Quixun's GrandOpera LCD with removable PC

Fans of all-in-one PCs will all come to realize their rig's biggest limitation in time: when a component fails, they've lost both a computer and display in one shot. Now, Japan's Quixun corp are set to launch their GrandOpera series of LCDs that feature a slot-loading, removable PC. These tubby LCDs will ship in 32, 37, and 42-inch models and feature an on-board analog TV tuner and removable PC running a Celeron M, up to 1GB of RAM, and 100GB of disk. Prices will start at about ¥150,000 or roughly $1,300 for the 32-inch kit when these drop in Japan sometime late July. Click-on for a front-side pic.

[gnome @ Jun 12th 2006 10:03AM]

A noble idea... Could be nice if we could fit a PS3 or Wii in there, though..

[daviel @ Jun 12th 2006 10:23AM]

Whatever, that looks kinda weird. I'd rather have a separate computer.

[Oddmanout @ Jun 12th 2006 10:39AM]

"Whatever, that looks kinda weird. I'd rather have a separate computer."

Yes, but you'd probably also want to build it yourself, and attach it to the network you installed yourself, so it could communicate with the other machines in your house that you also built...

BUT! Most people are not that savy with technology, thus they are just as happy for it to be invisible. Issues like upgrading, repairing, and accessing components are a distant blip on the horizon to most people if they even register at all.

I too would prefer to keep my media PC away from any extra source of EMI and heat, while maintaining as much accessability as possible. But to most people that will just mean more ugly cables they'll need to shove behind something...

I say stick a modular thin client in there and have the best of both worlds...

[Chris @ Jun 12th 2006 11:00AM]

Nice moulding.

[Justin Turner @ Jun 12th 2006 11:10AM]

I think this is an interesting idea as a media hub if the screen is decent (which at the price mentioned seems unlikely). You could load MCE 05 on there, and record, watch, etc all your tv and music without having to run wires to a separate PC or Tivo.

[Geir E @ Jun 12th 2006 11:36AM]

It's all good and dandy until one realize that the next TV set features a bigger (in size) replacement computer or that there never comes any replacement units. Just as my surround amp features upgradeable firmware and that costed premium price. But it never came any upgrade. It could also be used to remote control the amp - just that it never came software that did so.

[TIMMAH! @ Jun 12th 2006 11:37AM]

What they don't tell you though is that the replacement PC part costs $1100...

[Casey @ Jun 12th 2006 11:37AM]

Exactly where is the fan exhaust going to go once you put the install the removable PC? The vent holes on the montior are nowhere near the size or location they need to be.

[jwbrockman @ Jun 12th 2006 2:40PM]

That makes me think... not that they'd ever do it, but wouldn't an Apple cinema display with a Mac Mini slot be great! It could replace the iMac in the consumer lineup... buy the monitor and computer together as an all-in-one, or seperately if you wish. When your "iMac" starts getting slow, just get a new Mini and swap it in.

[abigsmurf @ Jun 12th 2006 3:25PM]

good price considering what you're getting.

Screams Razor Blade model though

[SteveK @ Jun 12th 2006 8:05PM]

JACKPOT!!! Time to call the lawyer. My Dad and I Patented this idea back in 1999. At the very least, it won't be selling in Canada until we get some lovin' Woo Hoo!

[Brian @ Jun 12th 2006 11:18PM]

hahaha are you serious SteveK? Congrats on the windfall if you are!

[Shunnabunich @ Jun 13th 2006 3:16AM]

What I'd like to know is: is the hard drive included in that removable PC (bad), or does it get its own slot so it's seperately upgradable (gooooohoohooood)?

jwbrockman: The iMac is a higher-specced machine than the Mac mini, so replacing it wouldn't work. Plus, making an entirely separate line of Cinema Displays just to go with the Mac mini seems like an unnecessary burden which Apple wouldn't take on. Sorry. :)

[AK10 @ Jun 14th 2006 2:58AM]

SteveK

This Belgian company has been making LCD screens with built in PCs for years.
http://www.barco.com/media/en/products/product.asp?element=2024

[TEKO @ Jun 14th 2006 1:41PM]

I think that this "mini-computer" should have a WIFI connection in order to let me communicate with my other WIFI devices. So you could set a streamming connectión between your laptop for example and my TV. Moreover a think that this optión would be a good idea in order to let me swith on/off my TV, or just programme my TV to record my TV programmes on a remote way, just using a internet connection.

[TEKO @ Jun 15th 2006 2:03PM]

I think that all TV should have a Standard connection in order to let us plug this miPC whenever we want. Not only a Standard connection if not Standard lengths and docking to the TV (TV dock Station for miniPC), would help us to create generic miniPC in order to plug any miniPC to any TV in an easy way. I think that these Standard would help to get down prices, and to create a bigger freedom market of this kind of devices.