Philco PC concept makes the 50s seem less lame (video)

Wow, just wow. This retro Philco PC concept has us basking in a stew of our own biological lust. Designed by SchultzeWORKS design studio, this retro rig combines design elements of the 50's classic Philco Pedictas television, antique typewriters, and just a hint of steampunk. Granted, it doesn't have the clean, minimalistic form of modern designs that appeal to the mass market. But really, isn't that point?

Philco PC concept brings back the 50s in true hipster style (video)

[ibopm Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:20AM]

Wait, so it's just a render?

[Anatidae Posted Dec 14th 2009 5:04AM]

@ibopm I thought the same thing. Call me when it is actually a physical product. This belongs on some other blog covering CGI/3D graphics.

[Wwhat Posted Dec 14th 2009 5:59AM]

Engadger has been doing this a lot lately, articles on stuff that's theoretical design of a theoretical product, I think one of them is dating a industrial designer who gets 'design weekly' in the mail.

[jeremiah2man Posted Dec 14th 2009 6:22PM]

@ibopm Even if it is just a render . . I WANT IT!

[Bro Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:24AM]

That looks pretty damn awesome

[MeanSpyvie Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:48AM]

If the desktop fills the screen from edge to edge all the way around, with the appropriate subtle curves in the task bars and title bars then it would be way cool. If it were just a normal rectangular panel inside of a retro bezel then I think it would be way lame.

[Jean Marc Posted Dec 14th 2009 8:27AM]

@Bro If it was a reality i would love to have this machine for the home

[Dustin F Posted Dec 14th 2009 8:57AM]

@MeanSpyvie

Well said!

This roung screen seems beautiful. but it's not realistic. I'm sure you could skin Wndows to the point where the taskbar was round and you let the edge of the display slip off the screen, but you can't manage every environment like that. This would not look good one you have a square peg in a round hole.

[CaramelZappa Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:26AM]

I'd buy it. It's plain awesome.

[octoberasian Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:40AM]

@CaramelZappa

I'm with you there, if it comes in a shade of blue instead of orange, they're getting my check immediately.

[ascenvia Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:26AM]

Did they exchange the mouse with an electric shaver? Love the monitor though.

[Pupitmiser Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:28AM]

Meh; It's aesthetically pleasing. I don't see anything too innovative past that design aspects. I'm sure some retro nerds will gravitate to this product whenever it becomes a reality.

[mrklaw Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:55AM]

@Pupitmiser

isn't that the point?

[crescentdavid Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:28AM]

Totally sweet. Love the concept ... would kill for the retro keyboard ... It's nice to see something more than soulless one dimensional metal.

[ale Posted Dec 14th 2009 5:01AM]

@crescentdavid
amen

[NeoJew Posted Dec 14th 2009 9:36AM]

@crescentdavid
mm, I'm all over that keyboard/mouse combo. The rest is nice, but I really want those input devices.

[Duckman Posted Dec 14th 2009 8:26PM]

@NeoJew
Right? I'll take one of those keyboards right now! and is it just me or does it look like there are forward and back buttons on both sides of the mouse? ambidextroids rejoice!

[glenskey Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:30AM]

pft, since when were the 50's lame?


oh. right.

[Gerusz Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:33AM]

It's cool... and that keyboard must have some damn good mechanical switches. Clickety-clickety-click :-)

[DaveBrubeck Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:36AM]

I don't care how much it costs, I'm definitely getting this even if it runs on an Atom and 256MBs of RAM.

[samanjj Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:39AM]

it's like the computers on the movie Brazil. i like it. if only it ran osx

[Shanebenn Posted Dec 14th 2009 5:13AM]

@samanjj
all hail os x :)

[DaveBrubeck Posted Dec 14th 2009 5:56AM]

@samanjj

I think what you meant to say was "If only Apple gave me more hardware choice than THX-1138 Bland Edition or Mirror's Edge Minimalistic Monotony Edition".

The Windows world resembles Brazil. Sprawling, wild, full of surprises and sometimes broken with a dictatorial overlord (MS) watching over it. Apple and OS X are like 2001: A Space Odyssey. Minimalistic, monotonous and boring but integrated and functional with Steve HAL-Jobs that always knows what's "good for you"

.

[mocax Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:44AM]

i want a copper-colored one.....

