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Oddball PC Cases From Japan
ascii writes "Japanese company Boxmaster Lupo is offering the PCBox: a foldable PC case made entirely out of cardboard?! I have no idea about the target group although I reckon it may appeal to some casemodders *grin*. Overclockers should watch out though! You wouldn't really want to turn your shiny new case into a pile of ashes just for those extra few fps in Q3 would you?" And Arab writes "They arent really case mods, as such. But a friend sent me this link to a guy's webpage who has made humanoid cases. there is a girl one, one that looks like a Gundam, and one looks like some kinda bizzare fish dragon thing. The site is in Japanese, so I have no idea what it is saying, although it looks like there are step-by-step intructions."
Hats off to them, these rule.
Luck favors the prepared, darling.
So, when they ship you your cardboard PC box, do they... ship it in a cardboard box? Or just put a stamp on your PC box?
...I'll procrastinate tomorrow...
The new e-machines are just going to get even cheaper with this innovation.
~S
...is the Godzilla case?
"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams."
It matches my house! Yay :)
Imagine the new interface possibilties. Who needs a mouse!
'He was a dreamer, a thinker, a speculative philosopher... or, as his wife would have it, an idiot.' - Douglas Adams
The 'girl' case is very user-friendly -- the ports are right where you'd expect!
bp
sounds like the target audience is the small but strong group of homeless MMORPG addicts
[/joke]
"I would say that 99 per cent of what my father has written about his own life is false." - L. Ron Hubbard Jr.
I just heard Star Jones say this on "The View".
"If you're box feels like cardboard, you should see your gynecologist immediately."
Best Windows Freeware
This is a good glimpse into the future of the PC world, for the market leader in trendy commodity electronics is the Japanese.
As Moore's law begins to slow, and the difference between a 2 gHz Duron and a 4 gHz Duron become imperceptible to most normal people ( a few socially challenged gamers and overclockers aside), people will no longer flock to domestic manufacturers known for high performance boxes like IBM, Dell and Gateway, but will instead look for a box that will last them 3 years, and go with thier domestic decorating scheme.
It's not too late for American PC manufactuers to stop focusing on CPU's and hard drives and start making PC's that can occupy a place of honor in the house, next to the flatscreen TV. Not everyone wants their house to look like an ISP.
and I find it awkward enough lugging a normal case to a LAN party...
Makes modding cases easier. Get another box. Bit of cellotape. Go faster spoiler. 50% speed increase :)
Rus
Cheap UK and US VPS
I suggested a co-worker do up a Barbie like the Gundam jobbie, holding up a 15" LCD monitor for his daughter. He probably won't, but seems like this is would be a great Parent-child activity.
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
the burning question is.. is the girl's butt for intake or exhaust?
"BEHOLD, CORN!!" - Dr. Weird, ATHF
So PC companies won't be able to claim that it "works right out of the box" anymore?
Find me in ~/.sig
the first thing i would add to one of these is a fufme upgrade
Overuse of the Pumping Lemma causes blindness
Wow, that is fantastic!!!
Now my PC case can fold just as easily as windows does!
Just as irrigation is the lifeblood of the Southwest, lifeblood is the soup of cannibals. -- Jack Handy
To reinforce the box motif, the text of their website consists entirely of little boxes.
So cute, but a little confusing. I couldn't translate the text, but I bet it was something about boxes and how boxy the boxes of boxmaster are.
I often kick or slam my computer case when I get angry. These "human" cases would definately make this more fun. Now I need one that looks like Bill Gates to run windows...
Don't most people here at least try to get a few extra MhZ out of their processors?
/.ers.
"Ohhhh!! Nice case!! Cheap too!" "Eeekk!!! FIRE!!! FIRE!!!"
I don't think this would be for most
"Your effort to remain what you are is what limits you."
So, the humanoid "girl" PC "case" looks like it blows hot air out her ass.
Not to mention HER box is, well, YOUR box.
And there's a perfect merge of your pr0n collection, and what it's mostly made up of...(focus on the location of the HDD mounting)
Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion.
What i want to know, can it handle alot of weight? If it cant transportation would be difficult...imagine, walking into a LAN party and ALL of the guts just fall out of your computer...hmm...wouldnt want it happenin to me...
