CHIEFTEC Launches L-type All-in-One PC Chassis

[malware]

Taiwan based high-quality desktop and server chassis manufacturer CHIEFTEC, has today launched its bizzare CHIEFTEC L-type PC case, that might be very interesing for some of our audience. As the name suggests, the case has L-shaped design that allows you to install all your hardware components and then mount a flatscreen LCD monitor to its front. The case design is far from futuristic, but it will do the work if that's the solution you need. The L-type can house ATX or mATX motherboards, has room for seven PCI slots, 3x 3.5-inch HDDs, and a single 5.25-inch optical-drive bay. It measures 255mm x 370mm x 418mm, weighs 6kg, and features a front-facing rail that allows a mounted LCD monitor to be height adjusted. The case design allows for various monitors to be installed, the monitor only needs standard VESA mounting mechanism. Cooling is provided from a 120mm 800rpm exhaust fan, along with air holes to the sides and rear of the case. CHIEFTEC does expect the L-type to reach market in January 2009 at the reasonable price of £50.



Source: HEXUS.net

[NamesDontMatter]

I dont see much user for this personally? I always thought of the monitor not being directly attached the the tower a huge advantage? Especially if you have a lot of things moving in the tower. I see this as more of a step backward, then forward.

The LCD deserves a more flexible mount to the chasis, maybe one of those wall mount type extensions that lets you move it around quite a bit. My wall mount at home allows me to move it throughout a 180 degree radius, thats what this baby needs.

[dazed554]

I agree.
Who wants to have their case sitting behind their monitor like that?

[lemonadesoda]

That product designed needs to be fired. Any MINUTE of corporate salary spent on such a silly device.

1./ It's not transportable (in any practical way)

2./ The screen is below spec for most "power" users, and the PC size is too big for netsters (think iMac)

3./ It's going to be noise in your face

4./ It requires a BIG DEEP STRONG table

5./ There is a noodle of cable spaghetti

6./ Looks like a toilet

7./ Is just WAITING for a cup of coffee to fall INTO the PSU grills



Time for product manager to fall on sword...

You know, this is what I call BRAND DESTRUCTION. I will now look at ANY chieftec product with great scrutiny, and they will start with -1 handicap when I compare them with other brands.

[Mistral]

Yes, reprimand the design team on this... thing...

It's an aesthetics and ergonomics disaster in one not so tight package. I can't think of any use of it that's not already much better fulfilled by another a superior product.

[robodude666]

The design makes sense. I mean, it is a PC Chassis, not an all-in-one prebuilt computer. An all-in-one like the iMac or Dell's or HP's would require special laptop-only components and everything built into the motherboard with limited upgradable parts. This is a chassis after all, meaning you can use any standard ATX parts in it.

I would, however, agree that the design is an epic fail. That case is the same as buying a regular case and an external optical drive and USB hub and sticking them under your monitor.

[tonyd223]

It's upgradeable - that's the whole story...

You know how cute the all in one iMac's are? And the HP touch screen thing? And if you are old enough (and UK based) the Elonex 32" lcd TV which had a PC built into the back? Well, can see a place for those machines in that they are pretty cute, but under powered and get out of date quickly as they tend to be build from laptop parts.

So, I think the whole idea of this is the same sort of market, but upgradeable - so aimed at peeps like us who can either build a PC from bits hiding under the bed, or build a really tailored machine.

Of course - it is ugly as hell, likely to be noisy, heavy, looks like poor ventilation... but I think I understand...

[InnocentCriminal]

Originally Posted by lemonadesoda

That product designed needs to be fired. Any MINUTE of corporate salary spent on such a silly device.

1./ It's not transportable (in any practical way)

2./ The screen is below spec for most "power" users, and the PC size is too big for netsters (think iMac)

3./ It's going to be noise in your face

4./ It requires a BIG DEEP STRONG table

5./ There is a noodle of cable spaghetti

6./ Looks like a toilet

7./ Is just WAITING for a cup of coffee to fall INTO the PSU grills



Time for product manager to fall on sword...

You know, this is what I call BRAND DESTRUCTION. I will now look at ANY chieftec product with great scrutiny, and they will start with -1 handicap when I compare them with other brands.

Best post I've ever read!

[lemonadesoda]

LOL. Sorry about all the typos!

[stanhemi]

LOOK LIKE A TOILET hahahah too funy lemonadesoda

[Octavean]

It looks like a Low profile design which means it can Not support full size bracket expansion cards.

Still I think its a marketable product just not to most people here in these enthusiast oriented forums. Clearly its not ment for us. This case was not ment for mega-sized HSFs, H2O cooling, massive fans and so on,....hence not for us. That doesnt mean that it has no niche though and that doesnt mean that they couldn't have done a better job of it becuase clearly they could have.

