Oddball PC Cases From Japan

ascii writes "Japanese company Boxmaster Lupo is offering the PCBox: a foldable PC case made entirely out of cardboard?! I have no idea about the target group although I reckon it may appeal to some casemodders *grin*. Overclockers should watch out though! You wouldn't really want to turn your shiny new case into a pile of ashes just for those extra few fps in Q3 would you?" And Arab writes "They arent really case mods, as such. But a friend sent me this link to a guy's webpage who has made humanoid cases. there is a girl one, one that looks like a Gundam, and one looks like some kinda bizzare fish dragon thing. The site is in Japanese, so I have no idea what it is saying, although it looks like there are step-by-step intructions."

Creativity

[Nijika]

Ohh, it's not a box.. how odd.

Hats off to them, these rule.

Re:Creativity

[mochan_s]

Hmm.. It's where the box should be [justnet.ne.jp]

Other cool stuff from the cardboard folks

[Greedo]

Dig around on their site a bit and you see some other case products, like one with Delorean-type openings [lupo.co.jp] and some way-cool spherical cases [lupo.co.jp].

Too bad, though. It seems they don't deliver outside of Japan.

Shipping

[Defender2000]

So, when they ship you your cardboard PC box, do they... ship it in a cardboard box? Or just put a stamp on your PC box?

Re:Shipping

[Anonymous Coward]

They ship them in big metal boxes, which is why they cost as much as normal pc cases.

Actually...

[Bvardi]

I think they ship the cardboard computer case in a big aluminum box with USB ports on the front ;)

Re:Shipping

[Eric Savage]

I got all the parts of my last computer in one box from googlegear, does that count as a casemod?

So where...

[L0stb0Y]

...is the Godzilla case?

Here...

[kriegsman]

Hubzilla [thinkgeek.com]!

Hey!

[brandona788]

It matches my house! Yay :)

Bahh...

[nherc]

Now stick a computer in a Real Doll [realdoll.com] and then I'll be impressed.

Imagine the new interface possibilties. Who needs a mouse!

Re:Bahh...

[msheppard]

I believe it's chepaer to just use a palm interface for that activity.

M@

Re:Bahh...

[Mikey-San]

Yeah, but if it's open source, everybody gets a piece of the action.

Re:Bahh...

[_ph1ux_]

But if everybody gets a piece of the action, it develops into Open Sores....

Re:Bahh...

[spruce]

Disease wants to be free

Re:Bahh...

[Mikey-San]

Yeah, but in the end, SCO will sue the pimps for using Unix(tm) hookers in the pimps' open sores distribution.

Chobits

[Bonker]

Manga writers have experimented with this exact concept.

'Chobits' [animenewsnetwork.com] by the CLAMP girls is about android computers in the shape of cute girls. The story is actually pretty relevant. It's primary theme is the positive and negative things that happen when people start interacting more and more with virtual worlds and peope and less with the real world and real people.

Re:Chobits

[nomadic]

Megatokyo [megatokyo.com] has used that theme [megatokyo.com] as well.

Re:Chobits

[MsGeek]

The new "chapter" of Megatokyo promises to have lots of Ping-chan in it. Expect much more Chobits homage in the future.

Re:Bahh...

[Gaetano]

You could do worse for program errors how about something like this?

NOT WORK SAFE! if you are grossed out easily then don't look at this. You have been warned!

http://gold-exp.hp.infoseek.co.jp/collecti.htm

I don't know why they did this or who buys these things, but just that someone did is really stange.

censorship in Japan

[hndrcks]

Did you notice that it's (assumedly) legal to show a naked artifical woman taking a dump in her own hand - but they have to censor her genitals?

Japanese censorship laws - now that is 'really strange.'

Re:Bahh...

[Daimaou]

I've never seen such a thing. I must admit that they are well done dolls, very realistic, but somehow I imagine it would be like diddling a dead person; which seems a little sick to me.

To each their own.

