Top 10 Most Beautiful Computers (some vintage, some not)

[barythrin]

http://www.osnews.com/story/19621/The_Ten_Most_Beautiful_Computers/page1/

So I found this while looking for some info on an older system (it happened to make the list so was interesting) oddly this has new systems as well so it's kinda a hodgepodge, but you can try to guess who might have made the list though honestly it seems to just be some dudes opinion rather than a vote. hmm.. possible poll idea..

[Terry Yager]

The only one I care for is #10 (the first one), but I'm afraid I wouldn't make it thru the first day, given the way I handle my 12" chef's knife. I'd end up impaling the poor thing, ending it's life along with my own. The work surface is just too small.

--T

[paul]

In my opinion the Mac cube and some other Apple models try too hard to be a complete work of art. Same with most SGI machines. The form extends too far beyond just a container for the hardware.

To me the more interesting examples of "beautiful computers" are those where the designers made no effort to make them look like any more than just computers, and yet in detail show superb industrial design.

To name just the few that I'm familiar with: the DEC PDP-11 toggle switches, the earlier SUN pizza box enclosures, the IBM AT cabinet and keyboard. Even my HP Apollo 9000 has great design in certain areas (see pic,) and we all remember the keys on the early HP calculators.

However the one exception to my thinking are the early Cray's. The cabinet fits the hardware precisely - no compromise in the packaging for sake of beauty - yet every time you a picture of one it just about takes your breath away.

http://www.spikynorman.dsl.pipex.com/craywwwstuff/Criscan/CrayXnIOP.jpg

http://www.spikynorman.dsl.pipex.com/.../
http://www.spikynorman.dsl.pipex.com/.../http://paulaxford.com/computer_collection/images/735-mouse.jpg

[tezza]

Interesting list, thanks for sharing.

I can't believe that kitchen computer! I wonder if it was just a huge joke by the computer company!

Was it really a serious concept or just tongue-in-cheek? Is there any proof that any units were actually built, or is the photo just a marketer's mock-up?

Tez

[CP/M User]

What wrong with a:

* Atari 1200XL
* Corvus Concept
* Epson QX-10
* Hewlett-Packard HP200
* NEC PC8000
* North Star Advantage
* Panasonic JR-200
* Texas Instruments 99/4A

All of those machines seem to look good enough to be in somebodies Top 10! :-D

[Druid6900]

Although, usually, I don't give a damn what whatever I'm computing on looks like (or even if it's in a case), I'd have to go with Paul on this one and say the Early Cray lines combined functionality with esthetics perfectly.

Of course, for what you were paying for them, they'd better be and hand out chocolate chip cookie to boot.

[Vint]

I looked through the '10' and the only one appealing to me is #5
The IBM PS/2 Model 50. It has character. :D
I'm sure everyone has their own personal choices.


http://www.osnews.com/img/19621/6/1.jpg

[Jorg]

Well, I won't need copy paste Paul's post, but he mentioned about anything I would.

As for the list in the link, IF that is the range, then I'm missing things like the Apricot Xen and the Mac LC II (not referring to what was in there..)

[TroyW]

Personally, in my top 10, there would be an Atari 800 and an original Amiga 1000.

[mbbrutman]

I think the IBM PC AT is a stunning machine - it projected 'power' at the time.

http://brutman.com/ibm_pc_at.2_small.jpg

The grill, key lock, boxiness of the case and the color scheme all say 'industrial power' in an understated way. Makes the modern fanboi's with their cases look ridiculous.

I think that the 5150 PC is also quite a looker. The sloping front bezel and the floppy drives taking up so much real estate makes it look like a much more primitive (but still industrial strength) machine.

[nige the hippy]

I always liked the styling of the apricot machines too. small and neat.
One of my mates had an HP server that had a soft-opening door on the drive bay, which, as it opened lit a tiny little light that illuminated the drives, awesome in a darkened room!
But for all time sexy I'm with the cray!

[paul]

Yeah, you have to be impressed with Cray. For most start-ups looking to build a supercomputer, industrial design would be way down on the list of priorities.
Yet somehow they managed to create a design that looks as futuristic as anything Hollywood might create. And no one had any worries about it looking vaguely like a park bench either.
20 years ago we had some sample Cray PCB's at work, as we were trying to sell them a solder joint X-ray inspection machine. They were about 22-inches square, thick and heavy with beefy IC's, and when in use were totally immersed in a cooling liquid. The large IC's were elevated slightly above the PCB surface with a 1/2" dia hole in the board underneath each one to allow coolant to flow through.

