02/28/2006 Archived Entry: "stimulant"

Joe sent me the following video detailing how a Microsoft designed iPod retail box would look like. It’s clever, funny, well-made, but ultimately untrue. While the final box shown does look very much like a generic designed-by-committee MS product, there are a few things we have to keep in mind.

First is that the iPod, and all Apple merchandise, is a lifestyle product. Aside from the quality of their stuff, you buy from Apple for the overall image that they’ve been building for the past few years. Everything they design is thought out from colour, shape, and feel to convey a hipster image. Microsoft, on the other hand, is not about a lifestyle choice. Some smartass would argue that it’s a choice to lead a lifestyle of bugs and security leaks, yeah well that’s not what I’m talking about.

Secondly, the iPod and Windows-style retail box serve very different functions. The iPod packaging has to compete with all other music players and personal electronic gadgets for our money and attention. Windows exists in a completely different situation. No one goes to FutureShop to look at the Windows box while comparing it to a Red Hat Linux box before making their choice; their bed was made long before walking through those sliding glass doors.

Last but not least, MS is capable of some incredible industrial and graphic design. In the late 90s, their Sidewinder products combined style and function to be the best PC controllers available. Ignoring the monstrous Xbox, the 360 is a great exercise in inconspicuous design and much closer to Apple’s lifestyle product marketing approach. The 360’s controller also happens to be very close to the ultimate possibility in modern game pads.

So there you have it, don’t believe everything you see on youtube. Or something.

Replies: 16 comments

The 360 is HIDEOS, and is probably the same size as the Xbox if you take into account the power supply.

Posted by Zamir @ 02/28/2006 10:49 AM EST

HIDEOS = High Intensity Digital Entertainment Output System

I like how all three third generation consoles sort of look alike - much more similar than the XBOX, PS2, and GameCube. I will have shiny silver/white entertainment componants!

Posted by Darryl @ 02/28/2006 11:11 AM EST

But you won't be able to stack them!

Posted by Zamir @ 02/28/2006 12:04 PM EST

since when do you care about stacking? if you wanted that you would have gotten rackmount audio/video/computer equipment and stuffed it all into a cabinet in your basement. (or sorner closet for those of us in apartments)

Now in reality, stacking would be nice for the space savings, but many of the current consoles/equipment requires access to the top of the device anyways. The day they invented flip top lids for CD/DVD drives was the end of all utilitarian simplistic design.

/me virtually glares at his gamecube at his apartment.

Posted by sbdep @ 02/28/2006 03:17 PM EST

You can't stack them, but you can have them all standing side by side - which if you get some slim speakers would give you an awesome looking entertainment center. And three vertical consoles would be almost the same size as three stacked horizontally.

Also from a heating/cooling point of view, you really don't want them stacked anyways.
Now to get a big screen tv to play them on!

Posted by Darryl @ 02/28/2006 04:19 PM EST

You can't stack them, but you can have them all standing side by side - which if you get some slim speakers would give you an awesome looking entertainment center. And three vertical consoles would be almost the same size as three stacked horizontally.

Also from a heating/cooling point of view, you really don't want them stacked anyways.
Now to get a big screen tv to play them on!

Posted by Darryl @ 02/28/2006 04:19 PM EST

I liked the idea of writing on cock and porn better, Thai...

That's my random thought for the day.

Posted by Kathleen @ 03/01/2006 12:19 AM EST

Happy Birthday, Thai!!!!

Posted by Kathleen @ 03/01/2006 12:21 AM EST

you guys are so off-topic =(

Posted by Rayne @ 03/01/2006 01:29 AM EST

MS "incredible industrial and graphic design" is in large thanks to outsourcing that responsibility to third party companies. 360 as an example. ;)

BTW, it is possible to stack a 360 and ps3, as the convex/concave nature of the hardware compliments each other. Assuming Sony sticks with their design prototypes. How well they stack is up for debate. :)

Posted by djkimothy @ 03/01/2006 10:05 AM EST

Stacking?! Think of all the controller cables bundling up together...unless they're all wireless.

Posted by dAN @ 03/01/2006 12:57 PM EST

Apparently they are. :) That's if you can/are willing to afford wireless controllers.

Posted by djkimothy @ 03/01/2006 01:46 PM EST

I have a wireless controller for my box (not a 360), but its the controller I use the least (and I'll only use it if the other 3 are taken up...:P).

Posted by dAN @ 03/01/2006 03:56 PM EST

Uhh, guys? The 360 is warm enough. And given the vents are on the sides when vertical, stacking anything with in horizontally will completely cut off it's air intake. Now, I don't buy into this stupid overheating/melting disks thing, because none that I have sold has come back, but cutting off air circulation on any machine is a bad idea, esspecially when you add another heat producing object in contact with it.

And Thai, off-topic can be fun! Deal with it! *grins*

Posted by Kathleen @ 03/01/2006 10:18 PM EST

I think the issue was not the console overheating but the ginormous powersupply. The QA on these systems is what makes this a joke. And if customers did have a problem, they'd likely be going to MS instead.

Also, air circulation is a sad excuse, my first generation PS2 still works comfortably in a cramped environment. As does my TV, which generates more heat.

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