The 'girl' case

[Black Perl]

The 'girl' case is very user-friendly -- the ports are right where you'd expect!

Re:The 'girl' case

[Nightpaw]

If you own one of those cases, you probably don't know what to expect.

cardboard PCs?

[zephc]

sounds like the target audience is the small but strong group of homeless MMORPG addicts
[/joke]

What a coincidence

[L. VeGas]

I just heard Star Jones say this on "The View".

"If you're box feels like cardboard, you should see your gynecologist immediately."

As Moore's law slows, the Japanese will rule PCs

[typical geek]

This is a good glimpse into the future of the PC world, for the market leader in trendy commodity electronics is the Japanese.

As Moore's law begins to slow, and the difference between a 2 gHz Duron and a 4 gHz Duron become imperceptible to most normal people ( a few socially challenged gamers and overclockers aside), people will no longer flock to domestic manufacturers known for high performance boxes like IBM, Dell and Gateway, but will instead look for a box that will last them 3 years, and go with thier domestic decorating scheme.

It's not too late for American PC manufactuers to stop focusing on CPU's and hard drives and start making PC's that can occupy a place of honor in the house, next to the flatscreen TV. Not everyone wants their house to look like an ISP.

Re:As Moore's law slows, the Japanese will rule PC

[Mononoke]

As Moore's law begins to slow, and the difference between a 2 gHz Duron and a 4 gHz Duron become imperceptible to most normal people ( a few socially challenged gamers and overclockers aside), people will no longer flock to domestic manufacturers known for high performance boxes like IBM, Dell and Gateway, but will instead look for a box that will last them 3 years, and go with thier domestic decorating scheme.

It's not too late for American PC manufactuers to stop focusing on CPU's and hard drives and start making PC's that can occupy a place of honor in the house, next to the flatscreen TV. Not everyone wants their house to look like an ISP.

I believe there is an American PC manufacturer doing that right now. You may have heard of them. [apple.com]

Re:As Moore's law slows, the Japanese will rule PC

[bryan1945]

So everyone is going to want a cardboard box next to their flatscreen?!?

While the Japanese then "innovate" paper maiche boxes that can sit on top of your stereo?

Here you go- newspaper oragami systems!

Better yet- very slim systems that you can nail to your wall and then wall paper them!

Hah! Put the computer into the shelves that hold your stereo!

meh

Re:As Moore's law slows, the Japanese will rule PC

[TheTomcat]

Sounds a lot like 70's muscle-cars vs. 2000's ricers..

Chrysler/Mopar -- Honda
IBM/INTEL -- ??

S

humanoid cases?

[Rackemup]

Theres a fair bit of irony in creating a computer case that resembles a real female... where do you insert the floppy again?

and I find it awkward enough lugging a normal case to a LAN party...

Re:humanoid cases?

[Angry White Guy]

Floppies? Man that shows age. All my media is very rigid, and bigger than 3.5 inches.

Re:humanoid cases?

[The J Kid]

where do you insert the floppy again?

You're thinking of the MenoryStick port.

Re:humanoid cases?

[docbrown42]

and I find it awkward enough lugging a normal case to a LAN party...

True, but at least you could use the carpool lane. Just prop your computer up in the front seat.

Case Mods

[rf0]

Makes modding cases easier. Get another box. Bit of cellotape. Go faster spoiler. 50% speed increase :)

Rus

Re:Case Mods

[unicron]

R-Type stickers add 25MHZ to your CPU speed.

Re:Case Mods

[Loki_1929]

"R-Type stickers add 25MHZ to your CPU speed."

Unfortunately, they also cut the FSB in half.

Re:Case Mods

[Xerithane]

But remember, when doing performance mods, always use Performance Yellow Krylon(tm) Brand Spray Paint!

Yellow = Performance

Re:Case Mods

[muyuubyou]

What must be real easy is recycling!!

Nice idea. I can't wait to get my "origame case of the week"!!

