An innovation I would really like is a stackable PC desktop sytem.
Each case would have connectors above and below it linking into a central 'KVM BUS' so that no matter how many different computers you stack you still can control and switch between them using only one monitor, keyboard and mouse.
Imagine a PC, a Pegasos II and a MicroA1 all neatly stacked up and sitting under my monitor.-- GadgetMaster, Oct 24 2003 "Lego block" computer http://www.halfbake...block_22_20computer [phoenix, Oct 04 2004] Lego PDA http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Lego_20PDA [phoenix, Oct 04 2004] Modular Laptop http://www.halfbake...ea/Modular_20Laptop [phoenix, Oct 04 2004] 900 Modular Computer System http://id.sjsu.edu/products/94900.htm"With the CPU in the middle, up to two expansion modules can be stack below and two SCSI device modules above..." [phoenix, Oct 04 2004] There are a wide variety of devices on the market allowing you to do just this.-- DrCurry, Oct 24 2003 He's talking about incorporating this functionality directly into the PC case itself, so that you could stack the cases on top of one another and just plug peripherals into the top one. To my knowledge this doesn't exist, the closest thing I know to it is the connector between a laptop and its "docking station".-- krelnik, Oct 24 2003 We've done the modular computer before [krelnik]. Maybe not Baked, but HalfBaked to hell and back.
We've also done: Modular remotes Modular cars Modular auto parts Modular homes Modular planes Modular batteries Modular motorcycles Modular languages and Modular computer games-- phoenix, Oct 24 2003 krelnik: I dunno, the things I've put together in data center cabinets come awfully close to this. GadgetMaster: looks like "modular children" is still up for grabs, if you're looking for inspiration...-- DrCurry, Oct 24 2003 I still don't see, even given those links, where this is baked or halfbaked. The only thing they have in common is the word "modular" and "computer". None of them incorporate KVM-style peripheral sharing amongst multiple stacked computers.-- krelnik, Oct 24 2003 What [krelnik] says. Let's make sure we are commenting on the author's idea and not a freelanced, and incorrect, interpretation.-- bristolz, Oct 24 2003 Krelnik is right. The keyword here is KVM. Anyone used a KVM switch before?
I am aware of stackable and modular systems.
I have not yet come across one that has an integrated KVM.
In essence I would build myself 2 or 3 completely different systems with differnt motherboards, CPUs and Memory etc but the case would be the same.
The Pegasos II and MicroA1 use Power-PC prcessors and are very different from Wintel PCs.
See: http://www.pegasosppc.com/ And: http://amigaworld.net/modules/features/index.php?op=r&cat_id=7&rev_id=39&sort_by
The the contacts would link together the slimline cases when stacked to make use of the single KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse)
It would be Just a case that anyone could buy and build their own computer in.
So Once again to clarify this is an mostly empty computer case that I am talking about with KVM functionality built in.-- GadgetMaster, Oct 24 2003 Use the [link], Luke.-- waugsqueke, Oct 24 2003 random, halfbakery