When
I was a lad growing up in the suburbs, I had a huge fear of ghosts.I’m not exactly sure where it stemmed from, but just the
mention of apparitions was enough to send cold chills shooting up and
down my spine.Not helping
was the glow-in-the-dark Virgin Mary that hung above my bedroom door.I’ve never asked my parents why a glow-in-the-dark Virgin Mary
was necessary but I assume it had something to do with giving us a sense
of ease knowing that She was watching over my brother and me as we slept
in our bunk beds.Little
did they know I went to sleep with the covers over my head to escape the
eerie glow.It may not have
been a ghost, but it was close enough.It was with this in mind that I opened Cortana.
Cortana
is a display piece that isn’t truly realized until the lights are off.Cortana’s sculpt is great, but it’s her base that showcases
her.There are four blue LED
lights (powered by two AA’s) installed in the base.Pressing and holding a small button on the side can activate the
lights but if you want the best results you’ll flip the switch under
her base.It’s amazing
how much light the base supplies.It’s also amazing how long the batteries last.Need a light for those late night trips to the bathroom?Kids afraid of the dark?Although
there aren’t a lot of entertainment options, Cortana has quite a few
practical applications.LED’s
– the wave of the future!
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Her
sculpt is direct from Halo, but she is way more translucent than her
digital counterpart.In
fact, she almost looks like colored glass.On top of that, she looks naked – not that nudity matters
to a super AI construct, but your wife/girlfriend might have a few
things to say.From a
distance any of the detail is completely washed out, but up close there
is a fair amount of detail.
Kids
won’t be drawn to Cortana at all.Master Chief and the Warthog are instant hits among the younger
crowd – mostly because they’re very playable.However, among collectors and Halo fans, Cortana will score big
points even though you can’t really play with her (never mind your
weird fantasies about being Master Chief).Display is great and you’ll get your money’s worth if
that’s all you want – and don't forget practical applications!