Crapgadget CES, round 3: Moneual's $45K HTPC

There are some that might challenge the very idea of anything this expensive being a "crapgadget," but closer inspection of this item leaves little room for doubt. Indeed, it looks like Moneual's still around with its jewel laden "luxury" PCs, and we were fortunate enough to come across this delightful specimen on the floor of CES. The 701 Jewelry HTPC is handcrafted with gold and brass and adorned with 3500 Swarovski elements -- as well as HDMI, Blu ray, and Windows Vista Home Premium. Your cost? A mere $45,000. "The price of gold is going up," the helpful chap at the company's booth pointed out. This isn't a media PC, then -- it's an investment. Before you call your broker, take a closer look at the gallery below.

Moneual 701 Jewelry HTPC

[theoamp Posted Jan 9th 2010 2:19PM]

Twentieth anniversary Macintosh anyone?

[CoolStoryBro Posted Jan 9th 2010 2:21PM]

OH wow.

[Slinky25252 Posted Jan 9th 2010 2:23PM]

People pay money for computers with cheap children's jewelry glued on?

[oldpass56 Posted Jan 9th 2010 2:50PM]

@Slinky25252
I think it's really classy....

[Eugene Action Posted Jan 9th 2010 4:40PM]

@oldpass56 Goldmembers birthday's coming up...

[Scribbles Posted Jan 9th 2010 2:25PM]

Wow the OS is window's vista.... That is a real crap gadget.

[SVoyager Posted Jan 9th 2010 2:56PM]

@Scribbles

not only is it vista but its HOME PREMIUM. wtf you get home premium on a 45k HTPC. Home premium is probably enough for the HTPC but at that price, just put Ultimate, im sure the buyer wont notice the couple $ difference lol.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 9th 2010 3:13PM]

@Scribbles Bling, bling. This will wind up in some celebrity's home.

[xconan Posted Jan 10th 2010 12:45AM]

@SVoyager
if the buyer can afford 45k, they certainly can afford the Ultimate OS. Is the shell made of 18k gold otherwise so the consumer is definitely being scammed.

[NYNY Posted Jan 9th 2010 2:25PM]

At least it's shiny?

[SolidSnake Posted Jan 9th 2010 2:28PM]

If this isn't a theif magnet, I don't know what is.....

[Joseph L Flatley Posted Jan 9th 2010 2:29PM]

@SolidSnake If this isn't a jerk magnet, I don't know what is.....

[TacticalTimbo Posted Jan 9th 2010 2:35PM]

"jewel laden" but so damn ugly I wouldn't even give it to Bin Laden

[glenskey Posted Jan 9th 2010 2:35PM]

we need a new category for overly expensive crapgadgets

[SolidSnake Posted Jan 9th 2010 2:42PM]

@glenskey
The only thing I would give Bin Laden is a knuckle sandwitch.....

[SolidSnake Posted Jan 9th 2010 2:42PM]

@SolidSnake
....to the face.

[SolidSnake Posted Jan 9th 2010 2:48PM]

@SolidSnake
Curse you, Engadget comment system....
That was directed at the guy above you.

[TacticalTimbo Posted Jan 9th 2010 2:49PM]

@SolidSnake with a gold, diamond covered knuckle duster right in the nose plz

[SolidSnake Posted Jan 9th 2010 3:28PM]

@TacticalTimbo +1

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 9th 2010 2:35PM]

crime against humanity

[Johnny L Posted Jan 9th 2010 2:43PM]

What I genuinely don't like about this "stuff" is not the niche market they're trying to pursue, but the way they pursue it.

I mean, this computer sports inexpensive and obsolete cpu/gpu/os: the jewelry seems just glued on, inside this s**t there are obviously regular components: the ports and connectors are not gold plated, but they're not even assembled in a matching gold colour!

If this was at least a real piece of jewelry I could have justified the price (while of course not being interested in it anyways), but - come on - this is just tacky.

[loocas Posted Jan 9th 2010 2:46PM]

:D:D what really cracks me up is the Genuine Windows sticker! :D:D:D Priceless!

[aktiveradio Posted Jan 9th 2010 2:53PM]

Sweet it runs Vista.

[psycros Posted Jan 9th 2010 2:56PM]

Here's an idea: why not make a great affordable HTPC that doesn't look like Barbie's Magic Boom Box? You'd make a lot more money selling thousands of those than a handful of...that.

[Hi Kenneth Posted Jan 9th 2010 3:04PM]

the geek of flava flavs would wear this with a chain

[Dogcowsaysmoof Posted Jan 9th 2010 3:04PM]

Looks like cheap plastic...

[Maurizio Posted Jan 9th 2010 3:05PM]

The most ridiculous spec I've seen for an HTPC for 2010. Not to mention a $45k PC.
Core 2 duo? Geforce 9300?

And BTW, It does sport Windows 7. I don't know why ngadget says vista.

[whwillisiv Posted Jan 11th 2010 12:17PM]

@Maurizio
the fact sheet says 7, but the sticker says vista

[Plexus Posted Jan 9th 2010 3:08PM]

Hideous, unpractical and obsolete.
I wonder to what market segment it is aimed to.
Geeky russian mob bossess?

[Gorgula Posted Jan 9th 2010 4:00PM]

Wouldn't you time be better spend showing their good products? They have always been a good company and i would be interested.

[Brian J Posted Jan 9th 2010 4:01PM]

I think you should have punched that rep straight in the teeth before he had a chance to finish his quip. Or was he being serious?

[RabidAppleFanboi Posted Jan 9th 2010 6:42PM]

Please, MTV, Pimp My e-Waste!

[Dusty Posted Jan 9th 2010 8:38PM]

Yuck!

[HisEnormity Posted Jan 10th 2010 5:23AM]

My niece is soooooo going to want this.

[RabidAppleFanboi Posted Jan 11th 2010 2:51AM]

The Windows Vista Home Premium alone qualifies it as a crapgadget. Everyone knows you need the Home Premium Super Ultra Mega Hyper version before you can even change your desktop background image.

Sheesh. Hands down winner.

[Molsen06 Posted Jan 11th 2010 4:09AM]

Is it silent though??
How much would it suck to spend $45K on a HTPC for its looks and then have to bury it in a cupboard because it has noisy fans

[YanivC Posted Jan 11th 2010 8:54AM]

what is it? Lord knows what they said must be a cover and this must be some kind of uber spy machine.... please... tell me it aint so.

[HumbleDestroyer Posted Jan 11th 2010 1:29PM]

Really, no wireless N?

[Neros Fiddle Posted Jan 11th 2010 2:53PM]

They built in in a car audio bass-tube?

[SecretlyFat Posted Jan 11th 2010 11:12PM]

In 4 years all the ports are obsolete and you... throw it away?