Re:Case Mods

[mrjive]

Don't forget the altezza [altezzawarehouse.com] front panel status lamps!

FUFME

[jeepee]

the first thing i would add to one of these is a fufme [onzin.nl] upgrade

Hmm.....

[Gaetano]

I often kick or slam my computer case when I get angry. These "human" cases would definately make this more fun. Now I need one that looks like Bill Gates to run windows...

Interesting...

[da3dAlus]

So, the humanoid "girl" PC "case" looks like it blows hot air out her ass [justnet.ne.jp].
Not to mention HER box is, well, YOUR box [justnet.ne.jp].
And there's a perfect merge of your pr0n collection, and what it's mostly made up of [justnet.ne.jp]...(focus on the location of the HDD mounting)

FreeBSD in a box HOWTO

[graveyhead]

Well, I've done this, but I thought it was a temporary HACK! I don't have a spare case, and I wanted to build up a server, so I just arranged everything on the bottom of a cardboard box. I cut holes in the sides for power, ethernet, and ventilation, and voila! FreeBSD in a box!

My next case...

[Gefiltefish]

The race for the coolest case is getting pretty tight. But my next case will beat all of them. Get this: A case made of living human flesh, with neon lights to add zip.

Now... do any of you have a spare child you can lend me? A 2 year old should be just the right size.

Re:My next case...

[Mononoke]

The race for the coolest case is getting pretty tight. But my next case will beat all of them. Get this: A case made of living human flesh, with neon lights to add zip.

Now... do any of you have a spare child you can lend me? A 2 year old should be just the right size.

Michael Jackson is building a Beowolf cluster? Who'da thunk it?

How does it recycle?

[spumoni_fettuccini]

Can I put in in with my bottles, cans and newspaper or do I have to "dispose of properly" with a recycler? Also will we get a new prize in cereal and cracker jacks???

Translation

[DigitalSorceress]

OMG! the translation [altavista.com] is hilarious:

As for efficiency improvement of the personal computer although processing speed and capacity increase et cetera it is very extreme bewilderingly combination without going well, you must exchange periodically as a part and the consumables which cannot use, also the part comes coming out.

The case (the frame) size to be largest even in various parts, because the majority of the single item cases for the manufacturer make personal computer and the original user does with the metal and the resin make, it deals with and the ê when becoming, is not pay and/or you throw away feeling to throw away, the ê it is not and/or with is not the notion that where you say to be many, probably will be?

When of environmental problem is thought, abandoning, the êÜñ, difficult this kind of ones is unreasonable as a actuality, being joint with the BOXMASTER, it developed this cardboard PC box from the thought of processing and it is not to increase the à leprosy rubbish, you liking to use the material whose burden is little as naturally as possible in the personal computer, whether one ones several dozen years using long ideal.

It does not paint the wrapping and it does the warmth which the material has that way. For example if the child pasted the seal and/or scribbled mono it becomes original with very that and whether also attachment furthermore becomes deep, the êÜñ. Becoming the canvas of the good work, finishing role, as a PC case without throwing away,, if there is a kind of thing taking if it is delightful truly, is.

Re:Translation

[stratjakt]

From what I get from the translation, it does make some sense.

If your PC is going to be recycled in a couple of years anyways, because the parts on the inside are so cheap, why do we need to use all the noxious chemicals and whatnot to spray paint a steel or aluminum box (or powder coat or annodize or whatever for the pretty fuzzy cases).

Reinforced cardboard would do the same job just fine, with much less impact on the environment. The chemicals in spray paint are friggin brutal, especially automotive or industrially applied paints.

The last paragraph seems to point to the fact that "modding" is as easy as doodling with some crayolas.

Then when you're sick of the case, you just grab a new one.

I actually like this idea.

Another benefit of the cardboard case:

[Greedo]

Hey ... if you want to build a "real" case out of plastic or plexiglass or whatnot, I bet the cardboard pieces make a great set of templates.

Re:Translation

[suss]

Reinforced cardboard would do the same job just fine, with much less impact on the environment.

