Pip-Boy 2000

The RobCo PIPBoy 2000 is a device similar manufactured by RobCo Industries, using ultra-modern super-deluxe resolution graphics, which coupled with its capability to store large amounts of information make it the obvious choice for the wandering explorer, the out-on-his-own newbie or the all-around survivalist expert.

The PIPBoy 2000 is a very special piece of pre-war equipment that was used primarily by travelers. The Pip Boy holds a surprisingly large amount of information and can transfer data to and from holodisks and from data tubes. It displays information in bright green on its black 5" x 3" screen. It can record sound and video footage for later playback. It uses a simple but elegant form of sonar and satellite tracking (where available, which is far from everywhere in the post-apocalyptic world) to map out areas where its user travels. Though input is slow, a user can also hand-enter and edit text messages on their Pip Boy 2000s. The original Pip Boy 2000 was a hand-held device, though some very cumbersome models were made to be worn on the arm. These models were unofficially called Pip Boy 2000 Plus.

The character who shows in images which illustrate all of the characteristics of the SPECIAL character system (Perks, Traits, Stats etc.) is often incorrectly called Pipboy (even in Fallout Tactics). His real name is Vault Boy.

Buttons
The PIPBoy 2000 includes four handy buttons each with his own function and one broken button (at least in the one which belonged to the Vault Dweller and Chosen One):

Status
The Status will display any quests the budding adventurer in you has been attempting to perform. Completed quests, if any, will be crossed out, but still visible, to provide that "good feeling" in you when checking back the Status.

Automaps
Advances in terrain renderization allow the PIPBoy 2000 to store automaps of any location you visit during your journeys. The Automaps button will display all of the automaps the PIPBoy 2000 has in its memory.

Archives
Including a video recorder, the PIPBoy 2000 saves filmic events that might occur. Here you can watch them all again, in full playback mode!

Clues
In the PipBoy which belonged to Vault Dweller, this button is broken. Its name was visible only in the Fallout demo.

Close
The Close button will power down your PIPBoy 2000 and release you from its high-resolution monochromatic graphics.

Variants
A minature version exists, called the Lil' Pip 3000. Curiously, it features the image of the Vault Boy instead of the Pipboy character.

Appearances in games
The main characters in Fallout, Fallout 2 and Fallout Tactics are all equipped with PIPBoys. Van Buren characters such as the Prisoner, other Tibbets prisoners and dr. Presper party (Coleridge, Briggs, Davidson and Pierce) were planned to be equipped with PIPboys also. Presper was planned to use Superpipboy.