Tez, your comments about the kitchen computer made me smile! It sort of reflects the differences in thinking between the Kiwi and American kitchens of the 60's. As an avid Popular Science reader in those years (and living in NY state,) this sort of futuristic thinking was the norm - even if it was a bit far from reality!

[TroyW]

Ok, how about we come up with our own list. Obviously it doesn't have to be limited to just 10.

So far we have (not in any particular order):

* Atari 1200XL: 1200xlmain.jpg (http://www.myoldcomputers.com/museum/comp/museumpics/1200xlmain.jpg)
* Corvus Concept: Corvus_Concept_System_1.jpg (http://www.old-computers.com/museum/photos/Corvus_Concept_System_1.jpg)
* Epson QX-10: corner.jpg (http://www.obsoletecomputermuseum.org/qx-10/corner.jpg)
* Hewlett-Packard HP200: HP_200lx_System_s1.jpg (http://www.old-computers.com/MUSEUM/photos/HP_200lx_System_s1.jpg)
* NEC PC8000
* North Star Advantage: Advantage.jpg (http://www.bowkera.com/images/NorthStar/Advantage.jpg)
* Panasonic JR-200: jr200.jpg (http://www.btstream.com/pietro/jr200.jpg)
* Texas Instruments 99/4A: ti-994a.jpg (http://oldcomputers.net/pics/ti-994a.jpg)
* Of course, the early Crays: CrayXnIOP.jpg (http://www.spikynorman.dsl.pipex.com/craywwwstuff/Criscan/CrayXnIOP.jpg)
* IBM PS/2 Model 50: 1.jpg (http://www.osnews.com/img/19621/6/1.jpg)
* Apricot Xen: Apricot_XenXi_Sysstem_1.jpg (http://www.old-computers.com/museum/photos/Apricot_XenXi_Sysstem_1.jpg)
* Mac LC II p17s_amsterdam_mac_lc2.jpg (http://www.ski-epic.com/london_amsterdam_2005/p17s_amsterdam_mac_lc2.jpg)
* IBM PC AT: ibm_pc_at.2_small.jpg (http://brutman.com/ibm_pc_at.2_small.jpg)
* Atari 800: Atari_800_Alone.jpg (http://www.computercloset.org/Atari_800_Alone.jpg)
* Amiga (retroactively renamed to the Amiga 1000 after the release of the Amiga 500 and 2000 models), I love how there is a space for the keyboard to slide into under the computer itself: a1000.jpg (http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/amiga/h/a1000.jpg)
* Amiga 3000, the pinnacle of the Amiga series in many ways (IMO) looked great too: a3000.jpg (http://www.amigau.com/aig/a3000.jpg)
* Original Apple Macintosh, I think they were quite neat personally: 9_843-apple-macintosh.jpg (http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/05/phaidon/image/9_843-apple-macintosh.jpg)

Anyone got any more they want to add? :cool:

[Jorg]

This might become a loooooong topic..

A personal favorite:
HP 9000/300 Series (http://www.hpmuseum.net/image.php?file=1106)

Then not a system, but the Televideo 920 terminal (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Televideo925Terminal.jpg/250px-Televideo925Terminal.jpg)
Maybe I'm biased by spending too much time with it..

And as the bottom of the list also needs to be filled:
Atari TT (http://www.homecomputer.de/images/machines/Atari_TT030_Large.jpg)

Oh.. NeXT (http://www.isinet.it/~marco/unix/img/next_station.jpg)

@TroyW: LOL @ LCII picture: which street is it? I could pick it up!

[CP/M User]

TroyW wrote:

* Hewlett-Packard HP200: HP_200lx_System_s1.jpg (http://www.old-computers.com/MUSEUM/photos/HP_200lx_System_s1.jpg)

Wrong System unfortunately - the book I have calls it a Hewlett-Packard HP200, though it's also known as the HP 9816 elsewhere! :-o

http://www.old-computers.com/museum/photos/HP_9816_System_1.jpg

* NEC PC8000

Sorry that's my mistake (because the book calls it a PC8000!) - it's actually a NEC PC-8001A

http://www.computercloset.org/NEC_PC-8001A.jpg

[TroyW]

This might become a loooooong topic..

@TroyW: LOL @ LCII picture: which street is it? I could pick it up!

If it generates some interest, that can only be a good thing, right?

And no idea where it is, that was on the first page of the results of the google image search for mac lc ii.

[curtis]

I agree with the Amiga 1000. Very slick design that was even carried over to the Commodore 128D.