Too bad about the EM interference. Don't they have the equivalence of the FCC in japan?

Re:Translation

[stratjakt]

I've seen laminated cardboards glued together with natural resins which are as strong as steel. Essentially we're talking about plywood made from recycled paper here, it's actually a trend in the construction industry thats gaining ground.

Alternative materials like this just could be the way of the future for the eMachines of the world to cut costs, and pacify the tree hugger clique.

Re:Translation

[nomadic]

That still makes more sense than some anime I've seen.

Breakdancers!

[checkyoulater]

foldable PC case made entirely out of cardboard?! I have no idea about the target group

I haven't actually seen kids breakdancing on folded pieces of cardboard since 1984, but I guess it was bound to make a comeback sometime! Now they can have a PC full of MP3's, instead of a ghetto blaster.

take it to go

[t0ny]

Do you want your computer case to be paper or plastic?

Is the girl Lara Croft?

[swb]

It kind of would appear to be from the "shape" and the fact she's in some kind of commando outfit with holsters.

Not impressed.

[cybermace5]

Not until someone markets a PC case made entirely of cheese.

Re:Not impressed.

[cybermace5]

I have reconsidered. The Ultimate PC Case would be made entirely of Twinkies and Ho-Hos.

Or at least have them glued on the outside.

What about the domokun?

[Zen Mastuh]

Think about it: domokun is already rectangular. All you need is some god-awful brown carpet and some colored fabric for the eyes and mouth. You could accessorize your domokun case with vomit piles if you're traditional, or a tabby kitten if you want everybody to please think of the kittens [google.com]!

what about RFI? (Radio Frequency Interferrence)

[Vellmont]

I thought the reason cases were made of metal was to shield RFI generated inside your computer from disturbing peoples radio or TV reception. (The FCC has limits on how much RFI a device can emit). A cardboard case would obviously not provide any shielding.

Re:what about RFI? (Radio Frequency Interferrence)

[mustangsal66]

Because the plastic case PC's come in today do oh so much shielding. In reality, in a modern (As opposed to one made even 4 years ago) PC, the power supply emits more RF then any other single piece execpt the CRT.

Re:what about RFI? (Radio Frequency Interferrence)

[gl4ss]

i would be more worried about the chopped up psu's of modern day(as psu is the single part that will need the most shielding, and with half the sides of the psu's metal casing missing for fan holes.. well, i enjoy the silence too though). you know.. it's funny, since i had horrible interference on my tv card when i had my main games-machine in a case, now out of case the picture is perfect(as it was before i had the case for a brief perioid of time). the way i think of it nowadays is that the pieces that

Prototypeing anyone?

[zakezuke]

I can actually see this as being useful for design and layout, esp in cases where someone wanted to design their own case in fiberglass, wood, or other non stock material. A cardboard cutout of exactly what you want with accurate specificiations would be most valuable.

Not to speak of using a decent primer and a flex adheasive paint and actually having something ultra light weight as a display model.

Japanese or not?

[RobertNotBob]

Does anybody else think it is odd that the page with the URL

www4.justnet.ne.jp/~kat/ pc/pccase.htm (notice the use of english)

is written in Japanese?

Why would somebody name a page in Language-A and then write it in Language-B?

Wooden Case much cooler

[SolidCore]

I still think this wooden case [rr.com] is much cooler

Re:Wooden Case much cooler

[Gleef]

That's not the first wodden case I've seen, but it's by far the nicest, and most functional.

More Pics Of The Femail Mod

[AnswerIs42]

I found other pics the other day of the gun weilding female case.. including shots of her insides.

Don't have the orignal site url.. but I did save the pics.

http://alteviltech.com/Gallery2/CaseMod

Be careful of the cooling fan though ;)

Where is the Penguin shaped PC?

[Maul]

Seriously. A PC case shaped like Tux the Penguin would be the perfect case for a Linux box that is sitting out in the open. A BSD Daemon case would also be a nice thing.

