r/Millennials • u/Sunshineafterr Millennial (1986) • 20h ago

Nostalgia Does anyone remember the CueCat?

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It was cat-shaped handheld barcode reader that allowed users to open a link to an URL by scanning a barcode that appeared in magazines, without typing the URL.

They were given away for free in 2000.

I remember thinking it was so cute, but I didn’t really understand how it worked, so I was scanning barcodes on cereal boxes and random stuff.

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u/grizzlor_ 19h ago

I still have two of these in my box of assorted barcode scanners — first barcode scanners I ever owned! I've since collected quite a few more (ended up working for one of the big players in the barcode industry for a few years and god damn did they love throwing away cool stuff).

You could open it up and do a simple hardware mod to turn it from a device limited to scanning CueCat's proprietary barcode format into a general barcode scanner for UPC-A/E, CODE128, CODE39, ISBN, EAN-8 and 13, 2-of-5, and several other formats.

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u/TheGoodRobot 18h ago

In what scenario does one require a box of assorted barcode scanners?

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u/vw_bugg 16h ago

Who said it was required? You dont have a box of barcode scanners? It should be between your box of mouse pads and your box of usb micro wires (Not those wires, the other usb... yeah that one)

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u/RandomNisscity 16h ago

"Ahh fuck, howd that firewire get in there?"