Dell taking Art House laptops made-to-order in 2009

Dell's been taking its design new directions for a while now, but it looks the company's war on boring is about to get personal. Ed Boyd, Dell's new Industrial Design Director, told BusinessWeek that Dell also plans on launching customizable computers with "scores of colors, patterns, and textures," and options that will "go far beyond the handful of choices available" from most rivals. We assume he just means the exterior, though that's unclear, so we'll keep our fingers crossed for that hot pink keyboard. There are also no details yet on which models will be up for customization or their pricing, but the other Art House models range from $649 to $800, so our uncle probably won't have to break the bank to unveil his edgy laptop graffiti when these hit sometime next year. Can't hardly wait.

[Hanoi Jane @ Nov 13th 2008 5:08PM]

This isn't the best looking one, i personally am not into that African design (like the one pictured), but other covers are much better looking.

[phanbouy @ Nov 13th 2008 5:23PM]

looks more like turn of the century cubist expressionism to me. at least, that's what the voice in my head tells me.

[nerdtalker @ Nov 13th 2008 6:18PM]

For once, I agree with phanbouy!

[NG @ Nov 13th 2008 10:18PM]

the art is to trick you to buy this ugly designed machine.

[kt @ Nov 13th 2008 11:49PM]

they could just put a pile of cow dung on it and save everybody some trouble.

of course, they'd have to lose the dell logo. nobody likes redundancy.

[absinthe party @ Nov 14th 2008 7:17AM]

Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I got spare time. But for now, for your customer's sake, for your daughter's sake, ya might wanna think about buying a quality product from me.

[Unique Gift Ideas @ Nov 14th 2008 12:44PM]

Yeah, some of the covers do look really awesome, but I would totally feel like a tool rocking the art-house designed laptop after I get out of college. Sure you can score some points with the hipster crowd now, but try having anyone take you seriously that's past the age of reason.

[JohnTitor @ Nov 13th 2008 5:11PM]

Dell Mini 12, Vivienne Tam edition

[StalematE @ Nov 13th 2008 5:12PM]

iEye wants one with goatse.cx on it.

[Rambo @ Nov 13th 2008 5:23PM]

I see what you did there. o_0

[Samboini @ Nov 13th 2008 5:51PM]

i thought iEye was Goatse.cx? How pretentious of him.

[Patriks7 @ Nov 13th 2008 6:42PM]

Are you kidding? What about his pictures comparing his iPhone and his dick? And all the Apple logos? And STEVE JOBS?! How could he not have that there?
But he wouldn't buy it anyway..
No official Apple logo, nor was it touched by Jobs.. so no orgasm :(

[OCEAN 'CLAK' 20th @ Nov 13th 2008 8:05PM]

'i' think iEye needs one with OSX, Apple Logo, Premium Price, Premium Looks, with Steve holding it at Mac world and no Dell or Windows

[Juxterium @ Nov 13th 2008 5:13PM]

I think they've actually done a really good job with the designs, OK nothing will ever be to everyone's taste but I think all the designs are a lot more 'universal' then previous attempts at arty laptops from the likes of HP which were more love it/hate it affairs.

[Hanoi Jane @ Nov 13th 2008 5:19PM]

I love HP looks

[bill cant fart @ Nov 13th 2008 5:26PM]

I hate HP looks

[JohnTitor @ Nov 13th 2008 5:38PM]

I hate HP looks

[EmoChicksAreHot.....Seriously @ Nov 13th 2008 5:45PM]

Wonder if they can make a Knight Rider Edition Dell Laptop.

And instead of Windows Vista loading screen it would have the red K.I.T.T. sensor.


I'm getting hot and heavy just thinking about it.

[Sam @ Nov 13th 2008 5:30PM]

I always can't tell if Engadget is being sarcastic or not

[bangladeshiluv @ Nov 13th 2008 5:39PM]

looks fabulous!

[John Spurlock @ Nov 13th 2008 5:45PM]

Well, I suppose if Dell can't make their latops work worth a damn, at least they can make them look pretty. Congratulations to Michael Dell, on a move even more pathetic than I thought this company could get. What's Mr. Dell trying to do, drive stock prices down to 1 cent each so he can buy up all the shares?

[Smi @ Nov 13th 2008 5:47PM]

Dell laptops are better than fine, I'd go as far as to say their latest models are "very good" - I'm in the market for a new laptop and Dell are the brand I'm going for. Informed decision.

[nanobis @ Nov 13th 2008 6:08PM]

TBH, most of them will have to be made to order. Some of the designs that they come up with are fulgy.

BUT atleast you will have some customisablity.

[Benjo @ Nov 13th 2008 6:11PM]

Dell = Done. Time for Michael Done to shut down the headquarter and return money back to the shareholders.

[Almadi @ Nov 13th 2008 6:40PM]

Mass customization....full speed ahead.

[ethana2 @ Nov 13th 2008 7:55PM]

This may be a good time to demand my backlit colemak keyboard...

[sjdurfey @ Nov 13th 2008 7:57PM]

wasnt this just posted yesterday as well?

[Cybergypsy @ Nov 13th 2008 10:48PM]

N0w can you make t thinner?

[Dip @ Nov 14th 2008 2:33AM]

Looks Amazing..!!!

[Gil @ Nov 14th 2008 3:11AM]

Why not just let us upload a picture and have the laptop skinned accordingly? An example would be what that one credit card company is doing. I understand it would be a bit harder because the laptop is not perfectly flat, but the idea could work.

[jonvdveen @ Nov 18th 2008 12:09AM]

"Can hardly wait." (Good)
"Can't wait." (Good)
"Can't hardly wait." (Bad)

;-)

[Alan @ Nov 17th 2008 8:27AM]

Ehhh... I've seen better. I got my laptop done at Laptop Design USA. You can send in anything and have it done. I had my old Toshiba done, the whole thing was painted and I have a picture of my family on the lid. My Toshiba is my work computer and even with all the abuse it still looks like it was just done. I think the website was www.laptopdesignusa.com ?

[DPH @ Nov 19th 2008 2:51PM]

Old News Really.

You can go to www.imageware.no and put anything you want on Sony Ericsson phones. I emailed them and iPhone 3g stuff is coming out next week.

[Tor Olav @ Jan 5th 2009 10:52PM]

Wow, the laptop is cool.
http://www.batterygoshop.co.uk