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When Beige Won't Do
An anonymous reader writes "The days of the beige box are behind us, as computing becomes ever more a consumer electronics field. A New York Times article, hosted at News.com, discusses the newest trends in moving away from standard beige for PCs and laptops. Designer colors, artfully designed notebooks, and personalization are just some of the options outfits are now offering." From the article: "Apple Computer is widely credited with long ago shattering conventions that had for years dictated how a computer had to feel and look. Windows-based personal computers generally lagged far behind in fusing function with form in ways that consumers found exciting. But that is changing, executives from mainstay computer companies like Dell and Toshiba say."
One trend I've noticed leaking over from the consumer electronics field is the use of bling: high-gloss or (even worse) chrome design elements, ultrabright blue LEDs etc. Apart from looking awful, chrome is annoying on a laptop because it deteriorates quickly. Nothing looks worse than flaked-off chrome. High-gloss surfaces highlight dust and fingerprints, and ultrabright LEDs dazzle.
Can we please avoid the mistakes of the fashion world (where everything looks the same during a given 'trend') and actually have the choice of buying something more understated? I want my electronics finished in matt black, not silver.
after reading some of the comments here, it's safe to say that "Black is the new Beige" ;-)
Exercise caution when modding this message up: the author acts like a jerk when his karma is excellent.
The worst thing about beige is that it gets dirty. Or rather- the fact that dirt easily gets visible.
Anyone remember high school public computers? With layers upon layers of ingrown grease and dirt on the keyboard, mouse and case? That would be my biggest problem with the color beige.
Nobody can possibly enjoy working in an environment where the best reason for learning to touch-type is that you'll keep your lunch (if I can't see it, it won't disgust me).
Three rings for the Elven-kings in the sky
Windows-based personal computers generally lagged far behind in fusing function with form
In what sense do Apple-machines fuse form with function? All they did were pack up low-quality components in a expensive box; the form has nothing to do with the function in this case.
And what is a "Windows-based personal computer"?
Fucking cocksucking Apple-zealots.
As an ex-Intel developer I've had first hand experience "trying" to develop new form factors - new looks - "new excitement" for the PC industry. Back in '99 whne the defacto PC was a full ATX tower running a Pentium III and making 45dB in noise. We designed a radical pyramid shaped legacy-free PC (only USB, Firewire, LAN, VGA) that would fit on a mouse pad ad produced only 37dB in noise. It was an experiment in shock therapy for the PC industry. We went on to do many others - but the bottom line is the PC is what it is because of strict standards ... standards for each and every component from shape of motherboard to cases and screws. This is one of te reasons PCs can be built so cheaply -- think cookie cutter to the nth degree.
Our work on form factors really went no-where as both the industry AND consumers are hooked on cheap PCs (cost cost cost). In the end we did manage to influence acoustics - ergonomics - and a slight reduction in size for some PCs. But all along my overall major issue was that the "real user experience" is more than color and plastic ... its the OS that you interact with - its useability / intuitiveness / stability / and security. Making a PC blue and silver does not cover up the warts that XP sprouts on the screen and the user experience. In the end - the data plainly indicated that what users really wanted was a PC that just *%$#(@ works !!! Clearly indicating major issues with XP (complexity to basic security to stability). Of course such things (stability - security) are boring ... they don't have the pizzaz of "Aero windows" or what ever else is in Vista.
I type this comment on my G5 iMac -- it has a small foot-print - quiet - and OS X just works (stable & secure). It costs more than a PC - but then its not a PC - thats the point. It sits next to my custom built Pentium 4 PC (quiet and power efficient) in a standard mico-ATX case running Ubuntu Linux - it just works and its stable and secure. Both can create compatible documents to share with the "XP world" - thats all that matters.
The "standard PC" will continue to evolve based on advances in CPUs & highly integrated chips / memory / hard drives. But cost is the primary driver for the masses be they businesses or individuals. Most importantly the true "user experience" of the OS is perhaps coming to point of change -- Vista - OS X - Linux - Google OS(?). In the very near future you will be able to run multiple OS's concurrently -- couple that with a hot pink PC and you just might be on to something .....
Its not the years, its the mileage