ZPC-GX31 : Computer Packed Inside a Keyboard
March 25th, 2008 Posted in Computer Hardware, Desktop, Gadget, General, Laptop, Technology
Computer inside keyboard? yea its true, People always wanted something new, and Manufacturer always wants to serve something new. so here is pc in keyboard the Zero-Footprint-PC codenamed ZPC-GX31. This is All In One pc, its powered by an Intel Core 2 Quad CPU, 1GB LAN and DVI interface, 4GB of DDR2/667MHz RAM, Audio Inputs/Outputs, PS/2 inputs, 4 USB ports, Ethernet Jack, optical drive DVD+/-RW or CDRW-DVD, a Serial ATA HD, Intel Graphics Card, and few fans to keep the unit cool. however the spaces are customizable, ZPC-GX31 priced at $699.00 to $1099.
March 25th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
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.
March 25th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
what exactly is new about that? computers used to look like this 25 years ago.
March 25th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Something new? I have seen such in late 80′ it was called… Amiga500 or Commodore64
March 25th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
So, /basically/, it’s a laptop without a screen?
March 25th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
*cough* Old pc’s used be like that *cough*
But yeah, its quite an interesting object in todays market.
March 25th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
I love this, but it isn’t really a new Idea
March 25th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
This looks cool I always imagined that something like that would happen. Not a bad machine either for its size.
March 25th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Very Nice. Does it have bluetooth?
March 25th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
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
March 25th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
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…..
March 25th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
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.
March 25th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
So Atari ST!
March 25th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
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!
March 25th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Reminds me of the old amiga models.
March 25th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
wow that is the coolest thing ever
March 25th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
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.
March 25th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
I liked it when it was called a laptop.
March 25th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
cool. Does it come with Linux? =)
March 25th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
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.
March 25th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
New? Seriously? Spectrum ZX-80 anyone?
Give me a break.
March 25th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
As never seen before Commadore 64
March 25th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Ummm… most home computers of the early to mid 80′s were built into one unit like this..
March 26th, 2008 at 12:03 am
its the commodore amiga all over again
March 26th, 2008 at 12:10 am
awesome dude but how com u don’t show a monitor so some idiots will know it can show stuff just kidden haha
March 26th, 2008 at 12:28 am
2008 Commodore c64?
March 26th, 2008 at 12:53 am
wow thats awesome!!
March 26th, 2008 at 1:08 am
Wait till you see the screen, which, of course, is in the mouse.
March 26th, 2008 at 1:52 am
this computer is sooooo cool…i’m guessing you just hook it up to a monitor?…might be kinda hard to repair though
March 26th, 2008 at 2:39 am
omg, it’s like a laptop without a screen
March 26th, 2008 at 2:55 am
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.
March 26th, 2008 at 3:09 am
Just 4MB RAM???
Or is it a typo for 4GB?
March 26th, 2008 at 3:14 am
What’s it called? Commodore 64 2008?
March 26th, 2008 at 4:24 am
Old design again in Today’s market, thats a New, Nothing Else
March 26th, 2008 at 6:44 am
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.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:40 am
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 !
March 26th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Did no one else notice the credit card reader? It looks like this is targeted at kiosks.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:12 am
Very nice.. first ones are always a mess.. expect to get better versions in the next couple o’ years.. intriguing though.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:44 am
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?
March 27th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I love the little purple ps/2 port on the back. just in case if you need more keyboard powa!
March 28th, 2008 at 4:24 am
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
March 30th, 2008 at 9:41 am
my old MSX looked just like that
March 31st, 2008 at 11:01 pm
not forgetting the amstrad cpc 464 of course ^-^
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:49 am
Uhh.. so? I had a TI-99 in the 80′s that was a “computer packed inside a keyboard”
April 5th, 2008 at 12:48 am
Very good specs tho…wonder how u would lug a monitor around for it…cant see the practicality…but deathly power monger..
April 5th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Just dont spill coffee on the keyboard
May 3rd, 2008 at 3:55 am
What a coincidence: My laptop’s keyboard also has a computer inside! Apparently, this idea has been around since the Mac 2c – maybe earlier.
May 14th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
i did
July 18th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
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…
July 18th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
hey Brain, Thats Great IDEA…
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:09 am
This Screams Vic 20, probably die just as fast lol
September 1st, 2008 at 9:13 pm
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.
September 18th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
omg, this is photoshopped!
November 6th, 2008 at 4:08 am
mmm…what happens if the keyboard breaks?
this thing it kinda accident prone.
verynice though.
November 7th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
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.
November 8th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Retro=new? Well, that’s certainly news to me.
November 10th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Looks like my A1200 only uglier… it has btter specs tho : D
November 11th, 2008 at 9:36 am
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!!!
December 7th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Why… why would anyone need this? It’s just an inconvenient laptop. o_O