Really Stylish PCs and Peripherals

knipknap writes "With Christmas lying ahead I decided it was time to present myself new PC hardware. Of course, nothing can be good enough for my Linux box, so I ran looking for some really nice cases - but was soon disappointed by the very little options available when it comes to stylish cases. There is the very nice Hoojum Nanode, which is for Nano-ITX boards only, while I was looking for more powerful alternatives. Then there was the Cubit P4, also from Hoojum, which seemed to suit my needs. I ordered one via mini-itx.com, but unfortunately they messed up the order and noticed only after it was already sold out... so there went my last option. I was also recommended Hush (I already own one) and Shuttle, both of which I found looking kind of cheap. Another problem seems to be finding good peripherals - I have not found a single higher quality mouse and keyboard outside the plastic computer world. So I decided to ask Slashdotters - which other options are there available?" Personally I love the Hush box.

Comments

Mac, Mac, Mac

[ThisNukes4u]

Everyone seems to be suggesting to go with a Mac. Well, if I were you, I would take a half-way decent case and mod it. Chop off the back if it is too long, put some plexiglass on the side, stencil on the side, whatever floats your boat. Much more unique than the standard Mac, and you'll have fun making it too.

Make your own

[PIPBoy3000]

Doing your own case mods is something that requires time, patience, and some money, but there's nothing that you buy that compares the final product.

My favorite is my Fossil computer, which is a Victorian beauty of brass and wood. I've also done the "all black" computer before black became the new beige. I also dallied with a Lego computer, though the innards finally died.

Clear PC = Bad Deal

[Omega1045]

I usually would not say anything, but I had such an incredibly horrible experiece with ClearPC that I am going to comment.

I wanted to buy a clear acrylic case for a PC I was buidling, and decorate it with neon wires (one reseller). I went ahead and purchased from ClearPC, a Canadian company (actually, just some guy, but read on).

I was told the case would be packaged in a safe way, so it would arrive undamaged. When it did arrive, several parts were broken, and some extras I ordered like LED fans, etc, were just missing.

After 6 months of constantly trying to get a response from ClearPC, I finally got some of the broken parts replaced and some of the missing parts (I still did not have everything I need for a full case, nor all the parts I ordered).

I just gave up, but swore I would tell anyone looking for a cool case that ClearPC is a horrible vendor with horrible customer service. I usually live and let live, but this is a very special case for me. I will not put their URL here, no need to give them a free link. But if you find yourself on a case site offering clear cases ending in ".ca", just keep on surfing. BTW, this is not a dis on Canada at all, it just happens that this company is there or I probably would have at least taken them to small claims court and tried to get them blocked from doing business in my state.

Re:Clear PC = Bad Deal

[FGOL]

I own the brand name, ClearPC (www.clearpc.ca). We modify each case we build, on demand by our customers. Basically, it's a very small operation involving about 6 people. (As a comparison, I once read that Beantech had 500 employees). I pack each case in a generous helping of bubblewrap and then each case is placed on a layer of styrofoam "peanuts" top and bottom. The case is placed in a double walled cardboard box for added secuity and sealed with a security tape for tampering. Our cases enter the USA and are subject to inspection by customs but this is rare as customs knows us quite well. There have been problems with FEDEX damaging a parcel but the ratio in 2004 is 9 for every 500 cases shipped. If a case arrives damaged, we put in for an insurance claim and ship the customer a new case after the damaged one has been picked up by FEDEX. We don't make you wait for a claim (which is 30 days for us), we ship a new case as soon as the new one is available and that at our cost. We only ship ground because of the costs to ship from here. It's about $22. I have to seriously question your comments about "waiting 6 months" and "trying to get a response." That just doesn't happen here. Every case I build is built with a uni-body construction so you're case is shipped "complete" with a package of parts for mounting. There really isn't all that much that can be missing so I don't really understand the reference to a "full case" not being shipped. Only Sunbeam and Beantech build cases with a lot of "pieces." My case is built mostly from a single sheet of acrylic, wrapped and rounded over onto itself. I use 8 acorn nuts, 4 to fasten the side panel and 4 to fasten the removable front section -- that's it so there isn't too much to go wrong there. The rest of the case is bonded together. If you have a problem that you are pissed about, contact me at info@clearpc.ca My customer service is responsive and it's built on respect, 1 case at a time. I don't ship tens of thousands of units: I am the orange county choppers of acrylic case modding. Each case is hand built with some CNC and built to customer spec.. I don't fohk around when it comes to my cases, expletives aside. If you have a problem, I will fix it. Email me and we'll talk.

Re:try a mac

[gkuz]

Apparently they don't teach you how to spell, though.

Lian-li

[currivan]

Lian-li makes some nice atx cases. The one I have, the pc-v1000, looks a lot like a g5 with the drilled aluminum front. Zalman makes an absurdly expensive (~$1400) aluminum case indended for fanless cooling. Most of the decent-looking cases I came across were flat and designed for home theater applications.

As for peripherals, I don't think you'd actually want a metal mouse or keyboard in the long run. Logitech makes a nice looking high-end wireless keyboard with detachable number pad for about $200, and I like the way their mx700 mouse looks.

Stylish or not...

[News for nerds]

It looks delicious (and this by the same company).

Re:try a mac

[Gothmolly]

Try using things like capitalization, pronouns, and verbs. This is not IRC, k1dd13.

Why don't...

[BJH]

...you try this place for your mouse and keyboard.

Although if you find their $US5000-8000 pricetags a bit much, the overstock page might be a bit more useful.

Re:try a mac

[ztirffritz]

While I'm a Mac user, I can in no way endorse Linux on the Mac...yet. I ran Yellow Dog Linux on my old iMac for almost a year, and it worked great, but there were very few options for pre-compiled software. There was one guy, I think in Germany, that was turning out about 60% of the software that I used. It was reliable, and TerraSoft supported it well, but being a niche within a niche is just begging for trouble.

lots of options

[Fratz]

Most of these are in HTPC form factor, but some are not:

• Antec
• Silverstone - if getting an HTPC case, be careful to get one that doesn't have cooling problems with your CPU of choice. HTPC cases with higher numbers in their names are generally better at cooling.
• Travla
• Ahanix
• XOxide carries their own brand of cases, plus a lot of the other ones on this list.
• Arisetec (formerly Kanam)
• CoolerMaster
• Logic Supply

sells the Hush cases you're familiar with, along with some house-brand models.