Well, I've done this, but I thought it was a temporary HACK! I don't have a spare case, and I wanted to build up a server, so I just arranged everything on the bottom of a cardboard box. I cut holes in the sides for power, ethernet, and ventilation, and voila! FreeBSD in a box!
std::disclaimer<std::legalese> sig=new std::disclaimer; sig->dump(); delete sig;
Finally, a computer for homeless people.
The race for the coolest case is getting pretty tight. But my next case will beat all of them. Get this: A case made of living human flesh, with neon lights to add zip.
Now... do any of you have a spare child you can lend me? A 2 year old should be just the right size.
Multipurpose, you know.
Can I put in in with my bottles, cans and newspaper or do I have to "dispose of properly" with a recycler? Also will we get a new prize in cereal and cracker jacks???
-- Some days you're the dog; some days you're the hydrant.
OMG! the translation is hilarious:
As for efficiency improvement of the personal computer although processing speed and capacity increase et cetera it is very extreme bewilderingly combination without going well, you must exchange periodically as a part and the consumables which cannot use, also the part comes coming out.
The case (the frame) size to be largest even in various parts, because the majority of the single item cases for the manufacturer make personal computer and the original user does with the metal and the resin make, it deals with and the ê when becoming, is not pay and/or you throw away feeling to throw away, the ê it is not and/or with is not the notion that where you say to be many, probably will be?
When of environmental problem is thought, abandoning, the êÜñ, difficult this kind of ones is unreasonable as a actuality, being joint with the BOXMASTER, it developed this cardboard PC box from the thought of processing and it is not to increase the à leprosy rubbish, you liking to use the material whose burden is little as naturally as possible in the personal computer, whether one ones several dozen years using long ideal.
It does not paint the wrapping and it does the warmth which the material has that way. For example if the child pasted the seal and/or scribbled mono it becomes original with very that and whether also attachment furthermore becomes deep, the êÜñ. Becoming the canvas of the good work, finishing role, as a PC case without throwing away,, if there is a kind of thing taking if it is delightful truly, is.
The Digital Sorceress
Manga writers have experimented with this exact concept.
'Chobits' by the CLAMP girls is about android computers in the shape of cute girls. The story is actually pretty relevant. It's primary theme is the positive and negative things that happen when people start interacting more and more with virtual worlds and peope and less with the real world and real people.
The next Slashdot story will be ready soon, but subscribers can beat the rush and slashdot the links early!
So are these like, for knocking out all those negative waves?
THIS IS GREAT. I CAN UPGRADE THE ENTIRE OFFICE WITH THESE :)
I do worry about overheating of parts and the cardboard igniting.
Oh, well, I will create or wait for another bright idea. Hopefully us Americans can come up with it without killing for the Dollar Bill!
Some quick translations of the headings on the second link:
ERN001-PC: "Ellen"
This is probably the world's first life-size "woman PC."
RX-78 PC
The world's first human-sized robot PC at 185cm (just over six feet).
The Great Nagoya Kin-Shachi ("Gold Dolphin")
Doesn't it look like a Shachi?
foldable PC case made entirely out of cardboard?! I have no idea about the target group
I haven't actually seen kids breakdancing on folded pieces of cardboard since 1984, but I guess it was bound to make a comeback sometime! Now they can have a PC full of MP3's, instead of a ghetto blaster.
Is that a real poncho? I mean, is that a Mexican poncho or is that a Sears poncho?
Do you want your computer case to be paper or plastic?
Manipulate the moderator system! Mod someone as "overrated" today.
It kind of would appear to be from the "shape" and the fact she's in some kind of commando outfit with holsters.
Not until someone markets a PC case made entirely of cheese.
...
Think about it: domokun is already rectangular. All you need is some god-awful brown carpet and some colored fabric for the eyes and mouth. You could accessorize your domokun case with vomit piles if you're traditional, or a tabby kitten if you want everybody to please think of the kittens!
"What is the sound of one belly slapping?"
I thought the reason cases were made of metal was to shield RFI generated inside your computer from disturbing peoples radio or TV reception. (The FCC has limits on how much RFI a device can emit). A cardboard case would obviously not provide any shielding.
