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ZPC-GX31 : Computer Packed Inside a Keyboard

March 25th, 2008 Posted in Computer Hardware, Desktop, Gadget, General, Laptop, Technology
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58 Responses to “ZPC-GX31 : Computer Packed Inside a Keyboard”

  1. Jake Says:

    I’m not saying that there isn’t anything new about this design, but if you’re saying the fact that the bulk of the PC is built into the keyboard is new, it’s not. Regardless of the modern computing companies to do this, the best selling computer ever was built into the keyboard: the Commodore 64.

    Besides this, almost all laptops have the bulk of the computer built into the keyboard. You could always rip the LCD off and use a laptop the same way, though I’m not quite sure why you’d want to.


  2. pock Says:

    what exactly is new about that? computers used to look like this 25 years ago.


  3. dlvoy Says:

    Something new? I have seen such in late 80′ it was called… Amiga500 or Commodore64 :)


  4. Darkfrost Says:

    So, /basically/, it’s a laptop without a screen?


  5. Zalifer Says:

    *cough* Old pc’s used be like that *cough*

    But yeah, its quite an interesting object in todays market.


  6. Tommy Says:

    I love this, but it isn’t really a new Idea


  7. Justin Says:

    This looks cool I always imagined that something like that would happen. Not a bad machine either for its size.


  8. Walter Says:

    Very Nice. Does it have bluetooth?


  9. roy Says:

    iv got something very like this except its also got a screen built into it.they have been out for years. there are called LAPTOPS


  10. shrimant Says:

    ok…..so its basically a laptop sans screen… just way more ugly.

    i fail to see the point of this. why wouldnt you just get like a dell vostro with about the same specs for a little bit more…..


  11. Alanmelon Says:

    Not exactly a new concept. How about the Amiga 500 or Atari ST and most home computers that went before them? “computers in a keyboard” date back to the 80s.


  12. marcel Says:

    So Atari ST!


  13. Peter AB Says:

    At last, my ‘first’ computer re-issued :-)
    My first ‘Micro Bee’ was just like this! and it was so easy to use.
    Obviously this has updated bits in it but the idea is identical.
    I like it very much.
    Incidentally my Micro Bee is still working and is used occasionally to recover old material (from the 1980’s)that I want to refer to (from floppy discs!)
    Oh dear, Have I been in the IT industry that long!


  14. ing Says:

    Reminds me of the old amiga models.


  15. wow Says:

    wow that is the coolest thing ever


  16. Kilgore Trout Says:

    Add a display that folds like a laptop one, get rid of the hard drive for a solid state one, like a 32gb sd card, not one of those expensive ssd’s and you got my vote for the best idea in a long time.


  17. yikes Says:

    I liked it when it was called a laptop.


  18. wigee Says:

    cool. Does it come with Linux? =)


  19. Cook66 Says:

    Wow nice. I would pass on that mousepad, but other than that this is awesome.
    When someone makes the roll-it-up screen I will get one.


  20. Ebony Says:

    New? Seriously? Spectrum ZX-80 anyone?

    Give me a break.


  21. Erik Says:

    As never seen before Commadore 64


  22. Ben Says:

    Ummm… most home computers of the early to mid 80’s were built into one unit like this..


  23. colonelsausage Says:

    its the commodore amiga all over again


  24. josh Says:

    awesome dude but how com u don’t show a monitor so some idiots will know it can show stuff just kidden haha


  25. Jerry Says:

    2008 Commodore c64?


  26. vishor goyal Says:

    wow thats awesome!!


  27. Deep Blue Says:

    Wait till you see the screen, which, of course, is in the mouse.


  28. mike Says:

    this computer is sooooo cool…i’m guessing you just hook it up to a monitor?…might be kinda hard to repair though


  29. Anonymous Says:

    omg, it’s like a laptop without a screen


  30. felton barch Says:

    yeah, so when the keyboard wears out you throw the whole thing away. And what if i like a “natural” keyboard?

    Wrong bundling … wrong modularity ….. wrong portability ….. kinda stupid when you think about it.


  31. Webby Says:

    Just 4MB RAM???
    Or is it a typo for 4GB?


  32. raindogmx Says:

    What’s it called? Commodore 64 2008?


