Hey gang! ThinkGeek had one of their “Ground Breaking” product releases recently.  Before you get excited like I did and look for the link, I’m not going to post it here at the site.  Why?  Because I’M FEELING SURLY today!  Ha ha!  That’s right.  I’m ANGRY!  I’m OUTRAGED.  OK, I’m not really any of those.  🙂

However, I am a little tired of all the sites pimping “ThinkGeek’s Products”.  The particular case that has me taking notice is their recent announcement about a “new” Game Emulator product that they’re selling.  Don’t get me wrong.  It’s actually quite cool.  It sports 4GB internal memory with optional micro SD and a reasonably sized 2.8″ TFT — almost the exact same size as the GBA (not the micro as other sites have reported).  It can emulate all of your old skool games for the NES, Sega, SNES and apparently arcade ROMs too.  It can play music and video.  It can display photos.  It comes with an AC adapter (that looks exactly like Apple’s patented iPod AC Adapter BTW) and earbuds to boot.  It even comes with a built-in FM transmitter! WHAT YOU SAY? SOMEBODY SET US UP THE BOMB!  Actually, now that I type that out, it’s pretty awesome at a glance.  The price at ThinkGeek: A mere $100 with “free shipping!”  Howbeit, at that price… I won’t be buying one any time soon.

But that isn’t what got my undies in a bunch.  It’s just the fact that you can get it pretty much anywhere if you’re handy with the internets.  Don’t laugh too hard now but the gadget that’s being schlepped is called a Dingoo.  I know, I know.   If you still want one, you don’t have to go to the Geek to get it.  Don’t take my word for it!  Go to this link to see them on eBay! Go to this link to see them on DealExtreme! (their site is wonky today btw)  And do your own search to find them elsewhere!    That’s right.  These things aren’t made by ThinkGeek!  “GASP!” you say?  Well, somebody has to set them straight.  Sites like Gadgeteer and even Sci-Fi channel affiliates are reporting this as a virtual ThinkGeek exclusive.  These sites are also aghast that they’ve sold out so quick.  And Frankly–at their current price point–so am I.

ThinkGeek doesn’t call the the product by name (you almost can’t blame them) for a simple reason:  They don’t want you searching elsewhere.  And from my calculations, you can get them for less (with free shipping) almost anywhere else.

This isn’t the only product they do this with either.  Most of their products are probably sourced from the same place all of the other places sell it from.    I’m not saying “Don’t go to ThinkGeek because they suck!”  In fact, I visit often!  I just think it’s important for people to know that they, like any other retailer, are good at marketing–and apparently at omitting details like the product or brand name.  This is more of a “buyer beware” message.  This is an attempt to prevent people from being fooled by their magical techery.

The moral of the story?  Be frugal.  You’ll get your Dingoo soon enough.  And cheaper!

This has been a public service announcement.