Though I suppose that the "Ellen" (the one shaped like a girl) case might be attractive to the hardcore otaku with even less of a life than a Slashdotter...

it's getting there

[newsdee]

A PC case shaped like Tux the Penguin...

Just get a big enough [mini-itx.com] Tux doll...

Burnin' down the house, Google, etc.

[TrebleJunkie]

I *like* it, but my computer room is about 2 degrees away from being a firetrap as it is.

I wonder if the folks at Google know about these guys. They'd probably freakin' *love* 'em, given the stories I've heard about their velcroed-together servers.

There a UK company that ships a server encased in real used pizza boxes, too.

ABOUT TIME!!!

[_ph1ux_]

Well its about time the Computer revolution was brought to the homeless. They have been left out of the tech market vision for far too long!!!

But you can't have sex on top of it!

[zakezuke]

Older VME bus systems, like the Sun 4/260, were made of sturdy enough materials, enough to faciliate sexual intercourse of even the most vigerious nature.

I don't see that possible in a cardboard case. The crushing action and an AGP card in the butt i'd imagine, for most, would be a serious turn off.

Re:But you can't have sex on top of it!

[fobbman]

Oh yeah, that's a real concern among the geek-set. They're gonna lose a LOT of sales.

That's as much a worry as the fact that it wouldn't stand up much to rain.

That fembot is a cool idea...

[WegianWarrior]

..I wonder if I can talk my girl (yes, this near-geek has a girl!) to stand model for one...

Mind you, it appears to have mini-itx board from VIA. If you head over to mini-itx.com [mini-itx.com], you'll see a lot of weird cases with this board - including a Millenium Falcon, a Commandore SX-64 and it's sibling (twin actually) Comondore 64, a clock and a beer-keg.

Insurance claim

[DrXym]

What do you say on your insurance form when your cardboard encased, overclocked, gasoline cooled PC burns your house down?

Dilbert reference...

[somethingwicked]

This reminded me immediately of a fav Dilbert cartoon. Not exact, but I hope close

PHB- "I think I need to upgrade my computer."

Dilbert-"You're computer is a cardboard prop that came with your desk"

PHB-"So I need a motherboard?"

Dilbert-"No, you need a new desk."

Except, in this case (Damn puns!) the PHB would be right!

Disapointing

[DonkeyJimmy]

That sucks. When I first heard of the humanoid cases, I thought they'd be more then a plastic person with wires all coming out of the crotch (and they didn't even show us how the Mech one connected fully built). I was hoping for a disk drive mouth, maybe a bunch of wires that could be pulled out of the hand and retract back into it, LED load lights in the eyes, mouth speakers, ear mic... that kind of stuff. It looks really cool, but there is little or no combination of art and utility in this-- they're just

Card-board cases

[drblunt]

Well
I'm horrified by the cardboard case idea. It's bad enough that cases are getting so flimsy that I'm afraid to keep them under my desk, but carboard? Jeeze. Hell, I make ATX cases out of old IBM towers, and those things will take a sledgehammer blow. Carboard? Gah. The only thing I really wouldn't worry about would be the ignition thing. If I remember properly, the auto-ignition temp of paper is something like 451 degrees farenheit. If your machine is running that hot, you have alot more to worry about

Perfect for /. geeks

[phorm]

So,now we can have our girlfriend and computer combined [justnet.ne.jp]?

If we put speakers in the head... hey, we can even turn her off

If these become more common, I can foresee a lot of scary things happening with lonely geeks and computers resembling girls...

Re:Perfect for /. geeks

[count0]

>hey, we can even turn her off

You may well have that God-given geek ability to turn women off, though I'm unsure what speakers in her head have to do with that. ;-)

How much for the cardboard case?

[ikeleib]

That's what I really want to know.

