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

Drawback - They Have no "Killer App"

[Ieshan]

With the market like it is in the countries where people will be buying computers, the "footprint" system doesn't make up for in style what it drops in price. Currently, the people who are buying computers are either looking for power or affordability, not a suave appearance.

You might say this isn't true, but the majority of computer users aren't "geeks". Since the computer isn't so widespread that it's in every room of the house - usually, there's one or two an "affluent" household - people can hide them away in offices which aren't going to be seen by your houseguests and the like, making the "style" thing unnecessary. Furthermore, the consumer has gotten so used to the grey-box case that it's still considered "in style".

That's not to say that someday in the future, the smaller, chic computer won't become more widespread. I think the problem is that the consumer isn't willing to spend more AND sacrifice power to do it, and currently, that's what they've got to do.

Attention chassis manufacturers: HANDLES

[mojotooth]

I'm with the submitter that smaller form factors are nice. However one thing that I know they can control right here and now is the presence of HANDLES on the cases.

I'm an avid gamer. I had to buy a third-party (albeit excellent) product from CaseAce to help me carry my box to LAN parties etc. And I got a flat-screen monitor that was easier to carry than my 17" monitor.

But if computer manufacturers would just put a stout handle built in to the case, that would go a long way towards making me happy. Same thing for monitor builders, although I understand the problem is different for them.

For instance, look at the Gamecube. Arguably as much power as the other gaming platforms, but much easier for portage purposes. Why can't computer makers take a hint here?

Re:cPCI Cards

[seanadams.com]

Remove one screw and it slides out of the side, easily replaced or swapped.

...or DROPPED!

I've seen a Dell hard disk destroyed in exactly this way. Granted, the owner should have noticed the screw missing, but still, I'd say Dell is mostly to blame for having the hard disk held in by a single, tiny screw.

I'll take a Powerbook any day:

- Batteries and CDROM are securely held in their compartments by a spring-loaded latch. It's almost impossible to accidentally unlatch them, and if you do, who cares, it's just the battery.

- The hard disk, memory, and 802.11 card are stowed safely underneath the keyboard. It takes about two seconds to flip down the keyboard, 20 seconds to install an Airport card, five minutes to install memory, and five minutes to swap the HD.

- *much* sleeker/thinner styling than the Dells, whether Titanium or Bronze.

Vaios are my favorite PC laptop, but that's not saying much. I can't stand the keyboards on the Vaios. Why does nearly every PC latop maker think they're doing us a favor by putting the arrow keys where the shift key ought to be?