[daryl Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:44AM]

Yeah, round screens are really ideal for pcs....:sarcasm:

[itsmeee Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:45AM]

obviously it's neat looking but how can it run windows without deforming your working space? The taskbar/dock/whateverthefuckyoucallitnow in windows 7 is a bar which means most of not all of the start button and clock would be clipped off making this computer pretty useless.

[mocax Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:54AM]

@itsmeee
perhaps it does deform the work space... xD

ever played an atari 2600 on an old crt tv with rounded corners? :P


i feel ancient.... :(

[dingdong Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:59AM]

@itsmeee
A Mac fanboi trying to make thing bad for Windows.
moron can you see the screen will be square?

[Weiman Posted Dec 14th 2009 5:20AM]

@itsmeee
I'm sure if it's ever realized the screen will be square, and the bezel will be less ..hexagonal than in that render.

[hahano Posted Dec 14th 2009 7:19AM]

@(Unverified) it will just have black above and below the screen in the middle, but will still be rounded.

[itsmeee Posted Dec 14th 2009 1:43PM]

@mocax if you look at this image it doesn't http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/12/3498556089_e2e7f33ed1_b.jpg That's not to say it won't in the final version.

[itsmeee Posted Dec 14th 2009 1:44PM]

@dingdong It's just in this image it isn't. http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/12/3498556089_e2e7f33ed1_b.jpg Moron.

[Sor1 Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:51AM]

this case it reminds me Bioshock (in different colors), and for me is good reason to buy it, if ever comes out.

[shawnisboring Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:52AM]

I would buy this in a heartbeat. For the love of god produce this.

[BeeQAL Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:53AM]

Stunning. Absolutely stunning. The PC world needs more of this.

[Arr Posted Dec 14th 2009 5:04AM]

I realllly hope that this is the next fad in industrial design.

[schultzeworks Posted Dec 14th 2009 10:39PM]

Fad? This design is in my blood and I can't get it out, brother!

[YpoCaramel Posted Dec 14th 2009 5:08AM]

Hope that keyboard is actually clicky typewritery for the mechanical keyboard enthusiasts.

[microlomaniac Posted Dec 14th 2009 5:30AM]

This thing seems to take ages to start Windows 7.

/sarcasm

And, yes, the rounded screen corners.

Otherwise, I like the chrome look of the steampunk keyboard.

[Davo Posted Dec 14th 2009 5:42AM]

The lack of an apostrophe made me thought that it was the 50 seconds i have to wait until my windows boots up....

Man, i wish my PC looked this cool

[eka Posted Dec 14th 2009 5:48AM]

AWESOME.
Better produce it quick, before Apple copy this.

[Trevsweb Posted Dec 14th 2009 6:06AM]

looks top heavy to me. surely the moniter would tipple the computer over? needs some sort of ugly tail to stop it from doing so

[Blueheart556 Posted Dec 14th 2009 6:16AM]

Love the "Gorillaz" cd they use there...... odd choice if you ask me.....

[edgefox Posted Dec 14th 2009 6:36AM]

It's called a philco pRedicta. I've been working on a similar concept but the f-ing old tv's are really expensive.

[aashish bhagya Posted Dec 14th 2009 6:55AM]

Clean minimalist designs cater to only 10% of the personal computer market , not the mass market.The remaining 90% will take any design as long as its functional and inexpensive.

[Munk Posted Dec 14th 2009 7:27AM]

So awesome.....till you watch a rendered video! x_x.

Would be nice to see more people thought of design language like this. The new products by Nokia,Dell & Sony are nice but they still seem to have been designed "in the box". They build on the traditional and do it well/better but end of the day its more of the same.

Even if something like this isnt highly functional or efficient it brings something new and thats whats cool about it imho.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 14th 2009 7:27AM]

If this is just a render, why have that cord dangling behind the monitor? I like it, though.

[schultzeworks Posted Dec 24th 2009 1:54PM]

@(Unverified)

Realism and attention to detail?

Dave Schultze, Philco PC designer

[305BuddyLuv Posted Dec 14th 2009 7:40AM]

Looks nice; I would have bought one.

[jamiesim Posted Dec 14th 2009 8:05AM]

love the keyboard!

windows 7 is very apt for a machine that looks like it comes from the 50's!!!