Really Stylish PCs and Peripherals

knipknap writes "With Christmas lying ahead I decided it was time to present myself new PC hardware. Of course, nothing can be good enough for my Linux box, so I ran looking for some really nice cases - but was soon disappointed by the very little options available when it comes to stylish cases. There is the very nice Hoojum Nanode, which is for Nano-ITX boards only, while I was looking for more powerful alternatives. Then there was the Cubit P4, also from Hoojum, which seemed to suit my needs. I ordered one via mini-itx.com, but unfortunately they messed up the order and noticed only after it was already sold out... so there went my last option. I was also recommended Hush (I already own one) and Shuttle, both of which I found looking kind of cheap. Another problem seems to be finding good peripherals - I have not found a single higher quality mouse and keyboard outside the plastic computer world. So I decided to ask Slashdotters - which other options are there available?" Personally I love the Hush box.

Re:try a mac

[Anonymous Coward]

You can install Yellow Dog Linux or compile Gentoo yourself to run it on nearly any Apple Computer. I've personally done it one PowerMac G5s and a PowerBook G4, works very well if you really don't like Mac OS X, but I prefer it.

does apple make a PVR ?

[Anonymous Coward]

because thats what these are for, as if iam going to want a made-in-taiwan apple

Re:Mac, Mac, Mac

[computerme]

I've seen what passes as "mods" of PC.

Cripes. Purple glow in the dark strips. "See thru cases" ooohh...

It reminds me of the honda civic fan boys who lower their car and put blue glow things around the license plates.

Eeeekk.. I guess this is where i have to say, to each his own... but.. shudders....

Elegance is not a MOD.

Re:Clear PC = Bad Deal

[raventh1]

Why not just ship it back and demand your money back, or a replacement?

Re:try a mac

[ztirffritz]

While I'm a Mac user, I can in no way endorse Linux on the Mac...yet. I ran Yellow Dog Linux on my old iMac for almost a year, and it worked great, but there were very few options for pre-compiled software. There was one guy, I think in Germany, that was turning out about 60% of the software that I used. It was reliable, and TerraSoft supported it well, but being a niche within a niche is just begging for trouble.

Nice Holiday Spirit.

[Holi]

Forget your computer for a few days. It won't mind. If you have extra money after getting your loved one's their gifts hwy not put it towards something more satisfying. How about donating it to some shelters or soup kitchens, or maybe toys for tots. I know it's not the American thing to do any more but damn it's more important then turning your pc into the digital equivilant to a rice-burner.

Now a Merry Christmas to all and fucking do it right.

Re:Mac, Mac, Mac

[legirons]

"Everyone seems to be suggesting to go with a Mac. Well, if I were you, I would take a half-way decent case and mod it. Chop off the back if it is too long, put some plexiglass on the side, stencil on the side, whatever floats your boat."

The problem always is, if you get a modded case, you still have a big messy pile of "technical crap" behind your desk, whereas if you get a Mac, you just have a shiny white thing.

Is it even possible to get a PC case whose back-panel doesn't look like some 1940's telephone exchange? The PC case itself may look cool (for various definitions), but when you add external modems, USB cables and hubs everywhere, "wireless" mouses that need a cable from the PC to their base-station, and enough power cords to start your own distribution company, the Mac will still have just the one power cable (and even the non-iMacs have just one lead to the monitor)

Thing is, there are all these people talking about "modified" PC cases, but all their creations are the same 17x7x19" box at the side of their desk, or a Mini-ATX case almost overbalanced by the weight of cables sprouting from it. Putting a window, neon-light, and hovercraft engine into your PC case isn't innovative in any sense of the word, nor is airbrushing some Doom3 screenshot onto it...

Nothing personal... ;) just want to see a decent PC design sometime.

Re:try a mac

[Anonymous Coward]

oic. macs r great

Re:Nice Holiday Spirit.

[Osty]

Forget your computer for a few days. It won't mind. If you have extra money after getting your loved one's their gifts hwy not put it towards something more satisfying. How about donating it to some shelters or soup kitchens, or maybe toys for tots. I know it's not the American thing to do any more but damn it's more important then turning your pc into the digital equivilant to a rice-burner.

Even better, if you have some money left over after being forced to court debt to satisfy your greedy kin, why not put it in an interest bearing savings account or invest it in the market. Rather than feeling obligated to spend yourself into bankruptcy ever holiday season, you could be saving for your future.

If you'd like to donate to charity, feel free. However, may I suggest you wait and do that in April or May, or August? Right now, everybody and his dog is donating to charities because it's the "right" thing to do at holiday times. However, how much more important would your contribution be to needy families during a time of year when contributions are not pouring in from holiday guilt? Needy folks are needy year-round. They don't suddenly become needy between October and January.