Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case - Gizmodo Comments

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

prnkstr — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:43:05 EDT

i use to work for this company and let me tell you its a sketchy family owned pile of crap , where they rip off whoever they can and disregard any type of actual repair or warranty and as far as the sense that they are a semi big company they are not, with one guy doing repairs answering phones and emails , this crap is awesome crap.

prnkstr

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

Worf — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:37:03 EDT

These things aren't new - they've been around since the 90's - advertised on computer magazines for ages now.

The only thing is, they died out in the late 90s... I guess it's time to bring them back.

The old ones I saw even had full size ISA slots so you can always stick in anything you didn't have (like a real sound card).

Worf

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

aec007 — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:56:32 EDT

You need an LCD with it for the small footprint.
Might as well get a dell M2010... [www.dell.com]

aec007

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

Serolf Divad — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:15:01 EDT

This actually would float my boat, assuming it's comfortable to type on and had a decent graphics chipset to begin with.

Serolf Divad

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

bobvilla — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:09:02 EDT

I'm going to break out my commodore 64 and play some blue meanies from outer space after i code it onto a cassette.

bobvilla

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

pulsekyst — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:41:06 EDT

@logruszed: [toprunet.com]

pulsekyst

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

moosetoga — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:12:45 EDT

You still need a monitor, so it's no more convenient or space-saving than an iMac.

moosetoga

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

cbdsteve — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:11:51 EDT

A friend of mine uses an old laptop his wife broke. She lost patience with it and smashed the screen (!) and he just removed the dead screen and uses it as his desktop machine (via the VGA Out port). He brought it over one day and I have to say, it was a remarkably small and useful little computer!

cbdsteve

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

dirk1965 — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:22:14 EDT

wow... can you say TI 99-4A!!

dirk1965

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

hansning — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 02:06:47 EDT

not SO bad, could be useful for mom.

hansning

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

Hello_Newman — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:48:58 EDT

For that price you can just get a nice looking notebook with monitor. I hope those come with a keyboard condom (cover). I'll take a notebook any day over that monstrosity.

Hello_Newman

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

NumbersGuy — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:22:24 EDT

These machines always make me think of my first computer--the commodore 128. I loved that machine, but almost always used it in c64 mode for the cartridge games. I think I even bought the gui called GEOS for it.

NumbersGuy

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

hezz05 — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:03:21 EDT

@supesguy_: LÖL!

I don't find it that ugly at all. Remove a few elements and its almost an optimus. Though it is thick, but what else could you expect from having a computer inside a keyboard?

hezz05

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

supesguy_ — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:31:53 EDT

oh, where can i plug my keyboard into it?

supesguy_

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

supesguy_ — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:29:58 EDT

maybe it would be cool if it was as thin as my iPhone and had a touch screen, and i could talk on it, like my iPhone.

supesguy_

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

Absent Blue — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:09:58 EDT

Dan recommends:

-Make it thinner. I know they don't have Apple's budget, but come on, it's clunky.
-Use a slot-type disc loader instead
-Make sure it's got built in Blue Tooth & Wi-Fi (I'm sure it's at least got Wi-Fi)
-Give it wireless USB (with a remote, powered USB hub of course)
-If possible, give it wireless VGA, not sure if anyone's done this but I know there're wireless cameras, so come on.

Then my mom would buy it.

P.S.
Oh and some lasers would be killer. Thanks.

Absent Blue

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

deusdiabolus — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:10:56 EDT

This might be cool for a living room system, with an external drive for media storage and what-have-you. The main thing I'm wondering is how hot it gets. Could you put it in your lap wearing nothing but Cheetos-stained briefs and not worry about lowering your sperm count?

deusdiabolus

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

l3igh3d — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:10:09 EDT

That looks just like my atari 800XL with a cd drive, I guess its time to replace that tape drive it came with.

l3igh3d

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

whiteoak — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:07:25 EDT

My first thoughts upon seeing this were of my old commodore computers. Ah, how I miss them. I wouldn't want this for my home, but I can see its usefulness in a store or other business where you don't want a tower sitting under the desk.

whiteoak

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

mferrari — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:01:25 EDT

It makes me realize how old my dell is when I can get one of these with the exact same features (3GhZ p4 HT, 512 mb RAM, embedded graphics, 80 gb hard drive, cd burner) for $690
----
@permissionmag: lmfao
----
@Z: a good, clacky, keyboard and the features are a little better than that of a laptop (for the price) yes, I know laptops have screens

mferrari

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

Broncoskip — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:47:07 EDT

OMG I had a tandy like that!

Broncoskip

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

permissionmag — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:37:39 EDT

permissionmag

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

ManekiNeko — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:57:50 EDT

Oh, to relive the days of the all-in-one computer! It's been fifteen years since we've seen them on store shelves.

ManekiNeko

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

ripfire — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:01:42 EDT

@whootowl: Nah uh! More like an Amiga 500.

ripfire

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

christophski — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:59:42 EDT

Ah! I would buy one of these just to remind me of my childhood, playing James Pond and Bubble & Squeak on my dad's Amiga 1200.

christophski

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

whootowl — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:35:58 EDT

No, not c64, this is much more advanced, more like an Atari ST.

whootowl

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

SneakerFiend — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:35:24 EDT

This is super portable. Even though the style is a little outdated i'd most definetly buy it if i didnt have enough space for a desktop computer.
4GB isnt bad at all and a quad core processor isnt bad at all. I'd most definetly buy it but i wouldn't like the intel graphics. Im sure this could fit in atleast a nvidia geforce 8800MTX or another mobile graphics card.
Now this was made for those small business owners or places with limited space.

SneakerFiend

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

vote Obama — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:23:11 EDT

[blogs.guardian.co.uk]

vote Obama

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

lonewolf333 — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:13:26 EDT

You could make your own with an old laptop. I'll pass

lonewolf333

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

maven2k — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:05:54 EDT

@Z: Damn you beat me to it, I was going to say that they have been making these for years, they're called "notebook" computers.

maven2k

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

Y2KGTP — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:05:20 EDT

I guess this can't go into the dishwasher if you spill something on the keyboard?

Y2KGTP

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

delithic — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:59:52 EDT

Will this mount on the arm rest in my automobile?

delithic

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

baltwade — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:45:54 EDT

Can I get a tape drive with it?

baltwade

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

Spankermatic — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:39:46 EDT

I would have thought this would be the beginning of the next phase ala William Gibson. If we had "deck's" and eye-phones (not iPhones) it would be straight out of Neuromancer.

Spankermatic

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

Geisrud — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:37:53 EDT

Brings new emphasis to the warning, "don't spill any liquids on your keyboard."

And remember, once you let out the magic blue smoke, you can't put it back in.

Geisrud

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

logruszed — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:35:59 EDT

logruszed

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

ninjagin — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:26:19 EDT

Seems pretty good for a low-stress environment like the kitchen or something. Odd thing is the mag-stripe reader on the right side of the unit. Maybe it's geared for a low-cost point-of-sale system for businesses? Seems okay to me.

ninjagin

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:19:07 EDT

It's like my laptop but without a screen and thicker, what gives?

Cybernet ZPC-GX31, a PC in a Keyboard-Sized Case

HeartBurnKid, creepy morbid freak — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:18:42 EDT

I see these advertised all the time in the computer magazines... I've never been too sure on them, simply because keyboards don't last like they used to. Unless this is built the old-fashioned way, with separate switches for each key, no thanks.

That said, don't diss the c64. That thing was teh awesomeness.

HeartBurnKid, creepy morbid freak