[ARENA]

*** Disclaimer: i also posted this topic at the lounge, but i think it also belongs in here since it's a design related question for a design school project ***

I have to do a project about a critical analytical judgment about a good vs a bad designed object.
Developing the subject in both cases, saying why one is good designed and why the other is a bad design.

As my objects of comparison i chose computers. A Mac vs a PC. And probably, due to it's gorgeous design i think i'll use the new iMac vs some PC model.

Now, the iMac being extremely well designed, both functionally and aesthetically is not a difficult subject to develop. The difficult part of the project is to add value to the comparison saying why the design of the PC is the opposite of the iMac.

So what i need is to define what PC (brand, model) i can choose to compare it with the iMac. It needs to be a bad designed computer both aesthetically (which is not difficult with PCs)and functionally (which is more questionable).

I appreciate any comments regarding the subject that may help me developing the project, and suggestions of Bad designed 'PC' computers (with brand and model) to start out searching for specific info and resources about it.

Thanks.

[msc1974]

Your title to your post answers your question.
The word DESIGN should not be in the same sentance as PC.
PC's are not designed they are marketed.

[derbs]

hey there was that Dell, which tried to copy Apple's G4 easy access door. It looked just like any other PC (eg ****) but it was hinged in half. Only problem was, it would only open a few inches and then all the cables inside would stop it from opening any further. You had to reach in and unplug the HD etc.

Also, closing the case snapped off fans and damaged the motherboard

Let me go and try to find the model...

here we go
http://www.dv.com/magazine/2002/0102...up_2_0102.html

that's the only direct reference i could find, Dell have improved their case system recently, so try searching for the older Dell dimensions because the early ones were awful.

[baryonyx]

I think in fairness you ought to look for the best-designed PC you can find and use that as your point of comparison. I think Dell and HP are good places to start. They have excellent examples of the state of the art in PC-compatible design, and they still can't touch the new iMac for the way it is thought through with the end user in mind. Apple's industrial design is quite obviously years ahead of the rest of the industry.

Also, if you keep in mind who is supposed to benefit from the use of an operating system, then it becomes easier to focus on the Mac's virtues over Windows. The Mac has always focused on the end user's needs above all else; Windows caters to the business crowd and you know who's in charge there. Also, keep in mind the two operating systems have distinct philosophical differences. The Mac is about giving users choice--there are many redundant ways to do the same thing, the OS is very customizable, etc. Windows is about trying to accomplish tasks for the user--which is why it has its Wizards and Office has that annoying Office Assistant. Your task is going to be to figure out whether this is good, bad or just different.

Is this enough food for thought?

Andy

[ARENA]

Thanks to all of you guys for your contribution.

I am still not sure what PC is the best to criticize for it's poor desing: In fact i am thinking in choosing the iMac or PowerMac as an example good desing while for the poor desing object developing the subject with something else other than a computer. Being that the case, i'm also confused about what has such a bad design to be the chosen object as an exaple of this.

I have to finish all this for next tuesday, so i have to define as soon as posible both the well and the poorly design elements.

So, by the way, suggestions about what you guys consider poorly designed objects or things will be apreciated. Best if information and graphic resources can be found on the web about that object.
Thanks.

[Raman]

Originally posted by msc1974:
<STRONG>Your title to your post answers your question.
The word DESIGN should not be in the same sentance as PC.
PC's are not designed they are marketed.</STRONG>

I guess mac's don't come with spell check, eh?

[jean-henri]

Originally posted by ARENA:
<STRONG>
Now, the iMac being extremely well designed, both functionally and aesthetically is not a difficult subject to develop. The difficult part of the project is to add value to the comparison saying why the design of the PC is the opposite of the iMac.

So what i need is to define what PC (brand, model) i can choose to compare it with the iMac. It needs to be a bad designed computer both aesthetically (which is not difficult with PCs)and functionally (which is more questionable).</STRONG>

Why not compare the iMac with some fairly well-designed PC's. If you choose an obvious pieceofcrap-PC I think you have just subtracted any value to you project from the start. These are just a few PC's that share some design and/or functional parameters with the iMac (compact desktop system, box/display integration etc):

Best technology BestMate 200
IBM Netvista x40 6643
Compaq iPAQ Desktop
Packard Bell Spirit II
HP e-PC
Acer Veritron FP2

... next tuesday!

[ 03-07-2002: Message edited by: jean-henri ]