AccountKiller
It looks like normal brown cardboard - they could have at least used conductive or antistatic cardboard
HIV Crosses Species Barrier... into Muppets
I can actually see this as being useful for design and layout, esp in cases where someone wanted to design their own case in fiberglass, wood, or other non stock material. A cardboard cutout of exactly what you want with accurate specificiations would be most valuable.
Not to speak of using a decent primer and a flex adheasive paint and actually having something ultra light weight as a display model.
There is no sanctuary. There is no sanctuary. SHUT UP! There is no shut up. There is no shut up.
What effect does a cardboard case have on the system's EMI? It seems to me that it would be leaking like a colander. Would be tough to get FCC certification with one of these!
Of course, being Japanese, they really aren't concerned with FCC certification. Still...
I had a PC case made of cardboard. I cut a hole in a cardboard box for the power switch and LEDs to poke through, then shoved in a mobo. It worked as well! Even though it did smell like smoke from a steam train after about 5 mins...
BUT I DID IT!!!
Oh and there was VIAs PC in a box, as well...this ain't new.
If you're happy and you know it read my blog
www4.justnet.ne.jp/~kat/ pc/pccase.htm (notice the use of english)
is written in Japanese?
Why would somebody name a page in Language-A and then write it in Language-B?
___ I don't respond to Anonymous Cowards, and I Never Mod them UP.
I still think this wooden case is much cooler
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Hubzilla!
Don't have the orignal site url.. but I did save the pics.
http://alteviltech.com/Gallery2/CaseMod
Be careful of the cooling fan though ;)
Seriously. A PC case shaped like Tux the Penguin would be the perfect case for a Linux box that is sitting out in the open. A BSD Daemon case would also be a nice thing.
Though I suppose that the "Ellen" (the one shaped like a girl) case might be attractive to the hardcore otaku with even less of a life than a Slashdotter...
"You spoony bard!" -Tellah
I *like* it, but my computer room is about 2 degrees away from being a firetrap as it is.
I wonder if the folks at Google know about these guys. They'd probably freakin' *love* 'em, given the stories I've heard about their velcroed-together servers.
There a UK company that ships a server encased in real used pizza boxes, too.
Ed R.Zahurak
You know, oblivion keeps looking better every day.
Female not Femail.. ARGH!
Just a box [/metalgear reference]
Well its about time the Computer revolution was brought to the homeless. They have been left out of the tech market vision for far too long!!!
Older VME bus systems, like the Sun 4/260, were made of sturdy enough materials, enough to faciliate sexual intercourse of even the most vigerious nature.
I don't see that possible in a cardboard case. The crushing action and an AGP card in the butt i'd imagine, for most, would be a serious turn off.
There is no sanctuary. There is no sanctuary. SHUT UP! There is no shut up. There is no shut up.
High performance boxes? Umm, no. Sorry. Anyone who thinks Dell and Gateway make high performance boxes is already lost. Mass-market boxes, sure. But not high performance.
..I wonder if I can talk my girl (yes, this near-geek has a girl!) to stand model for one...
Mind you, it appears to have mini-itx board from VIA. If you head over to mini-itx.com, you'll see a lot of weird cases with this board - including a Millenium Falcon, a Commandore SX-64 and it's sibling (twin actually) Comondore 64, a clock and a beer-keg.
Everything in the world is controlled by a small, evil group to which, unfortunately, no one you know belongs.
...all your box are belong to us!
My website
If you're on a budget, this isn't going to save you anything. It's 9800 yen, for a kit, 13800 assembled. That's about 80-110 -ish dollars.
This is for the fashion or environmentally conscious, not the budget-conscious. (Not that that's tremendously expensive for a case or anything...)
Perhaps someone could include a means to provide cardboard popups on this case, that would be sweet!
There is no sanctuary. There is no sanctuary. SHUT UP! There is no shut up. There is no shut up.
...use the best tool for the job?
Hamster
What do you say on your insurance form when your cardboard encased, overclocked, gasoline cooled PC burns your house down?
Do they make them in different sizes, like for servers or rack mounted machines? If you take a really big cardboard box, I'm sure you could build an entire beowulf cluster in one of these...
One who is into computer games, is slim and trim, is constantly in a position to give head, and isn't going to flee at the sight of him.
