This PC is an Illusion
Can your computer do magic?
This prototype design can. The Illusion PC is one of thousands of entries into the Next-Gen PC Design competition sponsored by Microsoft. Gizmodo spotted it, and I have to agree that it pulls off a pretty nifty visual trick.
The Illusion PC, entry No. 911 in the Next-Gen PC Design Competition.
(Credit: NextGenDesignComp.com)The design makes the PC appear to have no inner components. The designer says the aim was to make the computer not look like a computer, and when turned off to look just like a household decorative object.
The cube measures 8.25 inches on each side and uses a Mini-ITX mainboard, 200-watt mini-PSU, and slot-loading DVD burner meant for laptops. It has room for up to two standard desktop hard drives. The Illusion can also come with a mini 6-inch monitor and TV tuner card as options. A small wireless keyboard and air mouse are used to control the PC.
While it's intended as a home theater PC, it could also be custom built to consumers' tastes, the designer says.
Click here to see the other equally awesome finalists in the competition.
Erica Ogg is a CNET News reporter who covers Apple, HP, Dell, and other PC makers, as well as the consumer electronics industry. She's also one of the hosts of CNET News' Daily Podcast. In her non-work life, she's a history geek, a loyal Dodgers fan, and a mac-and-cheese connoisseur. E-mail Erica. 
This entry just took off the shelf stuff, combined it with a clever visual hook and viola he makes it on to C/Net. IMHO it looks too much like what it is, a homemade computer. And not enough like a "next gen PC" that the competition is about. But as far as PC mods go the contestant did a nice job. But it does showcase what I like about PCs and the industry that supports this sort of thing. Strong support for the "hobbyist" do it yourself types. And although the big PC brands continue to chase each other and Apple with their ever more hobbyist unfriendly hardware most have not completely succumbed to the sealed box botique brand chic.
As to the Apple cube.. it did not really appeal to me, I like more metal and less plastic.
- This is Lame!
- by Pixelkida March 27, 2008 1:38 AM PDT
- Maybe it's the way it's photographed? But that looks like the lamest thing I've ever seen!
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