Lifestyle Computers, the Next Big Thing?

Anonymous Howard asks: "Lifestyle computers, otherwise known as 'computers with everything contained in a single unit', are extremely popular in Japan, where living spaces are much smaller then in the North America. Probably the most popular that I know of that was released are the Apple iMacs. Many of the major manufactures like Sony and HP have released Lifestyle computers, like the Sony PCV-W20. What I like to see are the unique stylings from companies I've never heard of over in Japan, like the Sotec Afina AS7180AV, I think it looks somewhat like a high heel shoe from the side. How many of you would find these types of computers useful? In particular, if you are living in a space where you are not cramped for space, would you ever buy one? Are there any other interesting machines like the Sonys/Afina/new iMacs that not only have function, but act as a stylish addition to the room?"

Comments

Have a PCV-W20

[moosesocks]

I've got a PCV-120. Actually, I've had it for well over a year and a half (they're not exactly new)

My impressions of it are as follows: It's not a performance-thrilling machine, but makes up for it where it counts. It's small, has DVD/CDRW, and a flash reader, so you shouldn't need any external devices

I really like the fold-up keyboard, though I do wish it were detachable if you ever desired to use a real keyboard, as the built-in one is little more than a laptop keyboard (though it's a pretty damn nice laptop keyboard at that). My favorite part, though, is quite simple... The screen is protected by a 1/4 inch piece of plexiglass! Making it imprevious to liquids and other stuff (though I don't believe the keyboard has any sort of protection which is probably an oversight)

My only practical complaints are that it has intergrated video and the built-in speakers are somewhat tinny. Apart from that, it's a pretty sweet PC.

I am crammed for space

[bluGill]

Sure I live alone in a 4 bedroom house, but I can only be in one place at a time. I can only type on one keyboard at a time. I could in theory use 4 mice at a time (one in each hand, and a trackball for each foot), but my brain can't deal with all that at once. I have room for at most 3 montiors (As if I could afford that many) on my desk, but looking at more than one at a time is a challenge. Better if I use periferal vision, but that is completely different interaction and not as useful. I can get some feedback from audio, but not much.

Thus I spend most of my time in one room, and I don't even use even half the space in it. My body is just too limited to deal with anything more. The problem I need solved isn't physical space, it is useful space. In Japan they have limited physical space, so they must use it well. My physically space is for practical purposes unlimited. Me and my counterpart in Japan have essentially the same useful space limitations. Let me know when the come up with an advance to deal with those limits, and I'll be interested.

Convergence or "Yes, but..."

[renehollan]

Lifestyle computers have two attributes:

1. They're "all in one" devices": jacks of all trades, and masters of none.

2, They're "stylish", whatever that means.

So, the question really becomes, "Are there times and places when and where a low powered, good looking computer is appropriate?". The answer, is a resounding, "YES!"

Look no further than the trials and tribulations of those trying to put together an HTPC (Home Theater Personal Computer): Oh the agony of the fan noise, the ugliness of the case, and so on. It doesn't take much to play music, and playing video from common digital sources only takes a bit more "oomph" (actually, very little more, if you have hardware-assisted MPEG2 decoding). Rendering web-pages is child's play, if you can decode MPEG2 video. What else is there that a computer-as-entertainment device needs to do? About the only thing you can't do with a "low power" computer is play the latest uber-game, for lack of video horsepower. Still, one can achive a wonderful level of entertainment convergence even without this capability.

I have a nice, mid-1980s Bang & Olufsen Beosystem 5500 stereo system: receiver, turntable, CD player, and cassette deck. It drives external Carver amps, Bohlender-Graebner Radio 5000 speakers, and a custom-built amplified subwoofer. It rocks, and looks fscking cool! Yes, it cost 2-3 times as much as a system that sounds as good, but a system that sounds noticibly better would cost 10 times as much -- at some point you stop paying for performance and start paying for style, particularly if you want a nice family room. It complements a Sony HD-ready television, HD satellite receiver, and DVD player. Hmm, the "style" starts to suffer from all the stuff interconnected. But, it get's worse.

See, the B&0 CD player and the DVD player take single disks. Oh sure, I could get a CD/DVD jukebox, but they're, well, ugly (I payed for good looks, remember?). Besides, such things didn't exist in 1987, not even for CDs, when I got the stereo. So, I have a custom-built solid oak-and-granite-and-fancy-suspension-system cabinet to "show off" the B&O equipment and house up to 240 CDs, 90 cassettes, and have a shelf for "misc.", er, DVDs, yeah, I anticipated those cases, that's it. It looks great! Ain't I smart (if obnoxious, at this point?).

Well, perhaps, but not really. Like I said, interconnecting all that equipment detracts from the elegance -- it should "look simple". B&O gets this part right. The cabinet is utterly useless for CD number 241 or cassette number 91 (dunno how many DVD cases it can hold). Now, what would be really slick would be nothing other than a single box, connected to TV or alternate display, and external audio amps and speakers, or multichannel receiver.

Gee, sounds like a lifestyle computer, no?

Granted, the "lifestyle" systems currently available, while stylish, aren't really designed for this kind of use. But, the A/V convergence is encouraging. We're starting to see smarter and smarter set top boxes and networked DVD players. Between OTA and satellite television, there aren't that many different standards that need be accomodated (legacy analog, ATSC, and DVB). A one-size-fits-all tuner box, capable of retrieving digital content over the air, via satellite, or LAN (with WAN gateway to the Internet), isn't that much of a stretch any more. Include a DVD/CD drive, and you're done. Heck, there are digital video processors like ATI's Xilleon varients that already do all manner of ATSC, MPEG, with analog output encoding for NTSC, PAL, and SECAM, with a 300 Mhz MIPS processor to boot.

We're not there yet: current offerings are either ugly or awkward to use, or both. Still, that such first generation convergence devices exist at all, together with stylish lifestyle computers suggests that an eventual optimal merger between the two ideas might happen hopefully sooner than later.

Anyone wanna buy a nice hardwood and granite stereo cabinet?

Bombed?!?

[El]

The iMac did very well in the marketplace, for precisely that reason; 95% of computer buyers DON'T WANT to mess with their computer -- ever! For some people, plugging in the monitor to the CPU is too complicated. Asking slashdotters what computer hardware will be popular is like asking a NASCAR driver what kind of car they like to drive - their answers are in no way related to those of the general population.