The 90s were an exciting time of development for the home computer. As time went on, that excitement bled out beyond interior workings and into exterior design which resulted in some interesting choices. From pyramid-shaped towers to Barbie flower decals to the first “furniture-PC”, we truly saw the range in the late-90s and 00s. Take a walk down memory lane with us to discover the most unique of them all.
Manigear Prysma
This 2006 release gained interesting and sometimes harsh reviews often likening it to a traffic cone or Las Vegas casino hotel, Luxor, with its pyramid shape and eye-catching colours.
Computer buffs and tech bloggers of the day commented, “looks like it belongs in Stargate” and “this yellow pyramid of a desktop could be the ugliest thing to ever run Windows”. UK’s PCMag reported upon its release that the Prysma was “for people who seek not only a competent viiv media centre, but also something akin to installation art” (PCMag, 2006).
Ultimately the pointy PC was a cable management nightmare with no convenient location to attach a monitor. Its hefty price tag got you decent specs for the time, but the level of inconvenience caused by its quirky design made this machine a better conversation starter than a home gaming or theatre system.
Barbie PC by Patriot
What didn’t Barbie do? At the turn of the millennium, Mattel plunged Barbie into the world of computers releasing a PC bundle in collaboration with Patriot. Windows 98 has never looked so stylish.
The kit came complete with a PC, monitor, keyboard, speakers, mouse, mouse pad, CD holder, and even a bonus digital camera. The design team didn’t hold back with this one, and of course, every item was covered in pretty Barbie flowers.
You can find all the specs on the original ad. The computer “designed with kids in mind” had a 10Gb hard drive, 64MB RAM, and even featured a fax/modem.
Hot Wheels PC by Patriot
Of course, Patriot had to provide variety to the Barbie PC and released the Hot Wheels PC at the same time. Instead of a flashy digital camera, this setup came with a matching steering wheel (not pictured) for the coolest gaming rig on the block.
Though the machine was a flop on release with faulty power supplies and poor execution overall, the Hot Wheels PC has become something of an icon in recent years with enough nostalgia to make it a sought-after PC for restoration and retromod projects. One search on YouTube and you’ll find content from clean restorations to sleeper transformations.
Intel Ottoman PC
Not even sure where to start with this one… it is both a PC and homely furniture. This double-duty machine was created with the intention of fitting comfortably anywhere in the home. Released in 1999, it seems the hype and imagination of the future on the brink of a new millennium got Intel a touch too excited about revolutionary change and they designed something truly unique. Unfortunately, the Ottoman PC might have been a little too unique, and “the world’s first Furniture PC” may well have also been the last.
Sony Vaio VGX-TP25E
That latest release of the bunch, Sony debuted this home theatre PC in 2008. With the allure of achieving a home theatre experience with your PC, Sony slapped on a $3,000 price tag and hoped it would take off. The computer received average reviews and was more of a step in the right direction rather than an overall flop.
We can’t say much more other than this system is really round. PCMag hit the nail on the head when they observed the Sony Vaio “distinguished itself as the only PC that could easily roll down a hill”. They’re not wrong.
So there you have it, five of the most unique, creative, and questionable PCs on the market in years gone by. The character and inhibition these vessels of technology displayed at the turn of the millennium are arguably unmatched by the modern PC. The pure disregard of function in the name of ‘aesthetic’ (we use that term loosely) is a defining trait of the era that has not gone unnoticed.
