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Hardware

Victorinox Announces Cybertool 167

Posted by Hemos from the still-infatuated-with-my-leatherman dept.
Gryff writes "Victorinox, makers of the fine Swiss Army line of knives, has just announced a Cybertool version. It has 13 different screwdrivers and a total of 34 functions including, according to the pictures on that page, tightening peripheral cables, pulling chips and setting dip switches. And - hey! - it's see-through to match your iMac and Visor. "
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Victorinox Announces Cybertool More

Victorinox Announces Cybertool

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  • The only problem I have ever had while operating on a computer (I mean, problem resulting from lack of the proper tool, of course,) was getting the Torx screws off the back of a Macintosh Classic case.

    It required a Torx screwdriver taped to a normal screwdriver so it was long enough to insert into the hole...

    The point is that most computer tools are plain tools. And few enough people actually tinker with computers to make it worth their while to buy specialized tools for it.

    Then again, it's an open marketplace... good luck to them.

    - James Schend
  • You don't want titanium. It breaks when used with nikkel, which means almost any alloy used in computers.

    That's why they don't use standard steel tools for the blackbird planes. They'd ``rust'' (or something similar to rusting, I'm not a material physics major) apart if repaired with tools made of nikkel-holding alloys, which is almost any kind of normal steel used in tools.

  • I've been meaning to ask a random group of people this for a long time: What's the hook on the back of many SA knives for? I can't imagine a use for it.

    Is this the hook listed in Victorinox features lists as the "multi-purpose hook (parcel carrier)"?

    Does anyone use this for anything interesting?
  • None of these tools seem to have proper blade. That's why I end up carrying a Leatherman (for delicate work) or Gerber (for beating on shit) and a Chris Reeves Sebenza. If I can't take it apart, I will cut it apart. SAKs break too easily. The Sebenza cut open a filing cabinet last month. Still shaves hair.

  • Presumably not in a big computing facility, since they should have multiple sets of full-size tools for use (we ain't all elves...)
    Actually, that's exactly where you need such a tool. Why should you put in a call to the help desk, then wait until somebody gets time to pick up the tool kit and walk all the way across campus when all you wanted to do was open a case and see what model of ethernet card was installed? Not to mention the fact that help desk personnel usually won't pull a hard drive so you can mount it in another machine and do a high-speed copy of one of the partitions...;) I have carried a Leatherman tool for several years and it has been invaluable. That and one of those mini MAGlites have permananent homes in my briefcase.
  • I had a Victorinox, lost is skiing and looked at Victorinox and Wenger models to replace it. The Wenger won by a hair, I thought the scissors were slightly better.

    George
  • I believe the best use of the mysterious hook on the Swiss Army Knife (Champ models and up) is the the emergency use, in case you are in a bind, and need to escape from an above ground structure.

    Example, it could be used to maneuver down a zipline.

    This is, of course, written in all sarcasm.
    DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!


    *Carlos: Exit Stage Right*

    "Geeks, Where would you be without them?"

    • German
    • French
    • Italian - in, I believe, 1 (at most 2) canton(s)
    • Romansch (a Romance language, i.e. descended from Latin) - in 1 canton, spoken by not more than a couple of hundred-thousand (actually much less, I think)

    In any case the German and French regions form the overwhelming majority as far as population goes.
  • What they need is a clear-plastic chainsaw to open up the iMac case...

    But Victorinox doesn't make te Swiss Army Chainsaw. Larry Wall does.

  • A lot of manufacturers won't sell their products direct to the customer for a couple of reasons.

    First off, manufacturers like Victoriknox have geared themselves up to selling knives by the crate to thousands of customers, not by the unit to millions of customers. They aren't geared to end-customer retail, and would lose money setting themselves up for this sort of thing.

    Secondly, manufacturers would usually piss off their channels by selling direct. If I were selling Victorinox knives retail, I would be peeved to find myself in direct competition with Victorinox itself!

    That being said, it would make a hell of a lot of sense for them to link you to both online and brick-and-mortar retailers. It makes their channels happy, sells more knives, and is a lot cheaper for Victorinox than setting up their own international retail operation.

  • ...but you ain't no executive, huh?

