IDF: a walk on the wild side

Intel's Developer Form (IDF) has many faces, most of them devoted to the serious business of promoting new Intel technology. But at every IDF, the silicon supremo gives PC designers licence to indulge their imaginations. Judge for yourselves the fruits of their endeavours, and, at the end, meet up with an old friend...

A computer built into an office waste paper bin is either a trenchant comment on consumerism, recycling and the transient nature of information -- or Intel's latest desperate attempt to speed up the buying cycle. Or just a very good way to save time.

It's a bin, laden with PC components.

The Mellow-tron

It's not clear that the engineering division behind this model has quite grasped wireless networking, but the audio circuitry certainly benefited from having the Mellow knob turned all the way up to eleven.

A symphony in walnut and silicon.

Silver machine

Called the CyberPumpkin, this cunning PC converts in a trice to a hairdryer-cum-gasmask, ideal for keeping that essential stylishness in the post 9/11 world while simultaneously working on your PowerPoint presentation.

Just the thing for corporate seats worldwide.

No-one can hear you scream

Modelled after Giger's Alien, this alarmingly recased PC was most notable for the materials used. Whatever plastics and adhesives had gone into its manufacture, they were rapidly decomposing under the heat of the motherboard, while the fan at the back was pushing out an entirely noxious stream of interplanetary stench.

Yes, yes: but does it have tool-free access?

Enterprise channel

Intel's Chief Technical Officer, Pat Gelsinger, and William Shatner discuss the finer points of technology. After expressing great wonder at the mysteries of the flush toilet, Mr Shatner concluded the discussion with the unanswerable: "None of this shit works for me".

Gelsinger and Shatner talk tech -- and toilets.

(Pictures courtesy of HP's Photosmart 715)

Story URL: http://reviews.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/desktops/0,1000000968,10001947,00.htm

If you think PC design is dull and boring, check out these wacky designs from the Intel Develop Forum.