AlphaGrip Handheld Computer concept mimics Atari Jaguar controller

You never really know what you're going to get when peering through entries in Microsoft's Next-Gen PC Design Competition, and the above pictured device is definitely evidence of that. The AlphaGrip Handheld Computer (or AlphaGrip HC, for short), boasts full-size rocker keys on the front along with a flip-up display and a keypad made specifically for thumb-typing. There's also a trackball for mousing about and a slew of buttons to handle "sophisticated PC games" while standing on a crowded subway. Still, we can't help but notice just how much this thing reminds us of our days tinkering with the defunct-from-birth Atari Jaguar, and we also can't imagine anyone with a shred of dignity ever pulling this abomination out in public. Kudos for imagination, though.

[Via OhGizmo]

[IT-Accountant @ May 2nd 2008 9:51AM]

the unspeakable ugliness of this creation will haunt my dreams forever.

[Pochi @ May 2nd 2008 10:05AM]

It seems...

...mechanically sexual.

In the not good way.

[jimmywash @ May 2nd 2008 10:17AM]

Word.

[superfresh @ May 2nd 2008 10:33AM]

If I saw someone with this in public. I would karate chop the monitor right off.

[j_g_puff @ May 2nd 2008 10:50AM]

Is that a micro-CRT display buried in the lid?

[Flashpoint @ May 2nd 2008 11:22AM]

Somehow I pictured a computer handheld being more like a PSP with the keyboard add on.

[Flashpoint @ May 2nd 2008 11:34AM]

"sophisticated PC Games?"

CAN IT PLAY CRYSIS????

[David @ May 2nd 2008 12:29PM]

Two words: UGLY AS POOP

[Dax @ May 2nd 2008 1:23PM]

Perhaps the ugliest device I've ever seen. Who the hell would want to carry a device this big with such a small crappy screen??

[CPUGenuis @ May 9th 2008 7:25AM]

i wanna judo chop that thing.... either that or falcon punch it....

[Iamthebest @ May 2nd 2008 9:55AM]

atari controller is exactly what i thought....this is eomthing out of a bad scifi movie

[Saad Rabia @ May 2nd 2008 9:55AM]

Reminds me of a toilet seat I've seen the other day.

[Fragmit @ May 2nd 2008 11:30AM]

Reminds me of what I put in the toilet seat not five minutes ago.

[Esat Dedezade @ May 2nd 2008 9:57AM]

Size of device > than size of screen by such an unspeakable margin it borders on the insane.

But only on the border so its cool to laugh about it.

[Jongscx @ May 2nd 2008 10:02AM]

...F-in HUGE... I mean Size Matters, but cmon!

...and the screen is so small for the size.

[Pochi @ May 2nd 2008 10:06AM]

Look at the "buttons" to the right of the screen. High quality design, guys.

[MW @ May 2nd 2008 11:21AM]

It's called a concept for a reason.

[Pochi @ May 2nd 2008 11:38AM]

@MW

IT IS? Awesome, thanks.

Seriously though, nice to see someone here standing up for this marvel of engineering.

[Mischa G @ May 2nd 2008 1:42PM]

That's awesome. I'm gonna buy one and then sell it in a month for gas money.

[DorianGray @ May 2nd 2008 9:26PM]

@Mischa G

If by "...sell it in a month for gas money." you mean "clobber some poor fool over the head with it and steal his car" then, yeah, that'll prolly work.

[Eric @ May 2nd 2008 10:23AM]

It IS a Microsoft design contest, after all, right?

It should be called: "The Camel is a Horse Designed by a Committee Contest."

[601210 @ May 2nd 2008 10:23AM]

I think it looks cool :/

[teslasnp @ May 2nd 2008 12:52PM]

you forgot to [/sarcasm] to your comment...some poor sap didn't understand you.

[Sinnix @ May 2nd 2008 10:26AM]

Hmm... I think it needs more buttons.

