by edwin p. sallan
WHEN it comes to industrial design, very few can come close to how the very quirky Apple Computer has changed the way people look at, not just computers, but other similar hi-tech devices as well. From the very first all-in-one Macintosh computer to the latest Mac Mini and iPod Shuffle, Apple has provided some of the most fascinating eye candy to ever grace people’s desktops and beyond over the years. It didn’t hurt that Apple’s hardware delights were, and are, still extremely useful.
But while Apple has pretty much set the standard (just look at the many iPod wannabes flooding the market and you’ll know what I mean) in which just about every other product is designed, it is not the only game in town. There are other companies and products that are worth mentioning. Along with two of Apple’s own current offerings, here are just a few of the fabulously designed gizmos in the market today.
iPod Shuffle. When it comes to going back to basics, very few can hold a candle to Apple’s new iPod Shuffle. An immaculately white portable digital music player the size of a gum, the 512MB small wonder does not even include an LCD screen. Instead, you get the standard play, stop and skip buttons in a layout that recalls the Click Wheel of the well, the bigger iPods. With its more than 100-song capacity, just press play and enjoy your favorites played in random fashion.
Mac Mini. You can actually hold it in one hand. This light and handy desktop computer is a true space-saver in the sense that you can actually use this with your existing PC monitor, USB keyboard and mouse. You can also use with your neighbor’s or your relatives’ or your friends’. And the silver and white wonder also makes for a great conversation piece anywhere you see it.
Sony PSP. Ah, the new handheld gaming console from Sony. Nintendo may be the king of gaming portables but Sony’s got a lot of game as well as music and movies in this new, handy multimedia wonder. And like Apple, Sony is no slouch in the design department, either. Like most of its other products, the new Sony PSP looks ruggedly handsome and stylishly elegant. Predominantly black, with white shoulder buttons and iPod-like earphones, it has a button layout that is based on its PlayStation big brother. Oh, and when it’s powered on, its LCD screen and backlit buttons make it even look better.
Nokia 7280. Okay, so the jury is still out on this one and even its owners admit that its clunkiness takes a bit of getting used to. Still, you have to give it to Nokia for coming out with a mobile phone that manages to defy conventional design wisdom and actually make it work. Is it an MP3 player? A lipstick? A flashlight? A different kind of Swiss knife? Whatever you think it is, the new 7280 does open the floodgates for more un-phone-like looking phones in our near future. I’d say it’s fabulous enough to merit a mention here.
Nintendo GameCube. Launched in 2001 but still widely available today, the GameCube may not enjoy the popularity of both the Sony PS2 and the Microsoft Xbox but anyone who has seen it just can’t help marvel at the beauty of its design, which, by the way, also comes in different colors. With its built-in handle, you can also carry it like a lunch box or bowling bag unlike its two other rival consoles. The games are great, too, especially the Mario and Legend of Zelda series. And just like anything Nintendo, you’ll be proud to own one if you haven’t considered it yet.
Sharp Healsio Water Oven. Is it a really small TV or a vintage radio? The recently-launched Sharp Healsio water oven is obviously neither. Although the Healsio also comes in a rather tacky Ferrari-red variety, the one locally available is the more elegant- looking silver. With a nicely backlit LCD screen, this new oven allows the user to steam, grill, roast, bake, defrost and reheat his food by spraying the steam directly onto the food. Under this process, it can also significantly reduce the fat and salt content of every food that it cooks.
