Pip-Boy 3000

The Pip-Boy 3000 is an arm-mounted electronic Personal Information Processor manufactured by RobCo Industries in the mid-21st century.

History
The Pip-Boy 3000A (the model the player is equipped with, though it is indicated there are other models, with A being one of the oldest) has been programmed by Pip-Boy developers with numerous functions which include displaying a wearer's stats, area maps, inventory, item properties, and a Geiger counter. In addition, a Pip-Boy is equipped with a radio and its screen doubles as a lamp. A user can set their color preference for the display. The four colors available are Amber, Blue, Green, and White. This has to be changed through the start menu rather than the Pip-Boy itself.

Stats Tab

 * Status
 * Displays the user's Condition, Radiation Levels and any Effects that are currently active.
 * CND - Status of limbs, and enables directional application of stimpaks to crippled areas or to the body as a whole.
 * RAD - Precise reading of user's radiation level using internal Geiger Counter and options to administer Rad-X and Rad Away as necessary.
 * EFF - Displays effects of currently equipped clothing, radiation level, chemicals the user has ingested, the well rested function, any addictions the user may have and any crippled limbs.
 * S.P.E.C.I.A.L
 * Displays the user's S.P.E.C.I.A.L information as well as indicating positive or negative effects on their levels.
 * Skills
 * Displays the user's skill levels as well as indicating positive or negative effects on them.
 * Perks
 * Displays a comprehensive list of the user's perks.
 * General
 * Gives a rough indication of the user's Karma level and gives various interesting pieces of information about the user and their actions. See General Stats.

Items Tab

 * Weapons
 * Gives a readout of the stats of all weapons that the user is carrying on their person and aids in repairing of them.
 * Apparel
 * Gives a readout of the stats of clothing the user is carrying and, similar to weapons, aids in their repair.
 * Aid
 * Shows the stats of any food or medical items the user is carrying.
 * Misc
 * Shows any items that do not fall into any of the above categories.
 * Ammo
 * Gives details on the types and amounts of ammunition that the user is carrying.

Extra Information

 * Weight
 * Show how much weight the user is carrying/the maximum that the user should be carrying at any time.
 * HP
 * How many Hit Points the user has/the full Hit Points the user has.
 * AP
 * How many Action Points the user has/the full Action Points the user has.
 * XP
 * How many Experience Points the user has to level up.
 * Bottle caps
 * How many Bottle caps the user has.

Data Tab

 * Local Map
 * Shows a detailed map of the user's local area.
 * World Map
 * Shows a complete map of the area the user is residing in, allowing new locations to be automatically added when discovered. It also features a quest-linked map marker which appears on the Pip-Boy HUD as a large, solid arrow and guides you to your current quest destination. There is also a secondary, user-selectable marker that can be positioned anywhere on the map and provides the same real-time guidance. This marker appears on the Pip-Boy HUD as a large, unfilled arrow.
 * Quests
 * Shows any quests the user has been given as well as a record of those completed. Can also link an active quest to the Local and Global maps.
 * Notes
 * A record of notes that the user has obtained and allows playback of holotapes and paper notes
 * Radio
 * A built in radio receiver that can tune into local radio stations.

Pip-Boy light
The display of the Pip-Boy 3000 can be set to an over-bright mode, and used to illuminate an area immediately around the user, acting as a makeshift light in darkened areas. The user's color preference will not affect the color of the light, and even though the display is located on the PC's arm, and is usually facing away from the player while not in use, it still provides 360 degree, three-dimensional lighting.

To activate the Pip-Boy Light, hold down the Pip-Boy access button. The default Pip-Boy access buttons are  for PC, O for PS3, and B for Xbox. The Pip-Boy light can be deactivated the same way.

Note that the Pip-Boy light understandably makes you easier to detect while sneaking, even in broad daylight and with a Stealth Boy active or while wearing the Chinese Stealth Suit.

Bugs

 * When viewing the player in Third Person, the Pip-Boy 3000 glows green. It has been known to stay glowing as you bring it up to your face, rendering it almost impossible to read it. Usually, you can just exit the menu and turn it off for it to work, if not restarting the game. The easiest way of removing the green light is to turn on your Pip-Boy light which usually gets rid off the green light if not enter a house and load the autosave, at which point the green light should be gone.
 * There is a bug where the top of the Pip-Boy screen is cut off, it usually happens when viewing the Pip-boy while getting shot at,. This may be due to using the Chinese Stealth Armor.
 * When viewing the maps section of the Pip-Boy and then pausing for a period of time the background will disappear. Easily fixed by lowering and raising it again.
 * In some cases, the Pip-Boy 3000 will report your karma being "The Last, Best Hope for Humanity" when you are, however, Level 21.

Behind the scenes
It would appear that at one time or another, the PipBoy 3000 was going to have a tunable radio, (possibly for hidden radio stations in certain locations) a far more GPS-like map feature and a more digital font judging by concept art found in the textures archive under interfaces/shared. (shown right)

Video
thumb|350px|left|Official Commercial 