Id luv one for the recipes

Prepare for the coming of the kitchen PC

Don't you wish you had your own kitchen PC?

Louisa Hearn
April 21, 2009

Forget the dusty old desktop in the study and the derelict laptop in the cupboard. The benchtop is the inspiration behind a new class of computer that promises to pipe Facebook and YouTube directly to your kitchen.

Officially named the all-in-one PC, this category of computer combines a lightweight LCD screen and processor in one slim form factor.

What makes it far friendlier for busy hands than a traditional computer is that it can be operated primarily via touchscreen, with large tabs for easy browsing embedded into the user interface.

This is the killer feature says Dell, which plans to ship its new Studio One touchscreen range here early next month.

Evan Williams, general manager for consumer sales, says that now wireless networks are more common among home computer users, people are thinking more critically about how they access the internet in their home.

"Customers are asking for a touchscreen device that is always on. They want to quickly touch Google maps, quickly type in the address they are going to, and then walk out the door.

"They want to do that outside the traditional home office room and in the living area or kitchen," he says.

With fewer features than traditional PCs and scaled-down performance, these devices are not designed to act as the central home computing hub, but rather as a secondary PC for a family room or kitchen.

Asus has been selling its 4.3-kilogram Eee Top for $1299 in Australia since February and, like Dell, is targeting the device at communal living areas in the home.

MSI has also recently announced a new model called the Wind Top AE1900, but is yet to flesh out prices or local distribution plans, while Dell's range will cost between $1700 and $2000.

Tracy Tsai, a PC analyst at Gartner, says that at a cost of between $1000 and $2000, there is still a way to go before all-in-one PCs are widely embraced by consumers.

"During a recession a secondary PC will not be considered a must-have item for many families. The cost needs to fall below $US500 ($700) for many people to feel comfortable with this purchase," she says.

To attract mainstream interest, she believes devices should have an effective LCD touchscreen, WiFi connectivity, instant on/off function, low power consumption and a TV tuner.

Design is also an important ingredient given the prominent location of these units.

Asus and MSI have adopted sleek, shiny finishes somewhat reminiscent of ultra-modern white goods, while Dell has gone the extra mile with fabric panels in a range of colours.

But kitchen designer Jenny James is sceptical that glossy exteriors and clever marketing tactics will be enough to breathe life into the kitchen PC concept.

"When you are in the kitchen it's a workplace - albeit a fun workplace - and no one I know considers this environment conducive to visual based activities like watching TV or using a computer. Even those that like to download recipes from the internet tend to do this away from the kitchen," she says.

Although she sees an obvious role for computers in other living areas of the house, juggling the device alongside other kitchen appliances may prove more a gimmick than a reality, she concludes.