Cybernet's all-in-one keyboard computers get an upgrade

It's been just a little over a year since we saw Cybernet's zero footprint, keyboard-only computer -- now the company has upped the line with new features (but mistakenly stripped that shiny red paint job). The new systems -- which harken back to the glorious days of the TI-99 -- now support Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad chips, sport the GMA X3100 graphics chipset, up to 4GB of RAM, a slimline optical drive, and can astonishingly handle expansion via a Mini PCI and PCI-e slot. The all-in-one combos start at $629 and head marginally skyward from there.

[Thanks, stagueve]

[lothar @ Mar 24th 2008 10:35AM]

Vic20 FTW

[Mr.Tech @ Mar 24th 2008 2:17PM]

Man I would hate to spill my cup of coffee on this thing.

[Blackstar @ Mar 24th 2008 6:20PM]

"Load "*",8.1"

[Yevon @ Mar 24th 2008 10:35AM]

Nah, in-mouse computers are waaay better.

[Chris McDonald @ Mar 24th 2008 1:45PM]

I've had one of these for a few years except mine has built in battery backup and is a little smaller. It a laptop that the screen cracked off. Its actually the perfect bench top computer, when the power goes out or I trip a breaker I don't loose what ever code I'm working on. Very few cables to get tangled in with the projects, serial port and parallel ports are very accessible, no mouse to plow through the piles of parts everywhere....

Laptops with broken displays also make nice low power servers. They don't take up much space, have built in backup power, they are generally pretty quite(depending on the model and manufacturer). The only thing they generally lack is storage space. A few USB 2.5" disk can solve that. Or with a custom backup power supply 3.5" externals.

[Rainier @ Mar 24th 2008 10:41AM]

Sooooo, basically it's a laptop without a screen, eh?

[TubeTop100.com @ Mar 24th 2008 10:52AM]

No, it's an all in one keyboard without a laptop.

[ReggieXuk @ Mar 24th 2008 11:01AM]

bet it sounded so good when they were brain storming

[Wildness @ Mar 24th 2008 11:40AM]

No, we are coming full circle and re-inventing the Commodore 64!!

[ithacamark @ Mar 26th 2008 5:27AM]

No, it's a half-man, half-bearpig.

[bigdoggie @ Mar 24th 2008 10:42AM]

Looks hawt.

[OneLove @ Mar 24th 2008 10:42AM]

Commodore 64!

[BigDaddyM @ Mar 24th 2008 10:55AM]

Amiga 500!
M

[Chad @ Mar 24th 2008 12:49PM]

Atari ST!

[Andrew @ Mar 24th 2008 4:01PM]

Linux!

[Rock Stone @ Mar 24th 2008 4:18PM]

Apple IIc!

[blyefd @ Mar 24th 2008 4:30PM]

Radio Shack Color Computer!

[nd @ Mar 24th 2008 10:43AM]

Two words: Commodore 64.

[Oscar Olim @ Mar 24th 2008 10:59AM]

Actually is 3 words: Commodore sixty four

[Derek @ Mar 24th 2008 11:40AM]

It's two words. "Sixty-four" is a compound word which should have a hyphen.

[happy_penguin @ Mar 24th 2008 11:40AM]

I thought it was one word and one number...

[deadpool @ Mar 24th 2008 12:39PM]

it's 5 words and 6 numbers duh.

[souravgh @ Mar 24th 2008 2:42PM]

5 letters and 2 numbers

[David @ Mar 24th 2008 3:44PM]

Actually, it's twelve characters including a space, two numbers, and one capital letter.

[Blaktornado @ Mar 24th 2008 5:48PM]

Actually, it's just the name of an old computer. Sheeesh.

[Flashpoint @ Mar 24th 2008 10:43AM]

unless this thing is designed for lefties, the trackpad is too far away from the right.

I'm sure these might find a place in low budget technology classrooms but unless it can play CRYSIS I can't even look at one of these.

[Jamma @ Mar 24th 2008 11:31AM]

"but unless it can play CRYSIS I can't even look at one of these"

You must walk into things a hell of a lot

[xerxesdaphat @ Mar 25th 2008 9:30AM]

I think the trackpad is in about the right spot. I stopped using an external mouse on laptops quite a while ago, so I'm used to using laptop trackpads for most of my computing. On almost all laptops the trackpad is right under the space-bar, just like here. It just looks weird because it's got a full keyboard, all those extra keys off to the right. Your hands will still be over the main QWERTY keyboard, though.

