 at 02:53 PM
I think the cute girlie gadgets are great across the board. Ladies these days are organized movers and shakers who deserve to be fashionable and functional
Posted by: Cool Gadgets | April 16, 2008 at 06:53 AM
Interesting updates...innovative tactics always help sell peoducts.Clever marketing as I would say a old ball in a new wrap.
Posted by: Ds lite Skin | September 01, 2009 at 01:42 AM
I really like that video. I'm now bemused that I can get ANY video clip from the game. That is really, really cool. I really love the song "You Are My Sanctuary" from bits from the beginning, and it's good to be able to hear it again and again.
Posted by: Jordan 5 | September 07, 2010 at 11:58 PM