Gizmodo: workstations

The Spider Phoebe Workstation Owes Purple an Apology

Mark Wilson — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:20:00 EDT

The truth is, the Spider Phoebe chair looks downright comfortable—until its legs close upon you and your laptop is repurposed to replay its Sesame Street casting tapes...from before the accident. [Limitless Sofa via Furniture Fashion]

The Iropod Desk Is a Mobile Computer IV Injection

Sean Fallon — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:20:00 EDT

You know those mobile IV stands you see people clutching to in hospitals? Well, the iropod or "Interactive Robotic Pod" is kind of like that, but it's for another kind of disease—computer addiction.

Oddly enough, the iropod doesn't involve a laptop—the computer is built-in to the frame with a power source that the manufacturer claims has as much juice as a car battery. It also appears that the frame can be adjusted to accommodate different seated or standing positions or for easier storage. Details like specs and pricing have not been announced, but word is that the iropot will debut sometime between now and the end of September. However, if it is a mobile workstation you are after, I strongly urge you to consider something a bit more practical. [iropod via Engadget]

Bud Adjustable Workstation Would Have Been Easier For Will Smith to Write On

Jason Chen — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:00:00 EDT

The famous Ovalia chair is fine for sitting in, but does it have a built-in monitor and keyboard stand so you can type in peace? [Coroflot via tuvie via The Design Blog]

Retromodo: High-Tech Workstation Circa 1995

Sean Fallon — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 05:00:00 EDT

To be honest, "The Webcruiser" here looks more like a racing sim than a high-tech workstation—and the beefy monitors certainly bring back horrible memories.

Yes indeed, it is amazing how far we have come in only 14 years (the Emperor Workstation is much more 21st century), although I know I would have thought this was bad ass in high school. [Core77]

Zero-Gee Computing Recliner Proves Our Fat Future is Now

John Mahoney — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:20:40 EDT

Everyone saw Wall-E, right? And how the luxury cruisers of the future glide around in floating touch-screen-equipped easy chairs? Then the Zero-Gee gaming/blogging "workstation" should look mighty familiar. Its ergonomic, reclining frame is designed to ensure your ass is free from the forces of gravity as you type, type, type yourself into oblivion. There's even a caddy for your liquified cupcakes-in-a-cup, and you're also positioned nicely for a root canal or any other minor surgeries here as well, which you'll need soon enough. [Product Page via Born Rich]

Boom Arm Starbase Workstation: Because Laptops are Too Heavy For Nerds

Sean Fallon — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:20:00 EDT

The Boom Arm Starbase Workstation—now there is a product aimed squarely at nerds. It combines computing and extreme laziness with a little "Starbase" sci-fi flavor thrown in. I mean, you could use a product like the LapDawg—but that would require actually lifting the laptop now and then. The swing arm action on the Starbase will come in quite handy after all of your muscles have atrophied. You can even get a cup holder, Flatscreen VESA LCD mount, and a height adjustment suitable for expanding waistlines. Not bad for around $300. [Product Page via Boing Boing Gadgets]

Ergonomic Workstation: The Ultimate in Geeky Gaming Comfort

Sean Fallon — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:10:00 EDT

The Ergonomic Workstation from Ergo Motions may look like a dentist's chair, but I must say that if my dentist had this thing in his office, I would be in there for a root canal right away. Ergo Motions mission is to help gamers and heavy workstation users avoid the repetitive stress injuries and posture issues that often result from sitting on your ass and typing away on a computer all day. The Ergonomic Workstation Phase I prototype appears to do that—and much more.