    I just wondered why they called it that way, why not 'Minimalist' or 'Essentialist' which leads to 'Existentialist' and then again to 'Beatnick' (especially if there's one in black (and turtleneck and moustache and a Rayban), but I'm getting off-topic)

    BTW: the knives given to the Swiss soldiers have no corkdriver :-(

  • We'll all be quoting the phrase

    "All pocket tools evolve until they can send email".

    With the inevitable corrolary:

    "... except WinCE palmtops"
  • I wish they ditched a couple of the tools for a light. I don't know how many times I've had my hands in a box i need just a little more light.
    Of course if they choose to remove the bottle opener they would never sell one..
  • I'm glad that someone is making a multipurpose tool secifically for computers. The leather man that I normally use is functional, but a little bit clumsy for tweaking the inside of a box.

    If you are in a large corporation doing IT, you have to carry around additional tools to get repairs done because it is too much of a pain to go back and forth all day. A tool that is multi-funcional that is made specifically or computers will help a great deal.

    Plus, the swiss knife looks cool.

    Peace, nublu
  • Good question. Why don't you call them then post the answer?
  • I always assumed Victorinox was the original. Wenger seems to have a trademark on the phrase "The Genuine Swiss Army Knife", which means they are kinda by definition :). But who was there first?

    Victorinox are very good. My dad had one for 25 years, and the little clip with the ring broke. He sent it back, and they promptly replaced it with a new one -- the exact same model.
  • That's exactly what I thought when I saw this,
    "Ooooo ... can I network things with it?" and no,
    unfortunately, one cannot. Bah. What kind of
    "cybertool" has no RJ-45 crimper?
  • My thoughts exactly, I guess it all part of the conspiracy to teach geeks the finer side of life.

    I have a "super tinker" swiss army knife that I live by. Instead of a cork screw I have really nice phillips screw driver. The thing with the hole in it is really good for hitting hard to reach dip switchs.

    There also a mini screw driver end of the can opener that kicks butt.

    The only thing on it I don't use is the "universal hook." My programs have enough hooks in them already.

    Those little pieces on this thing would just get lost.

  • This doesn't look like much . . . (Score:5)

    by layne ( 15501 ) on Thursday October 07, 1999 @02:23PM (#1630408)
    The hex set, tweezers, and DIP switch pen/probe are useful. Beyond that, the rest doesn't look up to snuff. Here's what I could use when traveling:

    1.) Inspection mirror!

    2.) Internal flashlight with short fiber optic concentrator (like those US $5 attachments for Mag lights) hinged opposite so it can be directed at the mirror.

    3.) Guillotine-style wire stripper (like a cigar snip with distension tension).

    4.)Ratchet crimper for RJ-11. (move it over for second crimp on RJ-45).

    5.)Ratchet screwdriver with long, thin extension.

    6.) Flip out RJ-11 or RJ-45 coupler and MDI-X adapter. (Use snap in modules for what you need to carry.)

    7.) Maybe a basic voltmeter?

    8.) Magnifier. (Great for fiber too)

    9.) TP time domain reflectometer :) or simple cable tester and a toothbrush for those 3AM-in-wiring-closet moments.

    10.) Pill holder. (hari-kiri, headaches, irregularity, gastic reflux, ulcer, anti-hair loss, stimulants, sedatives, etc.)
  • Now all I need on this thing:

    + a flip-out dentist's mirror so I can peer behind a case that's against the wall

    + an LED to light the area because it's under the desk against the wall

    +and a thingy that tells me if the socket I'm feeling is a DB15, DB9, DB25, or PS2, DIN, or RJ11 or RJ14

    Something that magically flipped the cable I'm holding to orient said DB or DIN or RJ plug the right way would be a bonus.
  • We, as "old school" computer users should be outraged by this use of color. We demand our monotonous matte beige swiss army knives! Email Victorinox now!
  • I can't even afford a knife right now, let alone the phone call.

    I just noticed that on the web page of most of their other knives, such as the SwissChamp [victorinox.com], you can click on a feature and see a picture of a tool in use. The multi-purpose hook is shown being used to open a pull-top can that looks far easier to open with your finger.
  • ++and a thingy that tells me if the socket I'm feeling is a DB15, DB9, DB25, or PS2, DIN, or RJ11 or RJ14


    +AND, which direction the socket is facing!