[Adam @ Mar 24th 2008 10:46AM]

yeh it is just a laptop without a screen.
But the point is it kl :P

[Peter @ Mar 24th 2008 10:46AM]

If there were some way to have wireless video output, and if it can run on battery, then it would be perfect for an HTPC. Especially if Blu-Ray were added at some point, this would be amazing. Just hook up wirelessly with an NAS for storage, hook it up to the TV, and that would be amazing. Anybody know if wireless video is available in any form yet?

[TubeTop100.com @ Mar 24th 2008 10:50AM]

Yeah, I always play my wireless DVD's.

[Gav @ Mar 24th 2008 10:54AM]

Yup, I think you can just about do 1024x768 wirelessly, possibly 1280x1024

[7on @ Mar 24th 2008 12:41PM]

Or just run video cable under the floor. Not too hard to accomplish.

[Peter @ Mar 24th 2008 12:43PM]

If there's a carpeted floor in the apartment, it's actually very hard. Can't really run it there, what with all the staples and such holding it down.

[daemonios @ Mar 24th 2008 1:35PM]

Er... Kind of bulky for an HTPC don't ya think? What with all of a PC's innards in the keyboard on your knees... Better to have a decent HTPC case and a good wireless keyboard - but that's just my 2 cents [^_^]

[TubeTop100.com @ Mar 24th 2008 10:48AM]

Damn, you got to feel really sad if you spilled your drink on this keyboard.

[daemonios @ Mar 24th 2008 10:53AM]

Oh look! The Amiga 500 got a touchpad =)

[PEZ @ Mar 24th 2008 11:23AM]

THis is cute and everything, but if they really want to sell these things they are going to have to either bring the price down or use shittier components.

Po0p.

[Dani @ Mar 24th 2008 11:32AM]

I cannot think of any reason I would buy one, but I do *really* like it.

Thing is, if I wanted a really small form factor PC, I would either get a laptop or one of those dinky HTPC or Micro Systems. Maybe I'm having a blonde moment, but I don't know where there is any significant market for these.

[giuliop @ Mar 24th 2008 12:35PM]

Don't assume that because Engadget has seen these only a year ago, this is a new concept. Cybernet has been making these PCs for at least a decade, and they have lots of customers, especially in the industrial/public sectors.
If you can't think of a use, just have a look at the description on their site:
"Space saving solutions for industries including: Medical, Financial, Education, Industrial, Kiosk, Government".
It all makes _a lot_ of sense; just think about PCs in these environments. They cannot be laptop PCs. The less space they take, and the more integrated they are, the better; you get rid of the annoying box, the unnecessary cables, and you are not stuck with a particular monitor.

[Chip @ Mar 24th 2008 3:24PM]

@giuliop

Yeah, I remember seeing them advertising in the back of Computer Shopper in the 486 days, when 1GB drives were the new thing.

To all the people who say this is a stupid idea, they've been in business for a while now, so obviously it's not that stupid. Just because it doesn't fit into your life doesn't mean it can't have a thriving niche market.

[Dani @ Mar 24th 2008 6:48PM]

I was thinking about these while I was out earlier:
A, If I got one where could I use its funky groove styling.
B, I bet they would be great in embedded systems like touch screen kiosks and indusry.

So yeah, on reflection there must be loads of places in industry and non-domestic applications where these are very popular.

[Rocky @ Mar 24th 2008 11:01AM]

This is really cool, but like TubeTop100.com said, I'd hate to think of what happens when you spill your coffee on it.

[Raheem @ Mar 24th 2008 11:04AM]

Man this is a great idea. If only it wasn't so useless I'd definately want one!

[radiohead1 @ Mar 26th 2008 1:31AM]

We have the old ones and they tend to overheat a lot.

[retro77 @ Mar 24th 2008 11:08AM]

But does it blend?

[TubeTop100.com @ Mar 24th 2008 11:10AM]

Yes and it plays Doom

WUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[Generic @ Mar 24th 2008 3:27PM]

This is my new gaming rig. I am referring to my tetris craze.

[BowserUSC @ Mar 24th 2008 5:31PM]

You guys are not funny at all. Jokes about doom and blending things are so fucking stupid, get over it already. I really don't care if you want every electronic in existence to play doom.

[retro77 @ Mar 24th 2008 5:47PM]

lol @ low rank! haha!

Reference: http://www.willitblend.com/ [for those of you not in the know]