Let's get one thing straight, we're huge fans of budget-priced gear. Yes, even bargain bin PCs that are done right. But eMachines' latest trio is just downright embarrassing. Still, those that don't mind covering their tower in a brown paper bag may find just what they need in the $299.99 T3656, $399.99 T5254 or $498 W3653 kit (pictured). Specs wise, you'll find Intel's Celeron / Pentium dual-core processors, a DVD burner, six USB ports, 1GB to 2GB of RAM, a 160GB or 320GB hard drive, 15-in-1 multicard reader and an equally hideous 17-inch LCD monitor bundled in with just the latter. Oh, and eMachines actually expects you to run Vista on these things and not rip every last hair from your noggin. Enjoy!
Newman has never had much luck cranking out portable media players that were easy on the eyes, and unfortunately, things aren't getting any better with the M8000. The bulky PMP features a 4-inch 320 x 240 resolution display, support for NES emulation and text viewing, a 1.3-megapixel camera, integrated speaker / microphone, video output, USB 2.0 connectivity and compatibility with a smattering of file formats. Unlike many craptacular rivals, this one comes in black or white and can be equipped with up to 250GB of internal hard drive space. Of course, it's not like anyone with a shred of dignity is going to fork out $388 for the quarter-terabyte edition, but if you've got the coin to roll, you can certainly test the limits of buyer's remorse.
We'll spare you our feelings on just how cheesy this thing looks, as we're fairly certain you can judge that for yourself. Those with no shame and an unrequited love for all things gold, however, may actually find this one quite appealing. Cooper's Amber F1 purportedly features a 2.8-inch widescreen LCD, support for RMVB, AVI and FLV formats, a built-in equalizer, SRS WOW technology, a bundled case and an obligatory set of gilded earbuds to ensure public humiliation. A price or release date wasn't immediately apparent, but please don't say you're willing to dig around to find out. Please?
Let's go ahead and get this out of the way: we can't deny that the Iron Man Mark I case mod took some serious work (and skill). That being the case, it'd take a pretty hardcore fan of the character (or the new flick, we guess) to love this one with reckless abandon. Reportedly, the whole shebang was built in just three weeks, and while we're still waiting for the full work log, feel free to hit the read link for an array of angles.
MSI seems to be in quite the contradictory mood, as that "Innovation with Style" slogan certainly doesn't apply to the laptop it's plastered on. We had to triple-check to ensure the VR340 wasn't actually introduced ages ago, but in fact, this 13.3-incher is incredibly fresh. Packed within the way-too-heavy 4.85-pound frame is an elusive dual-core Intel CPU, WXGA panel, up to 3GB of DDR2 RAM, dual-layer DVD burner, a trio of USB ports, 5-in-1 multicard reader and a six-cell battery for good measure. Mum's the word on a price, but chances are that won't hurt too many feelings.
Get this: an Estonian newspaper has teamed up with HP to find the country's most unsightly laptop, and while the one pictured above hasn't been deemed the victor (yet), it definitely looks to have been on the wrong end of a Russian cyber attack. Apparently, the contestants have already been selected, and users can surf on over and place their vote for the single most repulsive machine in the mix. Thankfully, the two winners (audience "favorite" and editor's choice) will each receive a brand new HP Pavilion dv2699 Special Edition lappie, which we fully expect will be treated just as poorly as the rig it's replacing.
Legitimate (read: legal) Famicom support for your DS Lite may seem like a dream come true for the retro gamer, but Cyber Gadget's Cyber Famulator Lite might be a little much to ask for all but the geekiest. You have to strap on a (barely) pared down "famiclone" system onto your cute little portable, but pulling out and blowing into a dirty old Metroid cart on the go will no doubt be a privilege for some.
How well we know how distorted the world becomes when you're only alive courtesy of (insert energy drink here). Thankfully, we've no idea how twisted your mind must be to create a conglomerate with so much going on, it's truly hard to describe in merely a single breath. Nevertheless, bunnie somehow managed to scrounge up enough hardware to hack together a Chumby-based, drivable RC car with the ability to beam back its surroundings so that it could be controlled from afar. Of course, we can't help but pass along kudos for making this thing work, but seriously, it's high, high up on the list of most unsightly concoctions we've ever seen. Hit up the read link for ugly (and duct tape) aplenty.