The Cray DEFINITELY belongs in this list also.

I would like to add the Olivetti M10. That thing is just sexy to me!
http://www.suddenlink.net/pages/curtismc/olim10.gif

[barythrin]

The cray-1 besides the C design for "Cray" being a chair was awesome, though not sure how often I'd want anyone sitting on my million dollar server lol. The power supplies were in the chair part IRC.

The Kitchen computer was a real thing, they have one that I took some pictures of at the Computer History Museum in San Jose, CA. Honestly it's one of the most mind bogling systems I've really seen or heard of, love the concept but it was about $10000 for one so who knows if they ever sold any lol. I'm amazed at the specs though for the era to be honest.

That's an interesting show of a 5150 also, never seen a monitor stand under the IBM monitor.

IBM 5100 (I love the look)
Altair/IMSAI (both look very nice though as much as I'd not like to admit the IMSAI probably leads for actual looks with the colored buttons)
TI CC-40 (was so cool I went and got one when I saw it at another museum (wow, didn't actually know it was TI's first portable system?))
CBM PET 2001 (I think has such a cool look to it also.)

hm.. honestly there are so many cool ones out there lol, hence my problem as a collector and admirer, so many neat looking systems out there that I see and want to check out.

[curtis]

TI CC-40 (was so cool I went and got one when I saw it at another museum (wow, didn't actually know it was TI's first portable system?))


Actually, the CC-40 wasn't TI's first portable. They also had the TI Portable Professional Computer, aka PC luggable! Bit of a quirky DOS compatible. Weighed a TON!

[barythrin]

Interesting, thanks I put the question mark there because I wasn't sure, just saw it on 2 websites.
http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=237

You're right about the TI Portable, though not sure which came out first.
http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=472

Anyway, interesting note as well having a color monitor.

[curtis]

Hmm, could have sworn the Pro came out a year or 2 before the 40.

Don't think the Pro lasted very long. Know the 40 didn't. It got caught up in the Home Computer Wars and was axed along with the 99/4A, 99/2, and 99/8.

Then again, in a manner of speaking, the 40 was re-incarnated as the TI-74, so then you COULD say it lasted longer!

[Mike Chambers]

i agree with the Playstation 2 in the list, it is a sexy little machine. i use it more often for computing than gaming.

i would put my 'BMI' 8088 box in the list. i think it's darn sexy for it's time.

i dont have a pic of the box, and my camera battery is dead but it basically looks like an IBM XT. same tank-like case and everything. looks sleek and you could drop this thing off of a building and it would still work minus the hard drive.

[Bill_Loguidice]

Amazing how bad the accompanying photos in the article made the systems in question look. Anyway, I think it's a bit of a subjective and unnecessary feature. I think far more interesting would be the top 10 ugliest, and even that would be rather tough, since most systems have some appeal in my opinion.

And, yeah, including a PS2 is silly. Just make a separate console list...

[Toshiba_Collector]

The original Microsoft Xbox can run Linux.

[Bill_Loguidice]

The original Microsoft Xbox can run Linux.

Not officially and I can't even say I would call the original Xbox all that attractive. I do like how the 360 looks though and probably place it ahead of the PS3, but behind the Wii.

[Toshiba_Collector]

Not officially and I can't even say I would call the original Xbox all that attractive. I do like how the 360 looks though and probably place it ahead of the PS3, but behind the Wii.

The 360 is plagued by problems such as the Red Ring of Death (RRoD) though. I'm on my third 360 already.

[Bill_Loguidice]

The 360 is plagued by problems such as the Red Ring of Death (RRoD) though. I'm on my third 360 already.

I'm on my second after mine failing shortly after launch. That's neither her nor there though in regards to looks...

[Toshiba_Collector]

I'm on my second after mine failing shortly after launch. That's neither her nor there though in regards to looks...

I just got my third one about a week ago.

[denton.burr]

The only one I care for is #10 (the first one), but I'm afraid I wouldn't make it thru the first day, given the way I handle my 12" chef's knife. I'd end up impaling the poor thing, ending it's life along with my own. The work surface is just too small.

--T

LMAO! ;)

I thought the H316 was different looking?! Maybe there were other models.

I believe the H316 functioned as the IMPs in the old Arpanet that used NCP. I could be wrong. My memory is going.

Honeywell was big on red. ;-) The Honeywell store in the basement of the Tyson's Corner Federal Systems Operations (FSO) even sold Honeywell lighters that were all red.