Features:

•Industrial rack mounted hardened PC
•Two 19” Digital monitors
•7.1 surround sound system
•Wireless network capability
•Ergonomic keyboard and mouse
•Video conferencing capability with a built-in camera
•VOIP with full telephony features
•Articulating calf support (programmable to reduce DVT)
•Mechanically adjustable armrests
•Mechanically adjustable head rest and monitors
•Pneumatically inflatable lumbar and headrest bladders
•Mechanically reclining motion to 38 degrees
•Mechanically adjustable seat depth (knee to hip)
•Mechanically retractable monitors
•Swing away keyboard (manual)
•Form fitting seatback, armrests and seat cushion
•Memory chair presets via proprietary Motion Control Board/Software
•Compact design using twelve square feet of floor space

As I mentioned earlier, the Ergonomic Workstation is currently in a prototype phase so the when, where and how much information is not yet known. But I wouldn't be surprised if it was far too expensive for the average lazy geek to afford. [Ergo Motions via Born Rich]

Dell Launches Quad-Core Precision T5400 and T7400 Workstations

Sean Fallon — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 18:10:07 EST

The latest in Dell's line of Penryn-based PCs comes to us in the form of these super-beefy T5400 and T7400 Precision workstations. Both systems can hold up to two of Intel's quad-core Xeon 5200 and 5400 processors and Quadro FX 5600 cards. The base T5400 and T7400 units start out at $1,589 and $1,839 respectively. Both systems are available now. [Dell and Electronista]

Sonica Audio Labs VHPextreme Workstation: Mac Pro Foreshadowing?

Charlie White — Fri, 26 May 2006 12:52:36 EDT

This is one badass PC tower, the VHPextreme that was just unveiled by Sonica Audio Labs. It's configured for pro audio but would work on just about anything you throw at it, with its two dual-core 64-bit 3.7GHz Pentium D965 Extreme processors, 2GB of RAM, 680GB of SATA II storage, quad-monitor (two DVI ports) graphics and a whole lot more. Since it's configured for audio production, we especially like its ultra-quietude, using a heat pipe cooling mechanism to keep the noise down to a barely-noticeable 28db.

Take a good look at this machine—we're thinking this configuration might be similar to the next-generation Mac Pro desktops due to arrive at the end of this year, but then they'll probably cost a whole lot more than this VHPextreme workstation's paltry $3750. – Charlie White

Product Page [Sonica Audio Labs, via Create Digital Music]

Bye-Bye SGI: Former Workstation Giant Bankrupt

Charlie White — Mon, 08 May 2006 13:53:24 EDT

Back in the day, some of us older codgers here at Gizmodo used to drop our jaws at whatever SGI would do. But now, Silicon Graphics Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and things aren't looking good for the once-dominant giant of the techno-mofo workstation industry. SGI will restructure in an attempt to keep away those vultures to whom it owes money, until the company can figure out something. Why did this happen? According to SGI, the company was...

"...challenged by delays in introducing new technology, a focus on more specialized markets and more intense competition from larger rivals."

SGI used to be the bad boys who would astonish everyone with multiprocessor monster workstations, usually costing well over $100,000. Now similar computing power is available hanging in packages on either side of the checkout line at Wal-Mart. Bye-bye, SGI.

Silicon Graphics goes titsup [The Register]

Alienwares Other-Worldly Workstations

Charlie White — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 06:55:04 EST

Alienware keeps on cranking out the workstations, with these two new models aimed at creative professionals, hard-core power users and film editors. The 7500i packs a single Intel dual core Pentium inside, while the MJ-12 7500a features dual-core Opteron processors. The real fun starts when you take a look at the new motherboard this thing is using. The NVIDIA nForce4 SLI X16 MCP features two full-bandwidth 16-lane PCI Express slots, which amounts to a veritable superhighway for a torrent of data. That motherboard also lets you plug in two graphics cards in an SLI configuration for the ultimate graphics blast, a highly sought-after capability for gamers and high-end graphics users. Keeping up with that speed are RAID-0 drives offered in configurations up to 2 TB. Keeping things quiet is Alienware's acoustic dampening option, which we've tested here and it actually works, and hardcore overclockers will like the optional liquid cooling. Rounding out the package is a workstation-class Quadro FX graphics card and more RAM than you can shake a stick at. For all that power, pricing is relatively low but could get high in a hurry as you add options, starting at $1599 for the AMD Opteron-based MJ-12 7500a, and $1789 for the Intel-based MJ-12 7500i.

MJ-12 7500i Details
MJ-12 7500a Details [Alienware]