No way around it, Ohayo's "design" on this here DAP is just plain criminal. If the hardware weren't slab-a-rific enough, the software interface manages to look cluttered and yet uninviting. 2GB of flash storage and a 1.8-inch OLED screen have never been put to less appealing use. Other than that we're total fans.
You only thought light-up gear was so last century. As fate would have it, kids aren't tired of rockin' blinky apparel just yet, and Tomorrow Incorporated is looking to take advantage of the lingering fad. One-upping the LA Lights kicks that once ruled the hallways, the Britepack book bag ($39.99) sports a semi-circle of LEDs that light up in a pre-determined pattern each time a step is taken, and they automatically go dormant whenever it detects that class is in session (read: it's sitting idly). Apparently, these packs will even be available in wheeled (oh noes) and non-wheeled versions, and while a couple colors look to be available as we speak, you can look forward to a host of "add-on accessories" to land next year. As much as we'd like to think that these just won't take off, we doubt TI will have a tough time moving its inventory.
We've seen some pretty questionable case mods involving additional fans, but this one will likely hold top honors until something even more extravagant comes around. The "Super Cooler" straps a grand total of 66 fans around the tower, which probably doesn't do a whole lot of good when all's said and done. Truth be told, we've all ideas that this thing was created more so for people to gawk at than to actually enable users to run uber-overclocked CPUs and graphics cards without the use of water, but whatever the case, it's an interesting (if not cacophonic) take on cooling. Hit the read link for lots more images, and keep those fingers a safe distance away, k?
For intents and purposes, we're thoroughly numb to iPod nano knockoffs at this point, but when some company goes beyond the call of duty to uglify its copycat attempt, we can't help give credit. Friendship Star International Limited, which earns major kudos on name alone, has created the nano-inspired FD-1888P for those adamantly against click wheels (and products of authenticity). The unit features a 1.8-inch color display, integrated speaker, FM tuner, rechargeable Li-ion, support for MP3, MP4, MTV and AMV file formats and a totally bodacious D-pad control scheme. Pricing information is reserved for those willing to buy hundreds at the time, so who knows how long that will remain a mystery.
We're all but convinced that nobody actually wears these video-playing watches out in public, but just in case there's some otherworldly group out there that takes pride in adorning their wrists with timepieces that are utterly heinous, you're in luck. This iteration sports a 1.8-inch 160 x 128 resolution OLED display, integrated media player that handles MP3, WMA and MP4 files, a built-in Li-ion, 4GB of internal memory, voice recording capability, USB 2.0 connectivity and an FM transmitter for good measure. All this can be yours for the above average price of $126, but if you have any respect for yourself whatsoever, you'll glide right on past this one.
There are afterthoughts, and then there's Yahee's YHM-MPE02. For whatever reason, the design crew (to put it kindly) behind the janky YHM-MPE02 felt the need to stuff a two-inch QVGA display, 4GB of internal memory and an FM tuner into the PMP, but providing a simple USB port or some sort of flip-out connector was apparently not in the cards. If you can manage to overlook such a hideous protrusion (regrettably, we cannot), you'll find that the unit supports a bevy of files including WAV, ASF, MP3, WMA, AVI and JPEG, and there's even a TransFlash expansion slot to load up even more media. We'd typically inform you that you'd have to make a few phone calls in order to scrounge up pricing information, but trust us when we tell you that you (and your reputation) are better off just leaving this one alone. Oh, and it's not even worth mentioning how this thing rips the upper portion of Nokia's 5300 XpressMusic -- but yeah, it does.
Newman's been known to crank out a few less than beautiful devices in its time, but the interestingly styled vx1000 certainly ups the ante. This handheld conglomerate manages to wear an awful lot of hats, as it features a built-in media player, four-inch 480 x 272 widescreen panel, an image / text viewer, FM radio, WiFi, gaming functions, and Windows CE at the helm. Of course, we'd be sure to give this thing a whirl before confidently snapping up such a chintzy looking piece, but those willing to take the risk can pick one up in China for 1,999CNY ($264).
We'll spare you our feelings on just how cheesy this thing looks, as we're fairly certain you can judge that for yourself. Those with no shame and an unrequited love for all things gold, however, may actually find this one quite appealing. Cooper's Amber F1 purportedly features a 2.8-inch widescreen LCD, support for RMVB, AVI and FLV formats, a built-in equalizer, SRS WOW technology, a bundled case and an obligatory set of gilded earbuds to ensure public humiliation. A price or release date wasn't immediately apparent, but please don't say you're willing to dig around to find out. Please?
