Tulip E-Go: Calling "new design" a rip-off of the Clamshell iBook ?

[Arnaud]

I was browsing around for Christmas shopping in The Hague (The Netherlands) when I stopped dead in my tracks. I just had a sudden deja-vu feeling, an impression of jumping backwards more than half a decade ago.

A stand in the Bijenkorf was advertizing for the Tulip Ego, by showing off on its amazing design. Some pics from their website might help you share my impressions:

http://www.ego-lifestyle.com/img/new/photos/otazu/01.jpg

http://www.ego-lifestyle.com/img/new/photos/otazu/05.jpg

http://www.ego-lifestyle.com/img/new/photos/basic/04.jpg

http://unu.magazyn.pl/images/news/138/tulip_laptop.jpg

One of the design companies on the project was quoted as saying: "The housing was often designed for a basic protection with very limited aesthetic appeal. We believe the E-Go will be the first of many to use fashion as a major focus for consumer satisfaction."

Of course, what shocked me what the similarity to what we already know:

http://www.248am.com/images/tangerineibook.jpg

http://www.diversifiedcomputers.net/used/blueberrypkg.jpg

http://www.diversifiedcomputers.net/used/pick_ibooks.jpg,

iBook G3 with the (famous) colors of the original iMac, which was started in 1999.

Ok, more seriously, the "new" product includes good specs for the PC world, and pushes the "fashion" issue further, with a "patented method" to use different materials for personalization, etc. You can even buy one incrusted with Diamonds for $200.000...

But still. New design? Really?

My, maybe I should get my old clamshell back from my brother-in-law, glue a couple of shiny thingies on top, and start a new ($400.000-a-piece) trend...

A. ;)

(NB: More info on http://www.ego-lifestyle.com/mytulip.htm or http://www.gizmag.com/go/4085/)

[Arnaud]

Ah yes, something more about the specs: engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/15/tulips-luxury-ego-laptop-sashays-its-way-to-the-usa/) states that the system's specs, not surprisingly, are pretty far off the mark from the price, with the Ego packing a 12-inch WXGA display, AMD Turion 64 processor, ATI Radeon XPRESS 200 M graphics, 1GB of RAM, an 80GB hard drive, and integrated WiFi and Bluetooth. :rolleyes:

[dpaanlka]

I just showed this to my friend and he commented that the iBooks look way better.

[Arnaud]

I like it that the first photo contains the caption "Creativity is a gift to keep". When you have it, I think they meant.

The iBook was really cool when released, but this thing is so bulky for now, I think. Such a small screen in such a big enclosure, really looks like a laptop of the 90's.