It's funny, as I read the thread for tricorder, I immediately thought of one fo those palm pilots. If you want to make a cool, working prop out of it, do the tricorder shown here
http://www.therpf.com/index.php?showtopic=124427 You could hide the control buttons by making the lower 'grip' work as a lid that hides them until used. I really think you should go for it. It would ROK.[/b]