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"Bookshelf" Computer Wins Design Contest
aibrahim writes "Industrial designers at Purdue University win a competition for next generation computer design sponsored by Microsoft. The design emulates a bookshelf, with hardware components that are "stacked" horizontally around a cube shaped CPU. The design attempts to address hardware issues from a user perspective and is pretty cool despite a focus on DRM."
you're thinking of the TI Sinclair. I remember add on modules for it that stacked. But that was not as elegant (asthetically pleasing) as this one.
Yes, I worked on computers like this in the late 80's. C3 Incorporated had these and so did Unisys. Both companies purchased the bookshelf type computers from Burroughs which later got swallowed up by Unisys. They're nice since all you had to to do was attach and detach like lego blocks. The main cpu block powered any 'book' side attachments. This of course stresses the power supply as your attachments can get over two feet wide from which you have to add another power brick. It's very convenient when it comes to replacing a part. Even the graphics card was a separate piece.
I think it is the same sompetition, where an Indian (from Bangalore) won $50,000 for a comp named "schoolpak", more info on the competition can be found http://www.startsomethingpc.com>here