Pip-Boys Rated
As a lover of all things Pip-Boy i thought i’d take some time to rate the canonical ones (according to the Fallout Wiki), so here we go:
Pip-Boy 2000
Can’t go wrong with this one. Very simplistic in its design. You hold it and you push buttons, works as intended. Basically just a tablet, though. Might not fit in your pocket. Could be easy to lose or drop. 8.5/10
Pip-Boy 3000A
Absolute bastard. Whoever designed this was off their rocker. Left arm-mounted yet the category dial and scroll wheel is on the left also? Very cumbersome. Needs a separate glove peripheral to control the volume. Will probably cause carpel tunnel in your right hand if you give it enough time. There’s no button to select things so it’s unclear how you would. Needs to be screwed on to your arm, making putting this on cumbersome and inconvenient. So cheap they handed these out to all the 10-year-olds in Vault 101. 3000/10000
Pimp-Boy 3,000,000,000
Probably created by the same capitalists who caused the Great War in the first place. Has the same issues as the 3000A. The Fallout equivalent of the gold Apple Watch, literally only meant to show off one’s superior financial status, however it’s no better functionally than the standard version. 3,000,000,000/10,000,000,000.
Pip-Boy 1.0
It goes without saying that this is the worst one, which is understandable considering that it’s the first. So bad it shied developers away from the arm-mounted concept for a while. I can feel the weight of this thing just looking at it. 1.0/10.0
Pip-Boy 2000 Mark VI
Beautiful. Back to the arm-mounted concept, right-side buttons & dials make it very ergonomic and comfortable. Adjustable “one-size-fits-all” strap makes it easy to put on and take off. Comfy, plush inner-cuff. Very user-friendly. Love the retro look, harkening back to the ever-so-simple 2000 but with portable yet quick and convenient style. Still unclear how you select items, maybe push the appropriate category button a couple times? No volume knob for the radio. Very large screen can make it a bit cumbersome. Holotape insertion somewhat awkward, but manageable. Saves on power via the built-in date & time interface so you can know the info without having to turn the screen on. Nice dark-greenish-brown color to compliment the blue of any vault suit, and if that doesn’t work for you, several premium skins and colors are available. 9.5/10.
Pip-Boy 3000 Mark IV
Developers tried out this design with the 2000 Mark VI, then nearly perfected it with the 3000 Mark IV. Left arm-mounted, right-side buttons & dials (except the one on the left which is screen brightness, which you don’t want to accidentally turn), this is one for the ages. Big enough screen to see what you’re doing, small enough model to wear it wherever you go. Has a button for selecting things, and a dial for controlling radio volume, no glove required. Standard color might not work for everyone though, however there are several skins available for a pretty penny. Technically a housekey as long as your house is a Vault. Unlike the 2000 Mark VI however, the casing is a defined shape and there is no adjustable strap, meaning if this isn’t a tight fit on your arm, you’re out of luck. 9.5/10.