The Cray as furniture is the coolest in my personal opinion but the H316 certainly predates it!

Best Regards,

Denton

[Mr.Amiga500]

Ok, how about we come up with our own list. Obviously it doesn't have to be limited to just 10.

So far we have (not in any particular order):

* Atari 1200XL: 1200xlmain.jpg (http://www.myoldcomputers.com/museum/comp/museumpics/1200xlmain.jpg)
* Corvus Concept: Corvus_Concept_System_1.jpg (http://www.old-computers.com/museum/photos/Corvus_Concept_System_1.jpg)
* Epson QX-10: corner.jpg (http://www.obsoletecomputermuseum.org/qx-10/corner.jpg)
* Hewlett-Packard HP200: HP_200lx_System_s1.jpg (http://www.old-computers.com/MUSEUM/photos/HP_200lx_System_s1.jpg)
* NEC PC8000
* North Star Advantage: Advantage.jpg (http://www.bowkera.com/images/NorthStar/Advantage.jpg)
* Panasonic JR-200: jr200.jpg (http://www.btstream.com/pietro/jr200.jpg)
* Texas Instruments 99/4A: ti-994a.jpg (http://oldcomputers.net/pics/ti-994a.jpg)
* Of course, the early Crays: CrayXnIOP.jpg (http://www.spikynorman.dsl.pipex.com/craywwwstuff/Criscan/CrayXnIOP.jpg)
* IBM PS/2 Model 50: 1.jpg (http://www.osnews.com/img/19621/6/1.jpg)
* Apricot Xen: Apricot_XenXi_Sysstem_1.jpg (http://www.old-computers.com/museum/photos/Apricot_XenXi_Sysstem_1.jpg)
* Mac LC II p17s_amsterdam_mac_lc2.jpg (http://www.ski-epic.com/london_amsterdam_2005/p17s_amsterdam_mac_lc2.jpg)
* IBM PC AT: ibm_pc_at.2_small.jpg (http://brutman.com/ibm_pc_at.2_small.jpg)
* Atari 800: Atari_800_Alone.jpg (http://www.computercloset.org/Atari_800_Alone.jpg)
* Amiga (retroactively renamed to the Amiga 1000 after the release of the Amiga 500 and 2000 models), I love how there is a space for the keyboard to slide into under the computer itself: a1000.jpg (http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/amiga/h/a1000.jpg)
* Amiga 3000, the pinnacle of the Amiga series in many ways (IMO) looked great too: a3000.jpg (http://www.amigau.com/aig/a3000.jpg)
* Original Apple Macintosh, I think they were quite neat personally: 9_843-apple-macintosh.jpg (http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/05/phaidon/image/9_843-apple-macintosh.jpg)

Anyone got any more they want to add? :cool:

I'd add the Atari 800XL. I've got both the 1200XL and 800XL. The 1200XL might look better in pictures, but in real life, the 800XL just feels so compact, solid and well-balanced. The top of the 1200XL is too long and feels a bit flimsy.

I would put the Amiga 500 in the list, but the case is a little too cheap and beige. Otherwise, it looks pretty sleek. (I'm using an Amiga 500 to type this.)

I wouldn't add the Amiga 3000 either. I've got the A3000 sitting beside my A500 and A1000 and the A1000 looks best.

The Apple IIc is sleek and compact, but has an ugly grey keyboard. If only it had a nice keyboard, it would make my list.

I might also add the Commodore PET 4032 and Burroughs Icon. The Timex Sinclair/ZX81 looks nice (even though it's a piece of crap)

For terminals, I like the look of the Digital VT100 and Lear Siegler ADM-3A.

[tezza]

I'd add the Atari 800XL. I've got both the 1200XL and 800XL. The 1200XL might look better in pictures, but in real life, the 800XL just feels so compact, solid and well-balanced. The top of the 1200XL is too long and feels a bit flimsy..

Yes, I was surprised at how much I liked this computer when I finally got my hands on one (just last year). It has a nice solid and robust feel to it. Pictures don't do it justice.

The Timex Sinclair/ZX81 looks nice (even though it's a piece of crap)

Agreed. lol. I loath those toys with a passion. But then, I even only played with one AFTER I had a 48k disk-based System-80 (Video Genie), so I was working backwards. For the time I guess it was value for money at the price.
I'm sure those little Sinclair/Times machines ignite nostalgia in many.

Tez

[nige the hippy]

I know I'm wandering a little O/T but the ZXs did more than ignite a little nostalgia, they started the UK's games programming bubble, as unlike any other machine at the time, they were cheap enough for (only fairly well off) schoolboys to buy, and programmable enough for a complete novice to make headway.