    AND, if that's 90v, 180v, 220v, 240v or 330v you're feeling.
  • Its about time this happened
  • Knife Center of the Internet [knifecenter.com] has them [knifecenter.com] for about US$60. They also carry just about every other edged implement or multi-tool you could ever want.

    I've carried a Victorinox "Huntsman" for many years and found it very useful for computer and non-computer tasks. The one thing I really want, that both the Huntsman and Cybertool lack, is a 3/16" hex driver for opening old PC cases and removing bus slot covers. The Phillips slots on those bolts tend to round very easily so I end up hunting for a hex driver.

    Neutron

  • .. and a soldering iron ?

  • So where are they sold? I immediately wanted to order one, but couldn't online. Someone needs to tell these people about e-commerce.
  • *whips it out and checks* (no freudian quips please)

    Yep, opens beer bottles, corked bottles, and even has the hook to make pulling pull tabs easier.

    If you can drink it, this thing can open it..
  • untill I read the end of the article. I don't want a transparent toy^H^H^H tool, I don't want a transparent computer, and I don't want a transparent PDA. If I want to see the insides I'll open it up. Hopefully (like the imac and Visor) this tool will be offered in a variety of different colours incuding either the traditional Vintorinox red or even better a nice shiny titanium or aluminum handle.
    Oh well I suppose there's always the leatherman wave.
  • I carry a wenger simply because their scissors _work_. They have this nifty springless mechanism which doesn't break or bind as easily as the springed ones. Very slick, and apparantly patented.

    I do like the knife blade a touch better on the victorinox though.
  • I have been moping around for the last few weeks because I lost my Leatherman II...now I know exactly what I want as a replacement...MwaHAHAHAHA

  • Beer opener too. I must have this.
  • I have been using the original Leatherman Multitool for about 4 years now, and to date I believe it is the best tool ever. I think these should be standard issue at birth.

  • As long as you can use it to open bottles of beer, it has a place in my office.

    --
  • does it have an Ethernet port?

    I'd settle for RS-232 even.
    --

  • Hold pots up (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Went to and outdoors camp when I was a youngun. You tend to cook in pots over little propane? flamers. The pots have big wire loops on them that tend to get hot. To take the pot off and perhaps cook something else, you use the hook. Quite convenient : )
  • Colo (internet and telecom) sites should have vending machines that sell these for like $500 each. I know I've been at a site and gotten screwed (no pun intended) because I didn't have a particular tool to open chassis X or tighten connector Y.

    That's where the market for them is... where people need them and don't have any substitutes.

    -Chris
  • +and a thingy that tells me if the socket I'm feeling is a DB15, DB9, DB25, or PS2, DIN, or RJ11 or RJ14


    AND, which direction the socket is facing!

    -Chris
  • Well, I consider myself a pro, and I've worked in large computing facilities. My Buck utility knife is one of my most valued tools. It's not a replacement for a complete toolset, but it is certainly more convenient to carry around, and has saved me countless hours that would have otherwise been spent walking across campus to retrieve my tools.

    Put one in your pocket for awhile, you'll be amazed at how many uses these things have.
  • 1. run linux?
    2. run rc5des? (and how many keys will it get?)
    3. run beos?
    4. have drivers in the next kernel?

    -Chris
  • ... and it's quite nice! The bits come in handy and IIRC I can swap them out for other styles when necessary (there's a Victorinox shop in STamford CT last time I looked)..

    I'll still wear my Swiss Army "Leatherman" (all the blades lock) but this fellow is a welcome addition to my Swiss ARmy collection..

    (and the translucent sides are cooler than they sound.. Just ask the nerd who owns one.. ;)
  • Boy, Anonymous Coward , sure knows alot of usefull
    stuf... ;)
  • If you mean that wrench, you can find it at http://www.knifecenter.com [knifecenter.com]
    They also have the cybertool available. Quite a cool site.
  • I solved that problem by attaching the lanyard of my Maglite Marquis (which happens to be exactly the length of the knife) to my Victorinox. The Victorinox is the "Space Shuttle" model, issued to STS crew as part of their personal gear. (No, you can't get them any more, AFAIK). Having the light around makes up for the minor inconvenience when trying to use the Phillips screwdriver.

    The SAK lives in my pants pocket, with my Leatherman on standby in my purse. (I know a woman who asked for and got a Leatherman laser-engraved with the Aircraft Owner's and Pilot's Association logo for Mother's Day).

