ECS stuffs Atom, ION and Blu-ray into a vase for all the right reasons

This is really more of what we'd expect out of some slightly deranged basement hacker, not a company like ECS at a major tradeshow, but we'll take any entrants in the burgeoning "nettop in a vase" space we can get. To be serious for a moment, this is actually a pretty interesting illustration of the future afforded by small, low-power components: ECS has stuffed a full Intel Atom 230 system, including NVIDA ION graphics, 1GB of RAM, a 2.5-inch HDD and a Blu-ray drive into what looks like a family heirloom. There's even room for a couple USB ports, Ethernet and HDMI plugs on the bottom, which keeps the main body uninterrupted other than the tray-loading drive. Basically, we're floored.

Gallery: ECS stuffs Atom, ION and Blu-ray into a vase for all the right reasons

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[ShadowMaker @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:30AM]

Well, at least you don't have to worry about people stealing your PC - it's hideous. Now if they can only retain it's vase functionality and we're on to something.

[Gad Get @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:31AM]

I wouldn't recommend putting water in it.

[MJZimmer88 @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:50AM]

You totally beat me to the watering punchline... damn. And kudos

[Tim Brown @ Jun 2nd 2009 11:00AM]

Or it might encourage them to steal everything, as any piece of crap could be a computer, even granddads ashes!

[TIMMAH! @ Jun 2nd 2009 12:08PM]

Tech support: "Ma'am did you reboot your vase?"

[OneLove @ Jun 2nd 2009 12:23PM]

his mom is gonna be so mad.

[Cuddy @ Jun 2nd 2009 1:10PM]

literally thinking outside the box

[Talking to Walls @ Jun 8th 2009 10:30AM]

of course you put water in it - it's the cooling system! put in some flowers, and it's the only computer out there you have to remember to water once a week.

[sr @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:30AM]

Clever. Seriously how awesome would it be to show your guests where you put your Blu-Ray discs to watch them.

[Samboini @ Jun 2nd 2009 11:07AM]

It would be "earth-shattering".

[whowhatme @ Jun 2nd 2009 11:28AM]

mmm, no, that pun doesn't work for me.

[tekd @ Jun 2nd 2009 2:32PM]

Definitely has a very James Bond kinda feel. All your data being kept in a secret vase vault.
All it needs is a slide out gun storage tray too for when the other spies come to kill you of course.

[Wwhat @ Jun 2nd 2009 3:47PM]

It can be in a vase because it's a 2Watts atom, so I wonder even with that ion chip, how long can you play a bluray before you have to power down to cool the thing in that setup, assuming that ion is actually enough to help the atom to play bluray in HD resolution that is.

[RossM @ Jun 2nd 2009 3:53PM]

The guy who made this must be an absolute crack pot.

[NoAndThen @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:31AM]

Wow, WTF? This is certainly a first, but it's pointless IMO unless you can actually put water and flowers in the thing.

"honey look, I bought you flowers and this nice vase that we're going to keep next to the tv.."

[AVG @ Jun 2nd 2009 12:52PM]

Just put fake flowers in it.

[Gad Get @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:31AM]

That's one computer you don't want to bump.

[To: Hell @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:35AM]

That's all fine and dandy, but just where am i supposed to put my cremated relatives in this thing?

[GingerFox @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:53AM]

That made me chuckle

[Samboini @ Jun 2nd 2009 11:08AM]

I guess you missed this bad-boy:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/18/rfid-activated-retrieval-system-brings-urns-up-for-viewing/

[bdav @ Jun 2nd 2009 11:11AM]

Just feed 'em through the vent holes...

...might have issues when the fans kick in though.

[Don @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:36AM]

lol, slick!!

[Andy Yang @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:39AM]

It actually makes a lot of sense as people here in Taiwan often place empty vases next to TVs as decoration. It's actually a pretty clever way of placing a computer in the living room: More often then not, sleek, sexy black boxes just don't go well with Chinese decor.

[Samurai Jack @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:38AM]

Fascinating. Can "General" Trelayne be far behind?

[zfurie @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:40AM]

I guess we can create a new category for it: the Ming PC.

[Colonel Kernel @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:44AM]

Excellent concept. Poor execution.

Bad: Plastic. Two halves with visible seem. CD tray cuts into vase surface.

Better: Custom ceramic with component anchor points, one piece with holes at top and bottom (bottom being much wider to allow installation of components, CD tray is slot-loading and part of the base, vase surface is only cut into where cuts can be hidden and/or obscurred by surface design elements.

Best: Actually make it a dedicated BlueRay player that makes sense to place near a television, actually make it a functional vase with a water-cooled system to further obscure its true function

[TRS @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:58AM]

i like best

[lxuke @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:45AM]

somebody was bored at work........

[Matt @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:46AM]

Lol this is great until your mother and law comes to visit and decides that the vase needs some tulips and water.

[Market Data @ Jun 2nd 2009 1:48PM]

I hate it when law comes to visit. That guy is such a dick!

[Toby @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:47AM]

This makes my ambition to build an ultra high-end gaming PC in the shape of a phalus all the more real!

[Toby @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:51AM]

As a bit of pre-production hype - it will be the worlds first PC to dispense its own silicon paste.

[Takashi @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:46AM]

Finally, a PC Scarlett O'Hara would approve of.

[Bob Nugget @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:47AM]

I take it this has a ming-ITX motherboard?

[Netbook Reviews @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:47AM]

The only thing I'm not excited about is the fact that it has a blu ray. I'd almost prefer to just use it as a file server / media center.

How odd is it that you have some buddies over and they say:

"Yah, let's put in that movie"

And you walk over to your vase and insert a disk?

[superhobo @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:48AM]

Pretty awesome. Price?

[superhobo @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:50AM]

Wait, just noticed the dark base. Yuck.

[MozartFX @ Jun 2nd 2009 10:51AM]

Mom always said, don't play ball in the house.

[boo @ Jun 3rd 2009 2:35AM]

its like an urn for nerds lol

[magusxxx @ Jun 2nd 2009 11:02AM]

Can't wait for them to announce a celebrity endorsement from Barbara Eden.

[MichaelG @ Jun 2nd 2009 11:01AM]

Hey nubs, what's NVIDA =\

[Kelvinyam @ Jun 2nd 2009 11:00AM]

This may be made of plastic, but the workmanship is really good that I really thought it's ceramic. I would put this next to my TV in living room.

[MichaelG @ Jun 2nd 2009 11:02AM]

I'm surprised noone mentioned it's DDR3 only as well as my last comment about NVIDA

[Liander @ Jun 2nd 2009 11:03AM]

does it come with flowers?

[Kelvinyam @ Jun 2nd 2009 11:04AM]

This may be made of plastic, but the workmanship is really good that I really thought it's ceramic. I would put this next to my TV in living room.

[MichaelG @ Jun 2nd 2009 11:04AM]

Actually it's DDR3 SODIMM what the...

[The Angry Intern @ Jun 2nd 2009 11:32AM]

too bad it's from ECS, and they pretty much make nothing but crap.

[Marco B @ Jun 2nd 2009 11:34AM]

In Holland they do it like this, from ceramic the real thing www.plushdepartment.com

[Hackettman @ Jun 2nd 2009 11:34AM]

Thats definitely a more functional idea.....

[edwardlockyer @ Jun 2nd 2009 11:36AM]

Looks quite like centurions diabolo computer vase: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0