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IKEA Announces Furniture With Integrated TV, Speakers, and Blu-ray

MrSeb writes "If you long for those balmy days when TVs looked like pieces of furniture, good news: This fall, IKEA will release Uppleva, a range of home entertainment systems that integrate a flat-screen full HD TV, 2.1 sound, and a Blu-ray player. Uppleva will come in three different designs, with a range of screen sizes starting at 24 inches. If the built-in Blu-ray player isn't enough, there are two USB and four HDMI ports down the side of the screen, and an empty 'bay' that can hold a games console, TiVo, or another set-top box of your choice. In true IKEA fashion, the whole caboodle will come in a range of colors (white, light wood, dark wood, black, and so on). Prices start at 6,500 Swedish Kroner (around $950) — presumably for the 24-inch version — which is a fairly good deal. Uppleva will only be available in a few European markets to start with, but the UK and North America should see it in early 2013."

10 of 163 comments (clear)

  1. Electronics Vs Furniture by c0mpliant · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I don't think I would go for a TV based on the fact that it matches the furniture, I choose the TV I want and then find furniture that I want to match it. I think most nerds would be the same. Chalk it off as do not want for me

    --
    There is no -1 disagree
  2. allen wrench. by gandhi_2 · · Score: 3, Funny

    And it comes with a book of c code to run the device, that must be typed in manually with disposable keyboard (included).

  3. Re:I don't want a combination fridge/TV set by Gaygirlie · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And? Not the whole world revolves around your navel, there's plenty of people who would be absolutely delightled to get one of these. Without even properly thinking about it I could name a handful of households where I fully expect to see something similar soo. You see, the thing is that for many people the aesthetics is more important than getting the most technically sound solution, "good enough" is plenty when it's made pretty.

  4. new ways to fail by __aaltlg1547 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    So now my furniture won't just go out of style. It will literally become obsolete and have interoperability issues.

  5. Re:I don't want a combination fridge/TV set by slyrat · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is IKEA "furniture" we're talking about.

    "Good enough" means the particle board interior starts falling apart in 3 months.

    Have you actually owned IKEA furniture? I've had a set of shelves from there that have lasted me at least 6 years and two moves. They may have a lot of particle board furniture but it is well made for the materials involved.

  6. Re:I don't want a combination fridge/TV set by stewbacca · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Not to be combative, but generally speaking things like this are miserable failures. You get a bad fridge AND a bad tv, regardless if it's pretty or not. Thus, the first guy's post isn't as self-centered as you've indicated. I too lament the loss of "component" technology in favor of all-in-ones (my home stereo, for example...) but understand some all-in-one things have become so cheap, they are easier to just replace the entire thing than it is to maintain multiple parts (iMac vs. Mac Pro, for another example).

  7. Re:I don't want a combination fridge/TV set by Troyusrex · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Here's a (made up) quote from you from 2001.

    If I want a cell phone, I'll buy a cell phone. If I want an MP3 player, I'll buy an MP3 player. If I want a PDA I'll buy a PDA

    The deal here is simple, sometimes putting stuff together is a tremendous boon, sometimes not. Sometimes it depends on how well it's done. Ikea's version may stink like all the rest has, but then again it may suceed where others have failed.

  8. Re:I don't want a combination fridge/TV set by janimal · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I would have to disagree. In my experience, it's the opposite. About 5% is poorly built. My advice, don't buy the cheap stuff. Ikea has a lot of it on display, but it doesn't make a large proportion of the assortment.
    I furnished a whole apartment from IKEA and 7 years on and 3rd renter (yes, I rent it) and it's still fine. The Kitchen, the closets, the chairs. Honestly, just because you have to put it together it gets a bad rep. I used to collect money to get IKEA stuff. When I finally got it, putting it together was something my wife and I REALLY looked forward to. It was like playing Legos all over again. And my wife likes it! It's genius. They're the Apple of furniture. Complain all you want about your pet insignificant peeve about it, but it sells like hotcakes and the customers absolutely love it.

  9. Re:I don't want a combination fridge/TV set by nabsltd · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Have you actually owned REAL furniture?

    I own both, and the nearly 20-year-old IKEA stuff that I got in college (and thus survived numerous moves and lots of college stupidity) seems like it should last as long as any "real" furniture.

    While writing this from the comfort of my great-grandfather's riveted leather couch, I can't help but think that my hardwood cupboard used to belong to my great-great-grandfather.

    Neither of which has likely suffered any real abuse. Even fairly cheap furniture can last a very long time if it is treated kindly.

  10. Re:I don't want a combination fridge/TV set by owlstead · · Score: 4, Funny

    I had the same issue, and now I use curved water which flows more easily through the pipes...