    In the *other* pants pocket is my Gerber Applegate-Fairbairn Combat Folder. That one doesn't really get used much, though. +grin+

    Oh yeah...know how to +make+ a Phillips screwdriver? Two shots of vodka and an ounce of Milk of Magnesia.

  • You can't beat the cork screw for untying knots. Seems a natural for the Boy Scouts...
  • http://www.sharperimage.com/ProductDisplay.jsp?nam e=ST170 [sharperimage.com]

    US $75

    They also have more along the same line:

    http://www.sharperimage.com/Search.jsp?keywords=kn ife [sharperimage.com]

  • jelwell wrote "Wenger [wengerna.com] is the Genuine Swiss Army Knife."

    Whether or not it is the genuine article, I'm just pleased that they make a left-handed version of their Traveller knife.

    No, left-handed knives are not a gimmick. They are extremely useful to us southpaws. My knife is a complete mirror image of a "standard" knife, optimized for the left hand rather than the right:

    • the blade is on the other side of the knife,
    • all the thumbnail indents for opening the implements are on the other side,
    • the corkscrew turns counter-clockwise,
    • and most importantly, the scissors are left-handed (the top blade is on the left)

    With this knife, I have one less reason to curse at the dextrocentric world (my pet peeves are spatula/flippers that have a diagonal edge and ladles that only have one spout. Grr Argh!)

  • This haven't been the first time Victorinox or Wenger have created specialized multi-purpose folding pocket knives. In fact, Victorinox also sells a Bike Tool Kit (Mountain bike version also available), and the Inline Skater ToolSet. Both of those products have specially designed versions of the swiss army knife, but since they are "kits", they also include additional tools for aiding the repair of a bike or a skate respectively. The kits are meant for field (emergency) use, since "real" tools can be found at the shop or at home anyway.

    IMO, Victorinox have done a fine job in designing the CyperTool without sacrificing the compact size and quality you will expect from a swiss army knife. They have added enough tools to repair most of the things the average geek will have. If they were to add even more tools, it would have sacrificed the compact size and thus making it another Swiss Champ and also making it another "kit" due to the fact that they can't fit some of the tools into the knife itself.

    I myself, own a Swiss Champ and that thing is pretty heavy, however it will fix almost anything I encounter almost on a daily basis; it comes in very handy when there isn't a toolbox nearby. Because I own the Swiss Champ, I am fairly familiar with the tools that are featured in the CyperTool, and therefore, I will explain some of the little features that it may include:

    The pliers itself has a built in wire cutter, though it will only cut wires up to #15 copper. Since this tool is meant for "electronics" repair, the wire size restriction shouldn't be a problem since wires used in most electronics are #18+ anyway.

    The large flathead screwdriver has a 2 position feature: you can make it straight (as pictured on Victorinox's page), or u can make it bent into a 90 degree angle which will allow you to provide more torque or when you are operating in tight spaces. It also features a wire stripper; again, it may only work well with #15 wires that have a soft plastic wire covering.

    The universal hook featured, I don't think it comes in very useful in terms of electronics repair other than pulling wires at its side; maybe they added that into there just to take up space?

    The patented mini-screwdriver can be removed, and it fits right into the corkscrew where it is stored, however they could have just make a mini-screwdriver bit for the socket type screwdriver.

    The pin also fits into the plastic casing (at its backside) near where the corkscrew folds out

    They may have modified the ballpoint pen to have a "push-action", but that ballpoint pen may come in useful for writing down notes when you don't have a pen at all; the pen stores next to the toothpick at the knife's backside

    I believe all the screwdriver bits are stored in the black metal fold outs, and the socket screwdriver & bitholder (it may be detachable) may also be another fold out tool

    The reamer/punch features a 1 bladed side that comes in useful when you are trying to "drill" holes

    Both the pliers and the scissors have springs (replacable) in them so they can open back up after you push down on them.

    The Inox (international name for stainless steel) used in creating most of the parts of the knife are of the highest quality; the knife blade itself is VERY sharp, and the other inox tools are very hard to wear out.

    I just called the place I ordered my Swiss Champ from, and they sell the CyperTool for $67, its expensive since its new; I got my Swiss Champ for $80, I think. Checked out Shaper Edge [sharper-edge.com], their number is also on that page, the sales line is open 24/7, though they say they have the 11-7 store hours.