Its amazing what people can do with VIA's EPIA motherboards. One look at this picture and you'll get the idea.
;)
Nice exaust
Im dreaming ofa big bndwdth, That can resist the
There's some severely screwed up people out there. I actually think the cardboard model is cool - does this make me one of them?
My website
NetInfo connection failed for server 127.0.0.1/local
On the other hand, such a design would bring all new conotations to the term "laptop".
Self Serving Sig: Hosting Comparison
This reminded me immediately of a fav Dilbert cartoon. Not exact, but I hope close
PHB- "I think I need to upgrade my computer."
Dilbert-"You're computer is a cardboard prop that came with your desk"
PHB-"So I need a motherboard?"
Dilbert-"No, you need a new desk."
Except, in this case (Damn puns!) the PHB would be right!
---"What did I say that sounded like 'Tell me about your day?'"---
I love how the girl case, through all the steps of construction, seems to have an unfinished bracket area down at the crotch. Even when completed (?) and at some sort of show display, it's still just a drive mounting bracket of some sort.
It's maybe somewhat good to see somebody doesn't spend all their time at porn sites revealing great mysteries they'll never see in person, but come on, guys. Take at least a peek sometime. It's not the expansion slot you seem to think it is....
I saw this done many years ago at a LAN party.
Actually, it was a Pizza Hut box, and most the parts were held together by duct tape.
Im dreaming ofa big bndwdth, That can resist the
That sucks. When I first heard of the humanoid cases, I thought they'd be more then a plastic person with wires all coming out of the crotch (and they didn't even show us how the Mech one connected fully built). I was hoping for a disk drive mouth, maybe a bunch of wires that could be pulled out of the hand and retract back into it, LED load lights in the eyes, mouth speakers, ear mic... that kind of stuff. It looks really cool, but there is little or no combination of art and utility in this-- they're just unrelated.
"Probably the toughest time in anyone's life is when you have to murder a loved one because they're the devil." -Philips
A PC case shaped like Tux the Penguin...
Just get a big enough Tux doll...
The ENIAC Demo Competition
I'm horrified by the cardboard case idea. It's bad enough that cases are getting so flimsy that I'm afraid to keep them under my desk, but carboard? Jeeze. Hell, I make ATX cases out of old IBM towers, and those things will take a sledgehammer blow. Carboard? Gah. The only thing I really wouldn't worry about would be the ignition thing. If I remember properly, the auto-ignition temp of paper is something like 451 degrees farenheit. If your machine is running that hot, you have alot more to worry about that then your case catching on fire.
Ahh well. Cheaper, cheaper, cheaper. No wonder the world is infested with flimsy crap.
Doc
We should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality.
So,now we can have our girlfriend and computer combined?
If we put speakers in the head... hey, we can even turn her off
If these become more common, I can foresee a lot of scary things happening with lonely geeks and computers resembling girls...
I think they ship the cardboard computer case in a big aluminum box with USB ports on the front ;)
my box got hacked
That's what I really want to know.
-Lucas
Would have been to make the female PC case an homage to A Clockwork Orange's milk dispensers. Then every time you get a "Is there porn on your computer?" popup, you can honestly answer "No, but there's a computer on my porn!".
Just because you can mod me down, doesn't mean you're right. Shoes for industry!
I wonder what the heat dissipation is like for a mecha case made out of insulating foam. How many fans do you need to keep the robot from melting due to the power of the AMD processor?
Fnord.sig
Hey, at least the case is recyclable and cost less energy/resource to produce! Nevertheless, the most harmful products (lead, mercury, etc) are on the circuit boards and not the case.
WOAH! YOU DIDN'T SAY THESE WERE LIFE SIZE!
There's something sick about doing a case in the shape of a life-size chick, man. I mean, check this out!
Friend: Say, what the heck happened to your PC?
Me: Oh, the hard drive took a dump.
Not right, man... not right.
(**shudder**)
"Lawyers are for sucks."
- Doug McKenzie
I was going through the pictures for the girl humanoid case. Then I got to this one. That just looks wrong... Yeah right, hes going to stick a "gun" in the right hand.
Did you notice that it's (assumedly) legal to show a naked artifical woman taking a dump in her own hand - but they have to censor her genitals?
