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Apple patents color changing computer case

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August 16, 2004, 12:10 PM EST

Apple has filed a patent for the concept of a color changing computer case. A computer equiped with such a case would be able to change color at the user's whim.

An internal light device can be configured with any settings of red, green and blue to display any color. Although there are no concrete plans as yet to introduce this immediately, its a good bet that this will wind up being a feature of the next generation Mac.

Personally, I welcome anything that moves the computer away from being an ugly grey box. With computers becoming more and more interlinked with our lives, they are popping up all over the home, and there needs to be provision for them to blend in as currently TVs, videos and HI-FIs can do. It would certainly be a fine thing to be able to make your computer match the wallpaper or carpet that you have chosen.

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User Comments (8)

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StormBringer
on August 16, 2004
1:07 PM
Personally, I prefer the ugly beige box, though I can deal with white, black and silver.

david5182
on August 16, 2004
1:19 PM
Now, this will surely make Mac faster than PC.

Phantasm66
on August 16, 2004
2:31 PM
I think this is a really good idea and something that will probably take off given time.

Nic
on August 16, 2004
2:49 PM
Its shocking if a patent is granted for this type of simple idea. LEDs have already been used to color the likes of case fans, so what makes this idea patentable? Applying the same idea to PC cases, rather than case fans hardly justifies a patentable design. Ok, controlling the blending of the LEDs is a small enhancement, but isn't much of a leap really. Silly patents are just fouling up others freedom to use simple ideas that many of us could easily have produce on our own, due to the simple priciples involved. Its about time patent law was reformed, before we find it impossible to come up with any new ideas that haven't already been patented. [Sorry, just felt like a good moan :=).]

Didou
on August 16, 2004
4:13 PM
Originally posted by Nic
Its shocking if a patent is granted for this type of simple idea.
Antec & LED patent.

Nic
on August 16, 2004
4:48 PM
Neat article Didou :=). You've got to laugh at the nerve some companies have. They'll try and patent almost anything.

---agissi---
on August 16, 2004
10:00 PM
Thats apple for yah..

Unregistered
on August 17, 2004
2:05 PM
Too bad that the inards still suck.

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