    There is long running arguement about which swiss army knife is "genuine", and I will try to settle this. Both the Victorinox and Wenger knives are genunine/official according to the Swiss government. Victorinox (based in Ibach, in a Swiss/German canton) created the very first "swiss army" knife back in 1891, and then Wenger (based in Delémont, in a Swiss/French canton) started making their own in around 1893. There was an official decision by the Swiss government to make products made by both companies to be "official" in order to keep the cantons at peace. It means the Swiss Army will use 50% of the knives from each company (only recruits get a knife). The way the Swiss government defines it as official is by the use of the Swiss Cross; it is illegal to use the Swiss Cross without authorization by the Swiss government. Because of this agreement, Victorinox and Wenger agreed to use "Original Swiss Army Knife" and "Genuine Swiss Army Knife" respectively. While the meanings used by those slogans are confusing, both are genuine Swiss Army knives.

  • Holy Cow! I forgot, I have a USR external with dip switches.

    I stand corrected.

    By the way, does anyone know if there is a connection between U.S. Robotics and Asimov's (fictional) U.S. Robots?
  • It's called the "Universal Hook" or "Parcel Carrier." I guess that was back when the things were tied up with string.

    Anyway, the real swiss use it for fishing.
  • Wenger have traditionally supplied the soldiers from the German-speaking cantons, Victorinox from the French-speaking areas. They've done a very Swiss thing to share the business: Wenger is the "Genuine Swiss Army Knife"; Victorinox is the "Original Swiss Army Knife". So no-one loses out.
  • Yah, but the last few times I've used or owned Wenger knives, they had shite build quality.. Every Victorinox I've owned has been stainless steel, sharp as the dickens, and (unless soaked in water for several weeks) had very smooth open/close action.

    Their Leatherman clone (SwissTool) is also tres fab, every blade locks, and the thing just feels less flimsy than a Leatherman. At just about the same cost.

    I don't work for them (they probably couldn't afford me ;) but I have been a fan for years..

    All I need now is one that has a helicopter, like the Swiss Industrial spies had..
  • ...is this meant to be used?

    I work for a medium sized company (~55 PCs). The place is built like a maze, and when I arrived their were no tools. Well, one screwdriver. My options were bringing in a personal set of computer tools, and having them half-inched, or buying a decent Swiss Army Knife and keeping it in my pocket. I bought one of VicNox' monsters and it's the most wonderful thing, I use it all the time - and I don't have to go back to my desk when they're needed.

    I like the set of tools in the cyber one, esp. the Posi-whatever, but I know I'd miss the hacksaw. If I didn't already have something pretty close, I'd try to get one of these.

    CJ.

  • I love my Gerber Applegate but I nice lil' pocket knife with a set of torx drivers would definately come in handy...
  • Yeah, but how else are you going to open your Sam Adams Triple Bock, Lindemans' Lambic, or Thomas Hardy's?

    Nice thing about being overpaid for geeky shit is you can enjoy good beer for a change..
  • Read the History of the Swiss Army Knife [victorinox.ch].

    Victorinox made its first delivery to the Swiss Army in 1891, Wenger was founded in 1893. But today both, Victorinox and Wenger, deliver their knifes to the Swiss Army.

    But anyway. Tomorrow I will head to the factory (it's on my way home) and buy such a Cybertool.

  • This knife is marketing for iMac user.

    I don't think even this tool has the required err.. sub-tool? to open an iMac. Nothing like an old fashioned brick to open one of those puppies.

    I think I need one of these because we only have a phillips head screwdriver in our department, and I needed a flat head one once. Yeah.

  • Re:So were can I get one? (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward
    http://www.newandimprovedproducts.com/cybertoolpag e.html
  • You know I miss dip switches. They were great. Never got lost, never needed an extra. But, I haven't seen any since my 286.

    I'm not sure that a dip switch tool is such a great selling point. (Though I am sure that it is efficent to put one on the tool.)

    -Pete
  • Nikkel?? Maybe you mean "nickel" or "nickle," either is permissible.

    I've never heard of the nickel - Titanium interaction you discribe. The reason titanium should be avoided in tools like screwdriver blades is that Ti is very soft. Most Ti alloys cannot be hardened above Rc 45 or so. Screwdrivers probably are hardened to Rc 55 or 60.
  • "Put one in your pocket for awhile, you'll be amazed at how many uses these things have."