Japanese censorship laws - now that is 'really strange.'
Everyone will start to cheer when you put on your sailin' shoes.
I hate to burst the bubble of all those who had visions of running their home systems inside one of these, but according to Boxmaster's site, the cardboard case uses the Mini-ITX form factor.
While this might not be a problem for some, I don't know how many of us are willing to buy one of the few Mini-ITX motherboards on the market just to use this case.
Also, regarding the humanoid cases, it looks to me as if they can't be opened. Maybe I'm just not looking carefully enough, or maybe these are just meant for your BSD router or something...
The cardboard case gives a whole new meaning to having a "beige box" computer ;-)
-psy
And the owner thought he was having problems picking up girls before...
dork: "hut hut, wanna see my computer?"
chick: "um... sure, I guess"
dork: "Voila! It's got 11.125ghz, transphasic power supply..."
chick: "WHAT THE HELL IS COMING OUT OF THE LEGS OF THAT MANIKIN?!?"
dork: "oh, well those are the cables for my keyboard, mouse and.... hey where you going?!? You didn't get to see my Dragon..."
my karma will be here long after I'm gone
The woodcase is actually kinda spiffy, i've made one my self actually not nearly so large. I have actually thought about converting furnature to actually house some of my hardware. Sorta having a rack mount effect, but having a more earthy feel to it. Plus the added bonus that theif would be likely to spot it as being valuable, and carting away with it.
Serious bonus to the fact that it also serves as a platform for things like printer and supplies, and the fact that furnature that just needs re-finishing work is pretty dirt cheep. All you need is a dremel, belt sander, and perhaps a random orbital and lots of elbow greese.
There is no sanctuary. There is no sanctuary. SHUT UP! There is no shut up. There is no shut up.
I am a conspiracy theorist however, and so I can only assume the lumber industry is funding the venture capital for this "cute" business product.
- soupmaster
You gotta love those hentai japanese fellers!
And can I be among the first to say (though I doubt I will be) "...imagine a beowulf cluster of these..."
There's this thing called "shielding" that these cardboard cases seem to be missing.
-- I am. Therefore, I think!
Optimus Prime would be awesome as a case.
Perfect excuse for the case windows and cold-cathode lights inside!
Extra points to the geek who's able to make his transform. (x2 if it can transform on it's own)
Wiwi
"I trust in my abilities,
but I want more then they offer"
So everyone is going to want a cardboard box next to their flatscreen?!?
While the Japanese then "innovate" paper maiche boxes that can sit on top of your stereo?
Here you go- newspaper oragami systems!
Better yet- very slim systems that you can nail to your wall and then wall paper them!
Hah! Put the computer into the shelves that hold your stereo!
meh
Vote monkeys into Congress. They are cheaper and more trustworthy.
Hey ... if you want to build a "real" case out of plastic or plexiglass or whatnot, I bet the cardboard pieces make a great set of templates.
Tuus crepidae innexilis sunt.
Oh man, I'm going to hell for even *thinking* that...
Dig around on their site a bit and you see some other case products, like one with Delorean-type openings and some way-cool spherical cases.
Too bad, though. It seems they don't deliver outside of Japan.
Tuus crepidae innexilis sunt.
...in Office Depot, back in the office furniture section. Isn't this the same computer that Dilbert's pointy-haired boss uses?
Is, of course, cardboard: http://amawin.com/commercial/quart_de_poil/L5_engl ish/Quart_de_poil_carton_uk.htm
And weren't there cardboard geodesic domes at Burning Man last year?
Just don't smoke in bed.
Such a simple design... surely it will breeze right through the UL and FCC approval processes...
Sounds a lot like 70's muscle-cars vs. 2000's ricers..
Chrysler/Mopar -- Honda
IBM/INTEL -- ??
S
My friend made a PC case out of a 5-gallon paint bucket from home depot. He drilled holes for all the ports and cut slots for fans. It's probably the best LAN party case ever, because all you have to do is put the lid on and carry it using the built-in handle.
much better than a cardboard box.
Check out where the fan is located on this model. Doll PC This can only lead to bad things.
Cardboard case
http://www4.justnet.ne.jp/~kat/pc/ern/ern001.htm
it had to asked...
