Hewlett-Packard HP-01 Calculator Watch
The calculator watch remains the iconic symbol of the nerd, and while they were plentiful in the ‘80s, the original calculator watch actually dates back to 1977 with Hewlett-Packard’s HP-01. It arrived shortly after LED digital watches did and featured a seven-digit display. That made it hard for millionaires to calculate their net worth, but it was easy for figuring out how much you needed to tip at a restaurant. The HP-01’s keys were so tiny the watch required the use of a stylus to operate, and it was powered by three batteries—two of which were needed for the display alone. The cheapest version was $450, which would put the price at just over $2,000 today when adjusting for inflation.
