Designer Matthew Ritter has come up with a modular concept PC for Dell intended to make upgrading ultra-easy and fool-proof. The barrel-shaped system box accepts cartridge-mounted hard-discs and DVD burners, plus processors units that would normally sit on slot-in cards - graphics, PhysX, sound, whatever.
Swapping components looks to be no harder than changing the tape in a VCR - and that should be welcomed, even by techies who get their rocks off doing tricky upgrades.
The XCS can be
free-standing orlocated on a cradle (click for larger image)
The product is featured on Yanko Design's site. This says (none too elegantly):
The Dell XCS is the next
evolution in desktop computing. By encapsulating the components and
hiding the circuit boards from consumers, the fear and intimidation of
upgrading a computer is eliminated. Each component is a modular and
shaped so that it cannot be inserted into the wrong place. A number
system was also developed to replace confusing specifications that are
present on today's software.
However, anything that increases the per-unit cost of systems and peripherals - and this cartridge-mount idea certainly would do that - goes right against the over-riding market trend for peripherals to be ultra-cheap commodity products, like PCs that use them.
Clearly, peripheral makers and system builders might like things to be otherwise, but we have strong doubts that they'll get their wish.
And what also has to be in doubt is Dell's intention ever to bring the XCS (Extensible Computer System) to market when the company, arguably, is still a box-shifter at heart.
However, there are plenty of indicators that Dell is keen to get extra added value from what it sells, perhaps typified by its move into printers and the repeat revenue that now brings in from replacement cartridges.
So does the XCS appeal or have you reasons for believing it's not really a goer? Share your thoughts in the HEXUS.community.
HEXUS.links
HEXUS.community - discussion thread about this article
Yanko Design - Matthew Ritter's Dell XCS concept PC
HEXUS.gaming headline - Dell XPS at E3
Press release - Dell buys Alienware
