Improving Computer Form Factors?

eschasi asks: "Recently we've been seeing some trend towards smaller footprint machines like the new iMac or the tiny PC system shown in this recent article. All these tiny systems have scalability or quality problems for me, and I don't think it has to be that way. But all the solutions I see require discarding much of what we think is standard to desktop/deskside mechanical design for PCs. Apple has been able to do with much more freedom becuase they own the whole process. PC makers, however, don't. The last major improvement to PC motherboard/case design was the ATX design, and that was evolutionary rather than revolutionary. I think that major improvement can still be made in an evolutionary way. I want both worlds: I want a small footprint; I want it in a premium system; I want it to have enough room for a pair of hard drives, a 5.25" external slot, and a 3.5" external slot; and I want it using largely off-the-shelf components, and I don't want to have to re-invent ATX and PCI and ya-da-day to get it!" Do you feel the same way? How would you improve the current crop of PC form factors?

"IMHO large chunks of the problem could be solved by taking advantage of both sides of the motherboard. Put the CPU and most of the misc. chips on one side, put the expansion slots and RAM on the other. The case design would have to change but that's quite doable.

Using both sides of the motherboard does more than reduce footprint by half while returning to full expandability. You also get the benefit of having the RAM sit directly opposite the CPU, reducing trace length problems and permitting RAM bus speed increases. Other timing problems might also be reduced.

I've left aside the rest of my extensive arguements for why this is or isn't a good idea; what I'm interested in is this:

• Do other people see the same drawbacks with small-footprint systems?
• What seems to be out there on the drawing board for post-ATX systems?"

Krow's comments: Form factor and cute design is all great and lovely but I want to know what can be done to reduce electrical usage for the average geek's home hosting farm collection. Even small usage reductions add up.

Comments

Simi-OT What about the Inverse?

[AnalogBoy]

mofoinasciiartistwannabetroll...er HI! me again. Just wanted to ask the inverse question. What if you want your computer to be big, frightening looking, with lots of blinkinlights?

I mean, granted, a modern minitower is nice.. but two or three lights just arent enough.

I therefore start the campaign for more blinkinlights.

Sun Systems are nice. Large (You have the "Refrigerator Cabinet", "End Table" and "Ottoman" form factors). Adequate blinking lights (ESPECIALLY on 6500's!)..

I want my computer to have lots of lights. I don't care if they do anything. I want my keyboard to sit in the middle of a console with a lot of dials, gauges, digital readouts, switches, buttons, knobs, and things that go "PING!" (a ping light WOULD be good, to think of it.) I want to see my network utilization on a graph led. I want to see my processor usage there, too. I want to see a red light come on each time some PFY discovers WinNuke, or someone tries to NIMDA me. I want to have one of those covered red buttons that may or may not launch a thermonuclear device. I want screens that go "zeeeeeeeerp, zeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerp" as text scrolls across it.

I already have three monitors on my desk. Wires strewn everywhere. But what else do i have? An Ultra 5, A beanie baby, and a dell optiplex. And a Dell Keyboard (at least i makes those satisfying *click*'s.). I WANT SWITCHES, dammit.

soo... any suggestions?

[notices steam rising from ears]

err.. teehee..