They Also Sell The Spherical Case

[Nintendork]

As seen in this Slashdot Article [slashdot.org]

-Lucas

A Much Cooler Design

[NeuroManson]

Would have been to make the female PC case an homage to A Clockwork Orange's milk dispensers. Then every time you get a "Is there porn on your computer?" popup, you can honestly answer "No, but there's a computer on my porn!".

Heat Problems?

[johny_qst]

I wonder what the heat dissipation is like for a mecha case made out of insulating foam. How many fans do you need to keep the robot from melting due to the power of the AMD processor?

Environmental!

[mrklin]

Hey, at least the case is recyclable and cost less energy/resource to produce! Nevertheless, the most harmful products (lead, mercury, etc) are on the circuit boards and not the case.

...happy thoughts...happy...thoughts......

[Asprin]

WOAH! YOU DIDN'T SAY THESE WERE LIFE SIZE!

There's something sick about doing a case in the shape of a life-size chick, man. I mean, check this out [justnet.ne.jp]!

Friend: Say, what the heck happened to your PC?
Me: Oh, the hard drive took a dump.

Not right, man... not right.

(**shudder**)

Re:...happy thoughts...happy...thoughts......

[Asprin]

Oh, one more thing.

That may be the one case mod I've seen that is *absolutely* *guaranteed* to get the wife to pack her bags and call an attorney.

Beige boxes?

[psyconaut]

The cardboard case gives a whole new meaning to having a "beige box" computer ;-)

-psy

girl PC is birthing a mouse

[iamhassi]

Is it just me, or does it look like the female PC is giving birth to a mouse, keyboard and monitor? [justnet.ne.jp]

And the owner thought he was having problems picking up girls before...

dork: "hut hut, wanna see my computer?"
chick: "um... sure, I guess"
dork: "Voila! It's got 11.125ghz, transphasic power supply..."
chick: "WHAT THE HELL IS COMING OUT OF THE LEGS OF THAT MANIKIN?!?"
dork: "oh, well those are the cables for my keyboard, mouse and.... hey where you going?!? You didn't get to see my Dragon..."

Woah! hot chix!

[erroneus]

You gotta love those hentai japanese fellers!

And can I be among the first to say (though I doubt I will be) "...imagine a beowulf cluster of these..."

What about RFI?

[dentar]

There's this thing called "shielding" that these cardboard cases seem to be missing.

Transformer Case NEXT!

[Wiwi Jumbo]

Optimus Prime would be awesome as a case.

Perfect excuse for the case windows and cold-cathode lights inside!

Extra points to the geek who's able to make his transform. (x2 if it can transform on it's own)

Yeah, I've seen these before...

[Dr. Mu]

...in Office Depot, back in the office furniture section. Isn't this the same computer that Dilbert's pointy-haired boss uses?

The furniture for the cardboad PC

[bobbv]

Is, of course, cardboard: http://amawin.com/commercial/quart_de_poil/L5_engl ish/Quart_de_poil_carton_uk.htm

And weren't there cardboard geodesic domes at Burning Man last year?

Just don't smoke in bed.

The soothing answer

[burgburgburg]

It's I/O

Multipurpose, you know.

Re:Where's the metal?

[morcheeba]

It looks like normal brown cardboard - they could have at least used conductive or antistatic cardboard [corstat.co.uk]

Re:Cardboard? EMI?

[scrotch]

They're just selling the case, though, right?

The cardboard case isn't producing any EMI or RFI.

Don't Bother

[AndyChrist]

If you're on a budget, this isn't going to save you anything. It's 9800 yen, for a kit, 13800 assembled. That's about 80-110 -ish dollars.

This is for the fashion or environmentally conscious, not the budget-conscious. (Not that that's tremendously expensive for a case or anything...)

Re:New Models

[outsider007]

and they'll come with a free order of cheesy bread.

Re:Anatomical Anomalies

[phorm]

Yes, truly. The motherboard should be in the head, with a fan to blow hot air out the ear. In place of the current motherboard residence, I would like a place to insert my "dongle"... er... network interface variety of course.