Now, if Chieftec were to design a replacement stand for HDTVs that had a stealth PC case I would be interested but this,.....

[cheesemonkey]

this looks ugly.... where would you have this??

[Kreij]

I am usually not too critical of new products but that abomination is a true tower of suck.

Failure, epic failure.

[Analog_Manner]

You guys can point out flaws all day long, but the hospitals where I live are buying hundreds of little boxes like these. They are everywhere. They say "Lenovo" on them though.

[Octavean]

Ugly as sin, I agree,....

[Kreij]

Originally Posted by Analog_Manner

You guys can point out flaws all day long, but the hospitals where I live are buying hundreds of little boxes like these. They are everywhere. They say "Lenovo" on them though.

You see any big red crosses around here?

I could see why they might be a good fit for a hospital. They are big, heavy, hard to steal (an most likely too ugly to temp anyone), and if you put a touch screen on it, it would fit the need.

That being said we tend to view things from a slightly different perspective here on TPU.

[jydie]

Hmmm... I never seem to be part of the 'in crowd'. LOL. I actually think this case does have some good points. I doubt that a 120mm/800rpm fan would be noisy at all. And most motherboards can throttle down the CPU fan if you are doing simple things like web browsing. So, I think it could offer a very quiet computing experience. The design is going to keep the hot air away from the PSU and CPU, since they would be near the bottom. In fact, if you had a micro-atx motherboard in there, then the hot air that does build up in the case would have little impact on the hardware since the top 3+ inches of the case would be empty.

OK... I will admit, that it is VERY ugly from the side!! Not only that, the front view is also "blessed" with a nice view of the cables coming out from the left side. Some sort of cover on the side might have helped remedy this issue. If the price was low enough, I might be interested in this case... especially if they can come up with something to hide all the cables.

[Shooter308]

I think that case looks stupid as hell.........I for one would not buy it unless it was the only form factor left known to man....................

[NamesDontMatter]

Idea! Attach the biggest f--king monitor you can find to it! That way the uggo case disappears.

[DrPepper]

The on button has the tpu logo I suppose it would be ok for people with limited space ... but I has lots of space so it doesn't interest me.

[BOSE]

Originally Posted by tonyd223

It's upgradeable - that's the whole story...

You know how cute the all in one iMac's are? And the HP touch screen thing? And if you are old enough (and UK based) the Elonex 32" lcd TV which had a PC built into the back? Well, can see a place for those machines in that they are pretty cute, but under powered and get out of date quickly as they tend to be build from laptop parts.

So, I think the whole idea of this is the same sort of market, but upgradeable - so aimed at peeps like us who can either build a PC from bits hiding under the bed, or build a really tailored machine.

Just as any retail PC you buy is upgradable just as much as any laptop you buy. Besides VGA card, you can upgrade HDD, RAM and CPU to something better. This includes all in one Touchscreen and all in one iMacs.
On some laptops you can have two HDD's. And a couple of newer laptops, you can upgrade VGA cards as well, you wont be able to play Crysis but it will let you play some games.

Thus your theory is some what flawed, and the company has extremely failed to make a all in one PC.

[lemonadesoda]

Originally Posted by Analog_Manner

You guys can point out flaws all day long, but the hospitals where I live are buying hundreds of little boxes like these. They are everywhere. They say "Lenovo" on them though.

That thing is NOT hospital safe. It was FAIL holes everywhere, from coffee to medicine to blood... there are just too many entry holes and easy to pull out plugs. e.g. power plug.

AND hospitals like to sterilise floors, so yes, a wall mounted PC might make sense. But are there wall mounts? No. Is that plug safe? No. Is that spill safe? No. Would it take the BASH of a hospital trolley? No.

Just in case there was any doubt,

[technicks]

I think the guys at Mac did a much better job.

[BOSE]

Originally Posted by lemonadesoda

That thing is NOT hospital safe. It was FAIL holes everywhere, from coffee to medicine to blood... there are just too many entry holes and easy to pull out plugs. e.g. power plug.

AND hospitals like to sterilise floors, so yes, a wall mounted PC might make sense. But are there wall mounts? No. Is that plug safe? No. Is that spill safe? No. Would it take the BASH of a hospital trolley? No.

Agreed, and they cost a heck of a lot more because of it. Dont forget that they come with UPS as well in case there is a power lose.

[tonyd223]

ok - so I'm wrong - it's not a biggy. I agree with the hospital thing though - I seen these in hospitals http://www.redten.co.uk/displayPage.asp?page_key=26 which have touch screens on them...