[Jongscx @ May 2nd 2008 10:31AM]

I say it NEEDS MORE COWBELL!!!

[blizz419 @ May 2nd 2008 11:00AM]

more buttons and it needs lots of STICKERS!!! lol

[blizz419 @ May 2nd 2008 10:27AM]

601210

if you thibk it looks cool then you my friend have absolutly no taste in style sorry

[superfresh @ May 2nd 2008 10:35AM]

The funny thing is that it looks comfortable to hold, as long as you're not trying to reach A SINGLE BUTTON!

[CerealSam @ May 2nd 2008 11:48AM]

What a waste of 8 fingers. Call me when they figure out a way to use the more flexible digits than thumbs.

[sinjinn @ May 2nd 2008 12:00PM]

hmm.. most of the qwerty keys are actually on the underside, so those fingers are not really wasted.

the ldea is that you type in a more comfortable way because your hands are in thier natural position. but ... iits an abomination

[Oinquer @ May 2nd 2008 10:37AM]

now get some serious designer team and its on the stores! LOL

[Vince @ May 9th 2008 2:06PM]

They could add dome audio playing capacities (WMA only, of course) and call it the "Zune 720º"!

[swingin' dick hero @ May 2nd 2008 10:39AM]

Yeah, maybe in the 80's.

[Homeboy @ May 2nd 2008 10:53AM]

Looks like cargo pants are going to become popular again.

[variant2 @ May 2nd 2008 10:59AM]

Great, we're now going to have a new category for this fugly contraption -- say hello to "crotch-top" computing

[Nova @ May 2nd 2008 11:00AM]

Wow, the ugliest thing i've seen for a while.

[sockatume @ May 2nd 2008 11:03AM]

This actually makes a very small amount of sense - the original product is a handheld keyboard/pointer device. I guess they realised that they could do a handheld computer based on the device. After all, you don't need somewhere to rest the keyboard with this horrible, horrible design.

http://www.alphagrips.com/

[Chip @ May 2nd 2008 11:17AM]

The AlphaGrip keyboard is actually really comfortable to type on, once you get over the learning curve, but that's no worse that switching to a Dvorak or other alternate keyboard layout.

[Matthew @ May 2nd 2008 11:09AM]

Let me guess. . .

"Can it play doom?"

[Esat Dedezade @ May 2nd 2008 11:11AM]

The comments section was doing so nicely until you showed up.

:)

[Phoenix @ May 2nd 2008 11:36AM]

THERE IS NO GOD!

[Valgas @ May 2nd 2008 11:41AM]

That is the most god awful ugly computer thingamajig .

[Steffen Jobbs @ May 2nd 2008 11:44AM]

It needs a phone built-in to become an iPhone killer and it's too thick to compete with the MacBook Air. Plus, it needs to have all those useless buttons removed. Let me know when I can fit it into my breast pocket. However, this concept device does make an excellent doorstop.

[Matt Dearman @ May 2nd 2008 11:47AM]

sooooooooooooo biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig ....... :(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

If I had to do an interpretive dance to that thing, it would involve killing something.

[Asher69 @ May 2nd 2008 12:24PM]

No, seriously, I actually laughed out loud at that! "If I had to do an interpre..." - hahaha!!

[substance90 @ May 2nd 2008 12:48PM]

Damn, the design really sucks...

[EMaster @ May 2nd 2008 11:59AM]

That looks like an Atari Jaguar control pad..

[Phoenix @ May 2nd 2008 12:11PM]

That's what it says IN THE FRIGGIN' TITLE

[tiuk @ May 2nd 2008 12:42PM]

My time machine works! I'm back in 1993!

[Emmanuel Tetteh-Lartey @ May 2nd 2008 3:39PM]

Don't Knock It until You've Tried It. I currently own an alpha grip and this evolution seems like a natural progression. For ergonomics and ease-of-use you cannot beat it, once you've learnt it. Frag with this controller and you'll never go back to a regular controller or keyboard and mouse combo!