    Cause when you have a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail.

    (:
  • how 'bout a new branch of "cybertools" that all run microLinux on those micro-chips of theirs, here [uclinux.org], and make the "motherboard" (if that's what you can call it) the "handle" of the Swiss Army Knife, and the peripherals/ports the flip-out "tools" of the Swiss Army knife.

    Neat idea?
  • (observe as I am moderated down for being offtopic)
    Let's put it in a beowulf cluster! ;)
  • The "Swiss Army Knife" market has been split between Victorinox & Wenger.

    Victorinox markets the "Original Swiss Army Knife" (i.e. they once upon a time made the official Swiss Army Knife).

    Wenger markets the "Genuine Swiss Army Knife" (i.e. they currently make the official Swiss Army Knife (is there really such a thing?)).

  • What? You can't open a bottle of beer without a bottle opener? Shame on you... and you call yourself a geek. ;P

    --

  • The Microsoft Cybertool (Score:3)

    by SaxMaster ( 95691 ) on Thursday October 07, 1999 @04:58PM (#1630468)
    Now that Victorinox has provided the world with yet another multitool, Microsoft will follow suit with their WindozeTool: -Blades made of durable Win32 api's! -Has built-in reset when it GPF's when tightening a screw! -Has built-in biometric reader in grip to identify and then give all personal info of user directly to Billy "Money" Gates himself! -WindozeTool NT adds more "stability" and "security" by locking tools in place with rubber bands -all for the low, low price of $1999.00 (plus support on a per-instance basis)
  • Not sure how "It's about time this happened" is offtopic, folks...

    ...perhaps we should only let the native-English speakers be moderators? :^) hehe, just kidding

  • Re:This doesn't look like much . . . (Score:3)

    by pen ( 7191 ) on Thursday October 07, 1999 @05:00PM (#1630471)
    All this, and it fits in your pocket!*

    *Pocket with a volume of at least 1 cubic meter required.

    --

  • I just called the Australian distributers, Sheldon & Hammond Pty.Ltd,and they said that the CyberTool won't be available in australia until *sometime* next year.... pfft.




    netsrek
  • http://www.victorinox.com/home_ en/info1_en/info.htm [victorinox.com] (Click the "Infos/Mail" button)

    --

  • It shouldn't have been moderated as "Offtopic", but I think that it did deserve a negative point. I would have just picked "Redundant".

    --

  • I showed the picture to a friend of mine, who immediately understood that the corkscrew was for celebrating IPOs.

  • Why, when I was your age... (Score:4)

    by Coda ( 22101 ) on Thursday October 07, 1999 @05:35PM (#1630477) Homepage
    "Damnit, man, hand me that crimping tool, the needle-nose pliers, and that Knuth Vol 5! I'll get this bottle open if it's an O(N^10) operation!"

    Let's be honest, Real Geeks (tm) crack the Corona mainframe and alter the delivery schedule...

    Beer Dude: "Well, this doesn't look like a bar, but it's the address the computer said. Are you positive you have a liquor license?"

    Geek: "Positive. Put the beer behind the Beowulf cluster in the back. Watch out for the cat5 cables..."

    Nah... Real Geeks (tm) would probably create a time-accelerator, to make slow-brewed beer in 2 minutes. Either that or they'd engineer some nanomites to make beer out of water and concrete...

  • Make it the size of a notebook battery (with a recharging lithium ion cell) and I'll take it. Better add a locking switchblade punch-down tool. Remember 12 Angry Men?

    "The client says he came at the block overhanded and down, like this. Everyone knows that's not how you use one a them Victorinox punchdowns. Down straight, but you come up from the bottom pair; snap it out and up, like that see..
  • I remember my first experience with fixing up a laptop.

    My client had to pick the only laptop that doesn't allow toolless upgrade of hard disk.

    Yes, the infamous IBM Thinkpad 7000 series.

    It was quite a treasure hunt trying to find a damn Torx T7 tool to open the thing.
    --
    Leonid S. Knyshov
    Network Administrator
  • The one thing that I've always thought was missing from such tools, is a small butane lighter! I've seen cigarette cases that had lighters built in, so it shouldn't be hard to do. Think about it. I've been EXTREMELY glad I carried a lighter around, as having light/heat/fire handy has saved more situations than I can remember. And this doesn't even count the times I needed to start various things on fire...