"You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas"
Sen. Davy Crocket to US Congress, Nov. 1, 1835
My laptop generates a fair amount of electromagnetic noise being near a radio or such. A full tilt desktop would be even worse.
Cases also keep this noise out. Other devices generate quite a bit of electromagnetic noise and depending on the quality of the internal components (remember "cardboard case"), their stability may be reduced by being exposed to this.
Shhh...
:-)
:-)
Don't tell people that you have a floppy dick... you know IBM named it "floppy" cuz it was made out of flexible disks
Tell where you'll put your Hard-disk... ofcourse assuming you have a removable one
- mritunjai
That fish dragon thing is actually a Chinese sea monster that has the head of a tiger and the body of a fish. The body is covered with poisonous spikes. On land it can transform itself into a tiger. A representation of the Shachihoko was used in medieval Japan as a gargoyle and is what adorns the top of Nagoya Castle in Nagoya, Japan.
Totally unrelated, but thought someone might actually be interested in knowing this.
Sorry guys- I've got java turned off (ok, I didn't install it), so I noticed that it was a crippled site (I couldn't get to a better page, or get more info), but I didn't realize how bad it was. Here's a conductive coating on a less obnoxious website. Other people make the black antistatic cardboard - lots of sample chips get shipped in these boxes.
HIV Crosses Species Barrier... into Muppets
When I spent all of my cash on a cute little Mini-ITX board, I didn't have enough money for one of the related sooper-cute cases that cost just as much as the board itself. As it sits now, the box that the board came in is serving well as the case, even with a stylish "external" dvd drive. Pictures, for all interested parties.
A computer modeled to look like something the user will never have the pleasure of becoming intimate with. What's the next step? A REAL DOLL made to hold your computer parts too? While waiting for your kernel to recompile you can skullfuck your computer.. jeez... some people just gotta get out more... honestly.
You're nothing; like me.
You need:
:D
Package of Tin Foil
Tape
A cardboard PC Case
Measure the side of the case. For those with the skills, eyeballing the length is fine. Now tear out a sheet of Tin Foil the same length of the case. Use the tape to attatch the foil. Keep doing this until your entire case is covered in foil.
Voila! Now you can go tell the FCC or any similiar organization that you're compliant
All this talk about odd computers reminds me of one that they stopped making some time back. It was the Bill Clinton computer. It has a "3 1/2 inch floppy and no memory.
Wh47 d1d j00 541, 31337 15n't t3h r0xor5 ne m0r3???
http://www4.justnet.ne.jp/~kat/pc/ern/ern16.jpg
im a gundam modeler, and want to make a life size gundam, anyone have any links on the subject? i've looked around but cant find a damn thing.
Everybody denies I am a genius--but nobody ever called me one!
Now when I take my computer to work with me, I can use the carpool lane. I may actually be on time.
Sweet, apple started making PCs!
Can I get OSX for x86 now?!? please?
Now, lets make fun of you for making fun of someone else and screwing it up! <STYLE=SIMPSONS.NELSON>HA HA</STYLE>
Not so comical anymore, eh!
we have paper computers. No, no fire risk here.
this sig deleted by another sig
NetInfo connection failed for server 127.0.0.1/local
I am considering making my cats litter box into a PC. Just wondering if I leave it for my cat to use, will it merge files quicker? I have already had a long compile screwed up by my cat walking on the keyboard, while I went away to get a cup of coffee. I still can't figure what the heck he typed.
OH THE SHAME I fell off the wagon and use sigs again!
First on /. we find that there's math in origami. Now we find that you can store your number cruncher inside your origami case.
Isn't technology keen?
Holy crap, do the Japanese just have more time on their hands than we do?
Not everyone wants their house to look like an ISP
Whoa, whoa, whoa... wha?? Who??
This could have been the Dot Crash craze : you lost jour job, your stocks won't buy you a pack of gum and you live in a homeless shelter ?
Don't let your shiny computer you slavaged ruin that overall misery look : The cardboard case will win everyone's sympathy !
nt
Cover your eyes and click this link!
The fact that you mention the existance of Apaling Simle writes off anything you had to say.
Well I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years doctor, and I'm happy to say I finally won out over it.