posted
Over the last couple of days, I've been assembling a new computer for my wife. Most of the pieces of this computer came as a "barebones kit", a set of pieces which theoretically can all come together into something which will resemble a working, if low-frills, computer.
Today I visited four different computer stores to obtain what amounts to an eight-inch extension cord. An important set of wires running from the power supply to the motherboard was only barely stretching between its source and its destination, and that by way of travelling between the video card and the back panel through a niche in said card, blocking any possibility of using either of the PCI expansion slots in the process.
This is largely because someone thought it would be a good idea to mount the power supply on the bottom of the case, rather than the top, where it usually is planted for airflow reasons. Unfortunately, this was done without further thought as to how this would play with all the other hardware which also assumes stock power supplies and their rather short cords will be mounted on the top of the case.
Aside from that, this brilliantly designed case also featured an air filter (for the new openings at the bottom of the case to aid in airflow) which, while in place, would not permit the power supply to line up with its screw-holes and a completely unnecessary panel which covered up a completely unnecessary opening in the rear of the case- unnecessary except in as much as, with said panel in place, it isn't possible to install any cards in the computer.
Attempting to perform a coupe de grace on the hapless would-be computer builder, the case also features punch-out pieces that leave jagged pieces of metal in their wake, wiring that resembles cooked spaghetti left in a dry pot overnight, and an instruction manual that believes that "Place the power supply in proper location and secure it with screws" is somehow useful. (No mention of any of the must-remove-to-continue pieces, of course.)
So... Aside from venting (thank you for reading this far), I was wondering if anyone else would care to share stories of having someone else's bad design/attempts to change the standard design inflicted upon them?
Posts: 3826 | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Dude, power supplies are beginning to be positioned on the bottom of cases -- like my own Antec P180 -- because it turns out that it's actually much better for stability and airflow. But, yes, this means you need to buy a power supply with cables of decent length and a motherboard with an ATX connector in the right location.
The problem here is not with the case, although of course more expensive cases won't use punch-outs that leave behind jagged metal.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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posted
If the vendor sold a barebones kit with incompatible parts they owe you an apology (well, really what they owe you is a compatible set of parts, but since you've already worked around it I suppose that won't happen).
Tom, if the case design requires removing (presumably desirable) parts to install an ATX power supply, then there is a problem with the case.
Speaking of bad design, I was recently quite frustrated with the way GM positioned the thermostat on V6 engines 8-10 years ago. This is a part that almost certainly needs to be replaced before the car is retired from service, and you have to remove several parts that will never, ever need to be serviced in order to access it. Seems like a bad choice to me.
Posts: 4287 | Registered: Mar 2005
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quote:Tom, if the case design requires removing (presumably desirable) parts to install an ATX power supply, then there is a problem with the case.
I haven't bought a case that's come with a power supply in eight years. I'm pretty picky about my power supplies.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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posted
I don't know what you mean. Wouldn't you be frustrated if you had to remove parts of your case in order to install a standard-size ATX power supply, whether or not they were sold together?
I mean permanently, of course, not just to get it installed. (It sounded like there is an air filter which can't be used with the power supply.)
Posts: 4287 | Registered: Mar 2005
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It's mostly the number of pieces- pieces not mentioned in any of the documentation, natch- that need to be removed in order to get other, perfectly standard parts to work that annoys me. I'm not dedicated to the idea of the power supply being on the top of the case, but I think a manufacturer should consider that most other hardware isn't designed with that in mind; if you're really going to insist on modular pieces that serve no purpose (other than perhaps seating your own brand of power source, at a guess), it would be nice to gear them towards flexibility, rather than making them hurdles to the user. (The filter, sadly, was not the only piece I had to remove to get the power supply into place.)
Power placement alone did not make this a bad case. Even power placement plus useless documentation (most of the instructions literally amount to "put this in the right place, tighten the screws") did not make this a bad case. It's the sheer variety of ways that the product interferes with the assembly of other products theoretically chosen with the idea of assembling these specific parts into a computer that makes it a bad case.
But it does have a fan that glows blue when the computer is on. Whee.
In a time when other companies are making modular cables, pull-out drive caddies, tool-less siding, and other features designed to make assembling a computer easier, this case actually adds steps to assembly.
Posts: 3826 | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Well, speaking of design, you should check out the Maidenform brassieres. They have support for decent lift and shape without imposing nasty underwires. What a relief to find them, as all other constructs include the underwire or nasty padding that bunches and folds after the first washing. Posts: 5609 | Registered: Jan 2003
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I've jury rigged a few computers myself. The power supply on my in-laws computer blew, and they wanted a new computer. I wanted a cheap one. I put in a power supply I had from another dead computer, but found it would only fit upside down, and wouldn't slide in quite right. I actually ducktaped it in. Worked well as a print server for 3 years before the duct tape finally gave and the supply crashed inside the computer destroying something on the motherboard.
Posts: 3134 | Registered: Mar 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Shan: Well, speaking of design, you should check out the Maidenform brassieres. They have support for decent lift and shape without imposing nasty underwires.
quote:Originally posted by scifibum: Clearly the situation called for zip ties.
It's certainly an unconventional approach....
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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I actually suspect someone, somewhere, has made a bra out of zip ties. Can't google it just now.
Posts: 4287 | Registered: Mar 2005
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One of the washers in my building is possibly badly designed. It ate my favourite bra, and then it ate one of my favourite sweaters. My mother managed to salvage the bra, but the sweater was beyond all help. It's not a design flaw, maybe, but I miss that sweater. Posts: 2849 | Registered: Feb 2002
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Aahhh, I remember my first intro to build-it computer kits. I was working late at the Tandy Computer Store. We were so happy selling our new Tandy 2000 Almost IBM Compatible computer.
Then this poor clone builder came in with desperation poring off of his face. "I'm building my system and just got the power supply in. The case has a four outlet plug, but the power supply has two--two outlets. Which way do they get plugged in. One way and it will work. They other way, and it will be a pile of melted silicon."
We were of no help, especially as we were lauging and suggesting our Tandy Model IV with its built in monochrome screen.
Hey--the 80's were the best computer decade.
hey, I'm old, and showing it.
Posts: 1941 | Registered: Feb 2003
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Not necessarily bad design, but it definitely took me 20 minutes to find the battery on my friend's Miata. It just never occurred to me that it would be in the trunk so I ended up on my back tracing the wiring. That shirt was a write off.
Posts: 354 | Registered: Jan 2006
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Another design flaw: they don't make side view mirrors on cars like they used to.
My feminist mother could whip her bra off while driving and hang it from the driver's side mirror, and that puppy would just flutter madly in the breeze while we all laughed driving down the freeway to the family reunion.
Sad.
Actually, I'm not sure if we kids were laughing at her antics or my dad's expresion, but after being cooped up in the car for hours, it was a great release of energy. *grin*
quote:Originally posted by scifibum: I actually suspect someone, somewhere, has made a bra out of zip ties. Can't google it just now.
I just did. (Googled it, not attempted a bizarre craft project.)
While I'm sure "someone, somewhere" is true, they don't appear to have properly documented their activities.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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