Bamboo Electronics +Rant

DBL Distributing has partnered with Micro Innovations to distribute eco-friendly computer accessories.

The good: As readers of this blog know, I'm a big fan of bamboo in many applications. It's a strong, beautiful wood that grows very fast. That's the eco-friendly part. I can't tell from this photo just how attractive the the computer accessories are. Looks like they put a really glossy finish on them--not my first choice in finishes for anything except the brightwork on wooden boats.

The bad: So why don't I just click on the link and go to the website for a closer look? Because they don't let you past the first page unless you first sign in. That's crap. I don't know whether I want to join your store, give you my email address, etc., BEFORE I've seen what you've got to sell. I suggest Micro Innovations get themselves another distributer. They'd have a much better chance of actually selling something.

[Thanks, I think, BoingBoingGadgets]

Lap(top) of Luxury

As the exception proves the rule, here's another wonderful example of a use of wood to complement the experience of using a computer.

Most of the use of wood for computers is lousy, some beautiful exceptions are listed below. But rather than make a wooden keyboard or box to hold the guts of a computer, Finnish designer, Rainer Spehl, has created this Wooden Laptop Case with leather lining and magnetic closing device for the Apple MacBook and MacBook Pro 15inch (only).

I don't know what one of these cost, but I suspect it's more than a MacBook.

[Thanks to PSFK.com]

Another Lousy Wooden Computer Case

Apparently I'm not the only one bemoaning the usually poor design of computer cases that use wood. Rob Beschizza at Boing Boing Gadgets calls this one ugly.

On the other hand, it's a hell of a computer inside the box. But if you spend that much money for a computer, you're gonna want people to see it.

Best Computer Case Ever!

Now I have to take back the negative things I've said about combining wood and computer hardware. What you're looking at is a Sangaku Japanese case mod, that is, a custom-made box for a desktop computer in the style of Sangaku. Sangaku is the Japanese word for unique, wooden, mathematical tablets created during the Edo period (1603-1867) in Japan.

This case was designed by Nick Falzone, a 19-year old college student studying Architecture at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo CA. Writing for bit-tech.net, Geoff Richards says,

The spirit of the ancient sangaku lives on in the craftsmanship and attention to detail of this project. In the end, there are some 130 wood joints and the case took approximately 300 hours to build in Nick's spare time over nine months during 2005.

Visit the bit-tech.net website for step-by-step photos of the building of this incredible custom computer case and of some of the elements of Japanese design that inspired it.

At last: Wood and PCs Work Together

As I have mentioned here before, there have been several attempts to house high tech objects in natural materials (wood). Most of them, IMHO, aren't successful as wooden objects or high tech cases. Until now.
Check out these beautiful PC's wooden cases from Japanese designer Ryou Ikurin. It's a traditional art form, covering wood enclosures with Japanese lacquer, called Urushi.
There's more at Boing Boing Gadgets.

Wooden Flash Drive

In my limited experience, wooden cases for various computers and peripherals come in two categories: the cheap-looking ugly ones that I can afford, and the beautiful, sophisticated ones that I can't afford. These beautiful Mahjong disk USB Flash Drives are in the second category.

The idea is that you can get a flash drive with your favorite Mahjong characters hand carved on the wooden case.

Now these things are insanely expensive, but it is interesting that the material of choice for a product like this is wood.

Lots more photos and the price (prepare yourself) on the website.

[Thanks to Gadgets.BoingBoing.net]

Bamboo Everywhere

I really like the look of bamboo, and it's a good thing because it's turning up everywhere. It's been around forever it seems as furniture. Perhaps the difference now is that it's being cut into strips, laminated, and sold as flooring and just about anything that requires a flat panel. Here are a couple of examples.

Dell's brand new Studio Hybrid mini computer is available in many colorful "sleeves." The exception is the sleeve made of bamboo. It's getting the featured center spot in the group photos. It sort of makes me want one, even though I just got a new laptop.

Apparently the Hybrid is very nice inside too. Review at the Cult of Mac blog.

Or, how about a bamboo sink. Yup, a sink made of laminated bamboo. Read more about the Stone Forest Moso Vessel here on ThisNext's blog. Do a search for bamboo at ThisNext, and you'll get a sense of the range of bamboo products available.

I've never used bamboo in the shop. I'm going to have to give it a try. Besides its great looks, bamboo is very hard, and it grows VERY fast. A wood for the future.