OriginAE S210: the ultimate home theater PC?

This may only be a home theater PC case, but what a case it is! The OrigenAE S210 features a 12-inch touchscreen LCD, space for 12 hard drives (with heat sinks that will supposedly keep them going without a meltdown), and hidden card readers and DVD drive (they're behind the LCD). Yes, if you want this, you'll have to do a lot of the work yourself, but with a foundation like this to build on, just think of the media monster you'll be able to create.

[Via eHomeUpgrade]

[Oded @ Jan 25th 2006 5:51PM]

Ummm.... do you still need a screen with this thing? Which remindes me, why aren't we all all already using touch screens? (And no, Im not talking to you tablet pc people)

[RS @ Jan 25th 2006 6:16PM]

Or you could just buy an iMac, y'know...

[diulei @ Jan 25th 2006 6:20PM]

Sounds good, though you'd have to find a way to make it look decent in your living room.

[pucksprite @ Jan 25th 2006 6:28PM]

Pretty neat. Though, I think the ultimate solution is to have the computer hardware hidden away, and interface via a wireless handheld touchscreen display.

[Erick @ Jan 25th 2006 6:42PM]

100% agree with pucksprite!

That's my plan when I build it...except, I'll probably just stick with a Harmony (Logitech) remote. You pull up the interface on your viewing screen, so why even bother with a touchscreen remote?

[John @ Jan 25th 2006 7:10PM]

6TB of space. Just hook it up to your bigscreen. How hard was that.

[Wyatt @ Jan 25th 2006 7:21PM]

I'm thinking this case is going to cost a pretty penny. Aside from the fancy HD mounting, your typical touchscreen LCD of that size can cost up to $400-500. Hopefully I'm wrong, because I really want one of those.

[Gregg @ Jan 25th 2006 8:28PM]

"an integrated 12-inch touchscreen display that folds down to reveal a DVD drive and one 3 1/4 drive bay"

They must be running out of metal. They're only able to create a 3 1/4" drive bay instead of the full 3 1/2"... There's not too many drives that will fit into THAT bay! :)

[David T @ Jan 25th 2006 8:33PM]

well, i think the screen is supposed to act as a second display, while you really do the watchin' on a high def widescreen TV set - quite cool if you ask me: instead of constantly looking up at the TV to see what you're doing, you can just look at the in-built screen.

RS: lol, this blows the iMac so far away you won't even see which way it went :p

[Glyn @ Jan 25th 2006 8:35PM]

What happened to M$'s Smart Displays? Wouldn't they suffice in this kind of home-media-centre environment? especially as touch screens?

[Ken Lin @ Jan 25th 2006 9:21PM]

"RS: lol, this blows the iMac so far away you won't even see which way it went :p"

Not an apples to apples comparison dude.

iMac = $1299. Works out-of-box
OriginAE S210 ~ $1299*. Just the box.

* Based on how much OriginAE's other cases cost on pcalchemy.com, a authroized dealer.

[Ken Lin @ Jan 25th 2006 9:27PM]

"RS: lol, this blows the iMac so far away you won't even see which way it went :p"

Not an apples to apples comparison dude.

iMac = $1299. Works out-of-box
OriginAE S210 ~ $1299*. Just the box.

* Based on how much OriginAE's other cases cost on pcalchemy.com, a authroized dealer.

[David @ Jan 25th 2006 10:02PM]

Would be much cooler if it allowed for fanless operation. I'm still waiting for a good fanless case that does everything.

[Russ @ Jan 25th 2006 10:45PM]

Glyn,
The smart displays never really took as they kind of sucked. Good in theory and similar in technology as the MCE extenders, but the stable functionality just wasn't there.

[rtheman @ Jan 25th 2006 10:56PM]

guys (and gals) think survillance. Think Vegas survillance.

[rip @ Jan 26th 2006 12:14AM]

I'm thinking that thing is gonna be loud. Its gotta have some serious cooling to deal with 12(!) drives, cpu, gpu, and internal lcd.

Great in a server closet. Not so great in a living room.

BTW, wtf is the point of a touchscreen here. Last I checked, I can't reach my av stack with my fingers when I'm sitting on my couch. I get the display part, I've seen pre-amps and receivers with built in displays for cueing up something. But the touchscreen part seems silly.

[Colin @ Jan 26th 2006 4:48AM]

This is sort of cool...but very impractical! 12" is too small to watch it on, but too big(and expensive) to use just as a 2nd display while you're watching something.

Also think of the noise! With the amount of fans needed you'll be in danger of sucking your TV into the intakes!

[Dave @ Jan 26th 2006 6:35AM]

Something like this would be useful for me as a media server. When I get around to building mine, it will be located in the basement (where noise isn't a factor and heat is much less so.) The display would help for ripping music and movies, maintenance, and checking the various feeds from the Internet, satellite, cable, etc. While probably not too cheap, it would help make for a nice "compact" install.

I like it.

[Justin @ Jan 26th 2006 8:33AM]

" lol, this blows the iMac so far away you won't even see which way it went"

... you do know... that this is just a _case,_ right? hehe.

[dan g @ Jan 26th 2006 10:17AM]

I would not want this ginormous monster in my living room. Why, when TVs are getting LESS intrusive thanks to flat panels (LCD, plasma) and thin projection (LCoS, DLP) sets, would anyone even consider not hiding crap like this in a closet somewhere.

Yeah, lose the screen, stuff it in a closet or basement, and use a PDA to get the same info/control in the palm of your hand.

[brad @ Jan 26th 2006 10:44AM]

I think the rationale behind buying a case like this is that you will put it in a closet. The screen will be usefull because you can then control it without having to connect a lcd up in your closet. I know there are tons of times I go to my HTPC in the closet and want to make changes / load up a dvd into my archive without having to bother my wife who is watchine the main TV in the theater. Currently I have to grab a lcd and connect it up...

[bradley @ Jan 26th 2006 10:53AM]

I think the rationale behind buying a case like this is that you will put it in a closet. The screen will be useful because you can then control it without having to connect a LCD up in your closet. I know there are tons of times I go to my HTPC in the closet and want to make changes / load up a DVD into my archive without having to bother my wife who is watching the main TV in the theater. Currently I have to grab a LCD and connect it up.

[Dissent @ Jan 26th 2006 12:13PM]

*rtheman

Been watching a little too much of that new vegas tv drama, no?