  33. ravi Says:

    Old design again in Today’s market, thats a New, Nothing Else :)


  34. Reid Says:

    Firstly, I dont remember those old machines being this compact. you’re forgetting the huge block of computer innards that extended way past the back edge of the keyboard. If you’re fine with a desktop, but need to save space, and want something sort of retro, then what’s the problem? I think there’s a niche for this.


  35. fried smash weasel Says:

    All the best pc’s of the 80’s were in a keyboard. Nothing new. In the monitor would really be more practicable for the sort of application these types of computers get. Cool retro design though !


  36. Nathan Says:

    Did no one else notice the credit card reader? It looks like this is targeted at kiosks.


  37. William Says:

    Very nice.. first ones are always a mess.. expect to get better versions in the next couple o’ years.. intriguing though.


  38. Carpool Guy Says:

    oh look, the amiga 500 is back! where do i plug in the external floppy drives? how much do you pay for a 512kB memory extension card? :)


  39. Timmy Says:

    I love the little purple ps/2 port on the back. just in case if you need more keyboard powa!


  40. St Broadrick is in Antartica Says:

    Not a bad idea.. i could see it being used for office machines in a business.. saves a heap of space.. each for their own i guess


  41. Sid Vicious Says:

    my old MSX looked just like that :)


  42. edd Says:

    not forgetting the amstrad cpc 464 of course ^-^


  43. Dustin Says:

    Uhh.. so? I had a TI-99 in the 80’s that was a “computer packed inside a keyboard”


  44. MaXiMuS Says:

    Very good specs tho…wonder how u would lug a monitor around for it…cant see the practicality…but deathly power monger..


  45. OwenCM Says:

    Just dont spill coffee on the keyboard ;)


  46. Jeff Says:

    What a coincidence: My laptop’s keyboard also has a computer inside! Apparently, this idea has been around since the Mac 2c – maybe earlier.


  47. reply to jake Says:

    i did :)


  48. Brian Says:

    I’ve got an idea. What if somebody built the computer into the moniter. That would make the keyboard light and it could even be wireless. The mouse could be wireless as well. The could call it iMac…


  49. ravi Says:

    hey Brain, Thats Great IDEA…


  50. Ghost Says:

    This Screams Vic 20, probably die just as fast lol


  51. SuperSparky Says:

    Ever since the Apple I, there have been computers like this. Atari, Commodore, Texas Instruments, Acorn, Apple, Sinclair, Timex, Oric,etc. etc. all had keyboard sized computers.

    There were many “all in one” style computers with built-in keyboards, many of them being not much bugger than a keyboard existed:

    Atari – 600XL, 800XL, 520ST, 1040ST(E), Falcon
    Commodore – VIC20, 64, 128, Amiga 500
    Apple – IIc
    Texas Instruments – TI99/4a
    Sinclair – ZX80, ZX81, ZXSpectrum, ZXSpectrum 128, QL
    Timex – TS1000, TS1500, TS2000, TS2048, TS2068
    and so on….

    This is not a new idea. However, there were milestones. The first to have a built-in mass storage was the Sinclair QL. The first to have a hard drive, built-in, was the Atari Falcon. So I guess the first to have a hard drive and DVD drive is this unit. Big deal.

    Want to know why the all-in-one design kept failing? Simple, lack of expansion, and parts would keep coming loose due to vibration from typing. Any socketed chips will need to be held down firmly with metal brackets. Atari learned this with their 1040ST line. Let’s not forget heat.


  52. adam Says:

    omg, this is photoshopped!


  53. Carlos Says:

    mmm…what happens if the keyboard breaks?

    this thing it kinda accident prone.

    verynice though.


  54. Chicago Condo for Sale Says:

    I guess I was too young when the original came out. This is new to me. It looks nice, but I think my blackberry has more power then “the keyboard”. Somebody out there likes it. What’s next, the hammerhead cell phones? The 80’s is coming back.


  55. Lars Says:

    Retro=new? Well, that’s certainly news to me.


  56. Softus Says:

    Looks like my A1200 only uglier… it has btter specs tho : D


  57. Moriko Says:

    The computer i got after my spectrum used the same concept it was a pc 200 from sinclair. I miss that machine, it still works!!!


  58. asfaasfd Says:

    Why… why would anyone need this? It’s just an inconvenient laptop. o_O


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