    Picture a Swiss Army Knife, with several knives, openers, screw drivers, and FIRE!

    ^_^
  • (i'd prefer a metal handle verson though.... )

    I'll take plastic - preferably a strong, tough plastic with lots of UV inhibitors, of course.

    I ALWAYS want a non-conductive handle on any tool I might use on electronic or electrical equipment - just in case I screw up and work it "Hot" by accident. I've gotten a few "pokes" in my time, and I'd prefer not to get the permanent one.

    Belt and suspenders...

  • Old saying: The only thing more dangerous than a programmer with a screwdriver is a hardware engineer with the root password.

    (The original version predates unix. Substitute "customer engineer" for "hardware engineer" and "administrator" for "root".)

  • People make iMac look-a-like disk drives because iMacs have no drives. People make iMac look-a-like mice because iMac mice stink. Clearly, there is a need for clear plastic in those products :) But you can't accesorize your iMac with this knife, because there is nothing to unscrew on an iMac!!! The only opening pops off- there is no way to open the rest of it up. What they need is a clear-plastic chainsaw to open up the iMac case... or a clear-plastic paperclip to reboot the things. ~luge
  • With my little rinky-dink CPU tool kit, the little plunger-claw thingy to start threading in screws has so far been the handiest tool in the set yet.
  • I took a vacation to San Fransico, and happened to be in a shop(The Sharper Image I Believe) and found this, like 4 months ago, man that is one tool I have never regretted buying, except for the loony clear case.....even has posi-drives! I love this thing.....any way there also was this awesome mcgyver knife next to it, the reason I choose the cybertool was the posi-drives....need em woores than hex wrenches.....
  • Askeland states that Ti alloys can have yield strengths between 170 and 1210 MPa (for 99.5% pure Ti and 13% V-11% Cr-3% Al, respectively). Austenitic stainless steels vary between about 205 MPa and 965 MPa; with precipitation hardening stainless steels can get as high as 1585 MPa. But yeah, you don't want a screwdriver as hard as a (for example) hacksaw blade -- those shatter much too easily.
  • do you know of thier vic distributors?

  • what the CyberTool should be... (Score:3)

    by William Aoki ( 392 ) on Thursday October 07, 1999 @06:15PM (#1630492) Homepage
    ... is the Victorniox SwissTool, but with a nicer wirestripper (another poster referred to it as a guillotine-type stripper), the screwdriver and bit-holder off the CyberTool, a mirror, a light, a crimper, and perhaps a lighter (as someone else said - fun with fire for pyromaniacs). It's okay that the thing would have to be bigger.

    Come to think of it, perhaps a better CyberTool would be more or less the same size and construction as a SwissTool, but would replace the SwissTool's tools with aforementioned mirror, crimper, stripper, screwdriver (preferrably ratchet) with bits, light, and lighter - no other tools onboard. You'd use it along with another knife. Two holsters on my belt, and I don't need my toolbox except to solder.
  • Wait a second. IT's not realy a "Dip switch tool". IT's just the pen they put in all the other large knives. They've just marked it as "(ideal for dipswitches)" and now it's a new tool?
  • Hey, if you want to get those spacers of man, take the end off one of those white bic pens and push it on the top side of the spacer. You should be able to pull it off from the other side with ease.

    ----------------------------------------------
  • wiersnips (sp) cut the top off and buy more
  • Wenger uses a cheaper grade of steel, it seems to me. It might not really be cheaper, but i don't like it as much as the stuff victorinox uses.

    I like knives a little too much, you see....

    -Andy Martin
  • What ?

    That's what you have the second beer for: To open the first one. Then you put the (uh, missing a word here, pls. insert the name of the metal thingy on top of the closed bottle) back on top of the first bottle, and open the second one with that.

    I live in Denmark, trust me ! :)
  • How can we allow this to stand? I say we attempt to destroy this tool as quickly as we can. Why you ask? Well listen here my people:

    Where have the great inventions of the world come from. Have they come in an expensive lab equipped with expensive equipment? No, while these inventions may have been improved there, the fact of the matter is that it is the tinkerer that has done the most to advance technology.

