Slashdot Mirror
Hip-e All-In-One PC
stallard writes "Yahoo! News reports this story:
'In November, Digital Lifestyles Group Inc. plans to ship the
hip-e, a new Windows-based PC inspired by the iMac, specifically designed to cater to teenagers. It was Chairman and CEO Kent Savage's own experience after his son asked him for an iMac that led to the new all-in-one system's creation.'"
Click on "Spec" and you get this:
DVD Player/CD Burner Drive
1.5GHz Intel Pentium M Processor
High Performance Video
512MB SDRAM Memory (expandable to 2GB)
120GB Hard Drive
6 USB ports (3 in node; 3 in nodeboard)
Firewire ports
Broadband-ready with Built-In Ethernet and 802.11 Wireless
Integrated Microphone
Customizable skins
Sweepstakes LED for contests & promotions
Oh, great. So not only do I get spam, I get my computer blinking at me in the middle of the night to let me know that I have spam.
World's tallest building rises in the desert
It's hard to find, but click specs under 'node' on the config page:
...along with some other stuff my eyes kinda glazed over. The processor seems a bit... lacking. Guess it's not really aimed toward the tech-oriented audience.
DVD Player/CD Burner Drive
1.5GHz Intel Pentium M Processor
High Performance Video [...]
512MB SDRAM Memory (expandable to 2GB)
120GB Hard Drive
6 USB ports (3 in node; 3 in nodeboard)
Firewire ports
Broadband-ready with Built-In Ethernet and 802.11 Wireless
Integrated Microphone
~ Aero
What's worse than a woefully underpowered and overpriced PC bent on granting you a "lifestyle"? Getting your friends on board with you for all the real-life fun and excitement that comes with a MULTI-LEVEL VIRAL MARKETING PYRAMID SCHEME!
Ok, that might be a little harsh, but cash rewards for talking your friends into joining your 'squad'? Stupid -- especially when it's only ten lousy bucks on a system that's worth about $800 and sells for $1700.
"Lawyers are for sucks."
- Doug McKenzie
What on earth are they thinking? Somebody needs to go back to product design school.
Look at how the thing is built. Spec wise it's a solid product, but the way they have made it makes it look as if it was targeted towards 10 year olds and tweens.
If you are a self respecting 16 year old and if you had the option, would you get one of these or an iMac? Part of the whole point of selling high tech toys to teens is that teens who own them want to feel older, more pro, more.. well script kiddie 1337.
You make a product that takes that away and instead says to them "You will be looked upon as a kid who only does innocent things" and expect it to sell?
Sometimes I wish I was a plumber, then I'd know how to deal with other people's shit.
It's a multi-level marketing scheme, too!
For only $1700, you can get in on the ground floor, and get $10 every time your friends buy one. Plus you get to be called a "squad leader!"
HIV Crosses Species Barrier... into Muppets
That's exactly what I first thought when I read that line.
Just to clarify for everyone, Kent Savage is the same guy behind the Netpliance iOpener. He's one of those dot-com bubble masters who doesn't really 'get-it' but can spins some concept up that looks great on paper and board rooms. Other people who also don't 'get-it' in these meetings sucker into his pitches and invest in stupid ideas like this without recognizing the fatal flaws.
The fatal flaw with the Hip-E??? They're trying to out-mac Apple. That's like trying to out-weird Michael Jackson. No slight against Apple in this comparison. They've done a tremendous job building brand awareness, applying inspired industrial design, and conceptualizing cool products. While the Apple store is located in a shopping mall here in Austin, the Hip-e folks have one of those ridiculous kiosks in the mall like those ones selling t-shirts with your picture ironed-on that says "worlds's greatest grandpa."
I read the Yahoo article linked to above and I think it's poor journalism for the writer to have not mentioned that Digital Lifestyles is the new name of Netpliance.
Here's a little blurb about them on Engadget.
$5 / month hosted VPS on linux = awesome!