[Ole Juul]

It would have been better and I would be very pleased if i could at least one of The top ten most beautiful computers. And to think that they are not expensive. In a lifetime i guess. Or hard work.

Even further off topic: irving, what computers do you like? I'm also wondering about your sig - is that what you do? It just looks suspicious, that's all.

[Sharkonwheels]

yeah, I'm chiming in late....so SUE ME! :)

I dunno what that dude at osnews had in his crackpipe...

SGI should have at least 3 machines on the list, pick your poison:

Tezro

http://www.jaist.ac.jp/iscenter-new/old/cs/tezro/tezro-2.jpg

Prism

http://www.linuxjournal.com/files/linuxjournal.com/linuxjournal/articles/082/8284/8284f4.png

Indigo

http://www.futuretech.blinkenlights.nl/indigo/cadcam03.jpg

indy

http://www.digibarn.com/collections/articles/sgi-indy/index_files/pcwindy.jpg

and the ubiquitous O2:


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/SGI_O2.jpg

Even their dang SERVERS are pretty as hell....check out Onyx2's and Origin 2000's!
Especially the full-rack setups!

http://storage.g-lenerz.de/images/sgistuff/onyx2/onyx2_2200_corner.jpg

http://www.fz-juelich.de/jsc/datapool/virtualreality/DSC04192_www.jpg

Oh - and have you seen the new Cray CX1?

http://www.cray.com/Assets/Images/products/cx1_photo.jpg


Trying to convince my bosses that we REALLY REALY need to have at least 1-2 of those

IBM "butterfly" thinkpad

http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2008/02/4188-IBM701c2.jpeg

nice 4 "slice" Acorn Risc PC

http://atterer.net/acorn/riscpc4slice.jpeg

:mrgreen:

T

[linemanduke]

i had a 701c beautiful machine mines somewhere up there now all i have lkeft is a memory module, a brand new battery and a brand new port replicator
(if anyone needs them they are for sale)

[jrguillett2]

i nominate the VT05 it is so modern for 1970 it could work as a computer today

http://research.microsoft.com/~gbell/digital/timeline/photos/vt05.jpg

[pontus]

i nominate the VT05 it is so modern for 1970 it could work as a computer today

http://research.microsoft.com/~gbell/digital/timeline/photos/vt05.jpg

It's only a terminal, but yes it's _gorgeous_

[BuggZ]

IMHO the X-Box 360 looks a little too much like the slim-line Dell Optiplex systems, just in other colors. Not saying they look bad, just not really very original.

[Luzur]

one thing i wonder about is why they included a Playstation? its a freekin' console, not a computer! sheesh.

switch the PS for a PET and it will be way better. :)

[barythrin]

lol that threw me when I first read it also, course a few systems we had were glorified consoles with keyboards too ;o) Plus argumentatively (oh yeah.. I'll make up that word and use it) most consoles today are just computers without the OS features, and just run more streamlined code.

OT as well but remember when Iraq was restricted by the UN from buying any computers because we didn't want them having any supercomputer power during the war. They bought a few thousahd or so ps2's instead lol (cluster em together and you have quite a nice super computer). (http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=21118)

[wmmullaney]

At least the PS2 and the PS/2 shouldn't be on the list, replace it with a Kenbak or something. :)

The Orb was pretty neat:
Orb info (http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=355)

The CBM Pet definitely deserves a place near the top.

If your a hardware nerd (like me), you'd like the KIM-1, Altair 8800, Apple I, DG Nova, and many others.

Point is, incomplete list.

[tezza]

The CBM Pet definitely deserves a place near the top.


Now I own one of these, I must admit to loving the design.

We tend to forget how revolutionary these must have seemed when they first came out. I mean, a stand-alone combined keyboard, VDU and computer all in one which the individual could afford.

Quite a radical concept in the day.

Tez

[wmmullaney]

This one has charicter: instructor 50 (http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=1029)

Trs 80 model 2

pdp 8

cray

funkey looking one (http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=1134)

I'm going to compose my own list, tell me anything you think.

[wmmullaney]

Cray

PET 2001

Orb

PDP/8

Kenbak-1

Macbook Air

IBM PC

Kitchen computer

SGI Prism

Altair 8800

Some Ideas for a list, in no particular order.

[Chuck(G)]

For being just plain twisted, I don't think you could beat the wiring of the Cray 3 "brick"

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Cray-3_processor_brick.jpg