Dell XCS modular concept PC

[Bob Crabtree]

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.

Check out this HEXUS.headline and let us know if the XCS appeals or if have you reasons for believing it's not really a goer.

[Lee H]

Oooh now that I like a LOT

Easy to upgrade, looks very nice and futuristically styled.

[Bob Crabtree]

But it's a Dell. If it's launched - you won't be able sell it, surely?

[Lee H]

I like the design and actual concept itself as you could in theory have 2 systems in bits and just swap and change to and from the configurations when needed.

I.e - System 1 - SLI graphics, 2 x HDD's, Physx and X-FI modules
System 2 - 1 7900 GTX, 4 x HDD's, X-FI module and Dual DVB-T Tuner

Now that design looks like it would take what - 2 minutes at the most to swap and change the cartidges and change 1 PC to another design with a different OS as well

[slugs]

i personally think it looks terible. its just completely alien compared to anything else ive had to deal with in the past i guess

[DavidM]

I think Asus recently gave details of a modular system, which was all rectuangular based.

This isn't really a new idea, as similar things in principal have existed since the early 80's.... It's just the styling can be more flexible now

[hysys]

I suspect it could sell, they could even sell empty cartridge where you can put your own card like a pci-e cartridge.

The added cost would be minimal (i hope) but it will give you a lot of flexibility if you have more than 1 system.

[sawyen]

I suspect it could sell, they could even sell empty cartridge where you can put your own card like a pci-e cartridge.

The added cost would be minimal (i hope) but it will give you a lot of flexibility if you have more than 1 system.

firstly.. *urrghh in disgust* why did u use such a nick.. The HYSYS multi-phase simulation algorithm is so broken that even a self written FEMLAB code is even more accurate..

Back to topic, the idea seems workable.. but getting this to work will need a majority of the industry to follow as well.. and that.. is no easy task..

[Bob Crabtree]

I like the design and actual concept itself as you could in theory have 2 systems in bits and just swap and change to and from the configurations when needed.

I.e - System 1 - SLI graphics, 2 x HDD's, Physx and X-FI modules
System 2 - 1 7900 GTX, 4 x HDD's, X-FI module and Dual DVB-T Tuner

Now that design looks like it would take what - 2 minutes at the most to swap and change the cartidges and change 1 PC to another design with a different OS as well

And, whatever Dell or its designer thinks, that may very well be the sort of thing that lets this bird fly.

[kalniel]

It's not a new concept, but it's quite a nice looking one. There was that other one that basically looked like a bookshelf and components were just boxes that stacked on the shelf - which was itself the power/communications conduit so it would induce power for the components.

Of course, a decent software base for swapping components would be a start, even on todays systems.

[kempez]

Its a great concept but can you imagine a popular OS that would allow simple quick and stress-free component changing?

[DavidM]

Windows?

[arthurleung]

Windows?

Assume M$ will let you reactivate windows 3 times, you can only change component for 9 times before you need to buy another copy

[DavidM]

I'm sure Microsoft would love that

[kasavien]

Its a nice idea, but i don't like the design at all really. Also it would mean a complete redesign of how a computer is built and integrated, and likewise for the software and drivers to support the swapping of components.

[Bob Crabtree]

Assume M$ will let you reactivate windows 3 times, you can only change component for 9 times before you need to buy another copy

The smiley saved you.

Just for now, I'll assume you simply don't know what you're talking about and aren't being malicious (though I think you ought to know by now that "M$" is frowned up hereabouts).

For the record, you are far from alone in thinking that XP's hardware-related reactivation can be a pain, but you're wrong to believe (and state in this public place) that it's necessary to buy a new copy of XP after making nine component changes.