Why is the TurboBooster as big as the console itself?

[Gentlegamer]

I just got a TurboBooster, and I'm enjoying composite video and stereo sound on my Turbografx-16. But why is the thing so big?

[Joe Redifer]

Probably to make you think you spent your money wisely... or to make you think it would be worth spending your money on.  Back in the 80's people were complete dipshits (unlike these days where everyone is smart) and were impressed by things that were big.  People would see the TurboBooster and think "Wow!  There must be some awesome technology in that thing.  Look how big it is!!!!"  Then they'd spend the outrageous price that NEC charged for it. 

In reality, the thing didn't need to be much bigger than the actual expansion slot at all (which is much smaller than the cover itself) and it didn't need to cost more than, say, $9.  The Turbo and its accessories were a rip-off when they were new.

[Tatsujin]

  The Turbo and its accessories were a rip-off when they were new.

that's probably the reason why they sucked instead of successed in the states!

[Black Tiger]

Because of the way they designed the TG-16 into a "T" shape to conform to the standard PC Engine expansion slot while still changing/enlarging the rest of the console for whatever reasons (shielding, size = power, etc).

They wanted the TG-16 to look the way it does with the expansion cover on, which is why they included that ridiculous shell in the first place(instead of designing a new expansion port similar other consoles).

So the Booster fills in the gap to retain the similar shape instead of revealing and lengthening the hidden "T" shape.

[Sparky]

its a big'n but i like how it fills the TG16 out but why sell the booster and the booster plus!!! hells the kid with the regular booster would be teased from the booster plus crew

[Tatsujin]

NEC USA showed us well, how to convert the probably smallest game system ever made (portables not included) into one of the biggest in competition.

[Black Tiger]

its a big'n but i like how it fills the TG16 out but why sell the booster and the booster plus!!! hells the kid with the regular booster would be teased from the booster plus crew

The Booster came out first and from what I remember, the Booster Plus got delayed several times. I never did get to see a Booster Plus in Canada.

I was very happy with my Booster until I got a Turbo-CD.

[Black Tiger]

NEC USA showed us well, how to convert the probably smallest game system ever made (portables not included) into one of the biggest in competition.

They had nothing on NEC JP's SuperGrafx + Super CD-ROM combo.

The SuperGrafx alone is the size of a TG-16 + Turbo-CD, save for an inch or so of thickness around the discman area.

[nectarsis]

That combo is soooooooo sexy though

[Peluso8]

I've never actually seen one of those. I use a homemade A/V wire that a friend made for me.

[Tatsujin]

They had nothing on NEC JP's SuperGrafx + Super CD-ROM combo.

yeah..but this is a completely other story and not the must-go way for the user

[nat]

I've never actually seen one of those. I use a homemade A/V wire that a friend made for me.

That's the way to do it. I've made a ton of those over the years. FWIW, I've never seen a Booster in 'real life' either for this precise reason.

[Black Tiger]

They had nothing on NEC JP's SuperGrafx + Super CD-ROM combo.

yeah..but this is a completely other story and not the must-go way for the user

You mean like the Duo systems?

[Tatsujin]

[Keranu]

Hey I'm a strong supporter of "bigger is better". Usually when things are made small, they are made cheap and break easily (though certainly not in the PCE's case), which is part of the reason why a lot of electronics suck these days compared to the 80's. Just imaging dropping an Atari Lynx and a PSP and then comparing the damage results .