Artopz Minitopz Ion-based nettop lamp rains down confusion, wonder

We don't get it. At all. That said, we're totally enamored with this Artopz Minitopz, which manages to both be an impressively-specced Atom and Ion-based nettop, and simultaneously a completely confounding piece of "art." Apparently it's supposed to be perceived as a lamp, but we'd say that stretches the limits of imagination. But it stretches them in a good way, that's all we're saying. Oh, and the Minitopz costs $2,250, just in case you thought you'd penetrated this fog of luxurious gadget oddity to the point of pulling out a wallet. Maybe the video after the break will help clear some things up? Nope, not really.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 20th 2009 12:01AM]

Why?

[Rusty Shackleford Posted Dec 20th 2009 12:02AM]

I lost the game

[Bashere Posted Dec 20th 2009 4:31AM]

@Rusty Shackleford
damn you! and i was winning for so long.
and about that thing up there, why? usless as a lamp, not powerful enough to be sitting on my desk.

[zintinio Posted Dec 20th 2009 8:09AM]

@Rusty Shackleford
Nooo!!!!! I think I was winning for months now.

[brockorr Posted Dec 20th 2009 9:50PM]

@Rusty Shackleford I thought engadget was safe!!

[pgriffin24 Posted Dec 20th 2009 12:10AM]

Were it not for the price, I think this would make a good HTPC. IMO a lot of HTPCs stand out in your living room, and as a lamp, and I use that term loosely, this would totally blend in.

[Patlex Posted Dec 20th 2009 12:13AM]

Does it even have an optical drive(I would even add dual core atom) to be even considered as a HTPC?

[Patlex Posted Dec 20th 2009 12:15AM]

Just saw their site is say the Desktop PC has it both a dual core atom and a optical drive, but its not really clear if that means this Lamp PC also has those features.

[mynk Posted Dec 20th 2009 12:57AM]

@pgriffin24

i was pretty sure when i saw the picture that thats a slot loading drive on the side there.

[skaterdude Posted Dec 20th 2009 12:28AM]

I think i'll just spend $15.00 and buy a USB lamp.

[WhatHappened Posted Dec 20th 2009 12:59AM]

For that form factor, it better have a 32nm i9, 24GB of DDR3-2000, and dual GTX395s in SLI (yes, I know, not even out yet, and wouldn't fit, but it's nice to dream)

[bolezhinkov Posted Dec 20th 2009 1:02AM]

sign me up for three!

[bingo bob Posted Dec 20th 2009 4:21AM]

maybe if it was just the ultra slim aluminum box at the base, it might just make sense (except all the apple fanboi woudl say they ripped the design from iDevice xyz)

but the light? wtf?

and as a HTPC wouldnt the blue led "artsy" stuff detract your eye from the screen/projection ( i assume you must be able to turn it off)

but in daylight this will look hideous, in the dark it might by passable.

but for $2K surely there are better options out there techincally and ascetically (looks good) more pleasing on the eye?

[aricCaedmonSoftware Posted Dec 20th 2009 4:54AM]

Eh... I don't know if I'd want to (* If I had the money *) purchase a $2k net-top with integrated hardware (* excluding memory *). Why pay that amount when after a year your computer is going to be bogging due to moores law? I want a net-top I can configure, video-card, processor, memory, and hard-drive. Also, for that price this purely "cosmetic" computer better be packin some SSD. Cool lamp though.

[MoonWalkerCTE Posted Dec 20th 2009 7:59AM]

If it wasn't called minitopz with the (z) on the end I don't think I would buy one.

[docmars Posted Dec 20th 2009 11:45AM]

At first sight, I thought this was a yo-yo ... before I scrolled down and saw the platform.

[Reluttr Posted Dec 20th 2009 12:23PM]

This guy looks more like a lamp than that thing in the article.

http://9.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kq7g6yPW0V1qzpkjoo1_400.jpg

[chairXhat Posted Dec 20th 2009 11:37PM]

If that "light" was also some sort of massive CPU cooling device.. add a bit more space for hardware.. it could rival the thermaltake level 10.

[chowdery Posted Dec 21st 2009 1:25AM]

Yes, it's pricey--but it's not for those of us looking for the uber-cheap netbook. It's for someone that has a modern home and looking to integrate a computer into their space without it looking like a computer. Looks like the Artopz folks want to build art and are targeting buyers with deep pockets.