    But if we allow devilish tools such as this, the age of the tinkerer is brought even closer to the edge. And that is a future that I don not want to live in. Could I like in a future that requires more than a roll of ducktable and an all-purpose bendable iron wire to live? Could you?

    It is time to start the backlash. Time to return to the day when the freedom of invention was available to more than the select few in a lab. Fight with me my brethren! We'll fight, and we'll win!

    N.B. - Actually, I think the tool looks pretty cool

  • Not to burst too many bubbles, but barring the multiple screwdrivers, it doesn't seem all that different than the Victorinox knife in my pocket--most of those tools've been on several of their knives for ages (I should know--I've used that thing to tear apart I-don't-know-how-many computers).... Check out their page [victorinox.com] of Swiss Army knives to see what I mean... I carry around a Craftsman (variant of the Handyman [victorinox.com]), for sake of comparison...

    Admittedly, having all those swappable screwdriver heads stored in the knife is pretty cool--one less thing to have in my bag.... ;)

  • Is there any talk of releasing it under the GPL? ;-)
  • Beige shall be the colour of computers and the colour of computers shall be beige. Black shall they not be, nor either shall they be grey, unless they will then be painted beige. Translucent anything is right out.
  • I always find that a nice bottle of champagne puts me in the perfect mood to flip some dip switches.

    Seriously though, what's the deal? I think even my official Boy Scout pocket knife had a cork screw. Like all those 12 year olds often find themselves in an occasion to need it. Honestly, don't they know that whiskey the prefered hard liquor of the Boy Scouts of America?
  • It's never going to replace my Leatherman. [leatherman.com]

    And, on a different note. I found out upon going to Switzerland that the locals all agree that Wenger [wengerna.com] is the Genuine Swiss Army Knife.

    I think it's odd that even on their page where they sell the cybertool they mention it as an novelty.
    Joseph Elwell.

  • so, where... (Score:3)

    by Stonehand ( 71085 ) on Thursday October 07, 1999 @01:51PM (#1630537) Homepage
    ...is this meant to be used?

    Presumably not in a big computing facility, since they should have multiple sets of full-size tools for use (we ain't all elves...) -- and if somebody's a pro doing field work, or is in their own home, then odds are pretty good appropriate tools are owned, as well.

    So, unless you're trying to fix a laptop while deep in the jungle...

    ---------------
    User A: Damn! The ThinkPad is on the fritz!
    User B: No prob, mate, got mah handy-dandy Cybahknife here.
    User A: You're what?
    User B: Ah said, a Cybahknife.
    User A: What_ever_. Just fix the damn thing.
    User B: And lookee here, hold it here, I'll pop the battery port while you use the other end to ope' the beer can.
    User A: What the...
    User B: ...and this thang here, pop it in the cork, and look! Lets all have some cognac!
    User A: Aiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeee!

    as fanatical Gerber and Leatherman fans storm the area, trampling all the local wildlife, followed by folks claiming that their K-Bars are the only real knives and demonstrate by felling young trees. Eventually, tho', A and B enjoy some warm cognac, warmer (!) beer, and a fixed laptop.

    :: fade to black ::
  • BTW: did you see the 'executive' model there? Nail file, scissors and a small blade (for opening letters?). That's it. Sez a lot about the abilities of the targeted executives. Maybe they should also make a 'boss' model: no tools any more, just the red plastic, to throw at underlings...
  • Black shall they not be

    You're just soooo wrong. My NeXTs look excellent in black! Can you imagine them in beige? Bleugh!

    eris:~$ dd if=/dev/zero of=~/.signature bs=1 count=120

    On a machine called eris, surely you should be using /dev/random, not /dev/zero? :-)

  • Nail file, scissors and a small blade (for opening letters?).

    Actually, I have one and wouldn't be without it. It's small, the blade is sharp, the file has a screwdriver tip which is ideal for getting to small screws that are inaccessible to the larger models (due to the tin opener getting in the way), and the scissors are useful for stripping wires if nothing else. And it comes in black :-)

    Of course I also have a larger one, too. Sadly, they don't seem to do them without the corkscrews any more -- you used to be able to get a crossheaded screwdriver instead of the corkscrew -- much more useful.

  • A tool for releasing the spacers off of motherboards, we'll *really* be talking. Those things are darned hard to get off!

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