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Do you remember being a kid in the 80s, watching the Milton Bradley Big Trak commercial, and wanting one yourself, just so you could have an apple brought to you?

I not only remember it, I lived it.

I was an incredibly spoiled only child; I know now that my parents spent a lot of money on me that ultimately led to who and what I am today, as well as to the interests I hold.

I got the Big Trak (and Transport) on Xmas Day many years ago, and it was one of the original devices that had a direct impact toward the love of computing, programming, electronics, and robotics that I carry with me today.

If you never had a chance to own one of these fun (though by today's standards, dated) machines, now is your chance! Two companies, both based in the UK, are promising to deliver a Big Trak to your door sometime later this year:

Dubreq Ltd is bringing back the Big Trak in a smaller package called the "Bigtrak Jr"; find out more about it here: http://www.bigtrakisback.com/ (new window).

Zeon Limited is taking pre-orders for their version of the Big Trak, which is the full sized, like the original; find out more about it and put in for your pre-order here: http://bigtrakuk.com/ (new window).

Regardless of size, though, both of these products will likely have large interfacing potential to computers and micro-controllers alike, just like the original (new window). With today's smaller micro-controllers like the Arduino (new window), hacking a new brain into these retro classics should be a snap.

Finally, one could conceivably attach a robot arm (like the OWI Edge) to either of these platforms, along with a wireless camera, and have a fun mini-UGV (unmanned ground vehicle).

Maybe you should buy two...?