How the Mini-ITX Form Factor Is Changing How Your Computer Looks

How the Mini-ITX Form Factor Is Changing How Your Computer Looks

Until just recently, consumers have been forced into buying desktop computers that have very little variation from model to model. I’ll be the first to admit that some of the better manufacturers are doing a great job of making the boring old “box” look very nice, but there are not many of them. Typically these “out of the ordinary” computers systems are reserved for hi-end gaming machines that start around ,000.00. Why don’t we have computers that don’t look like computers? Wouldn’t it be great to have a computer that fit into your home without looking like a computer, or better yet one that you don’t have to hide under a desk or in cabinet? The answer to that question is simple. Size. The sizes of the components that are in a desktop computer are just too big to allow for any alternatives to the “box”. That is until now……
Over the past few years a new size mainboard has been on the rise in the computer industry. The Mini-ITX form factor motherboard is just 6 inches square. Just for reference, a dollar bill is about 6 inches long. That is amazing! The Mini-ITX mainboards began utilizing the VIA processors. For most home users, this processor just wouldn’t cut it against a Pentium-based system. The industry obviously became aware of this bottleneck and soon began producing the Mini-ITX mainboards that support the Intel Pentium 4 processors.
At 6 inches square, the possibilities for new and unusual spins on the old “box” are being realized worldwide. One of the main uses for these mainboards is in car computers. That’s right; computer systems that mount inside of automobiles are already being manufactured and sold. Most utilize touch screen technology for ease of use (because you would have a hard time with a mouse in your car!).
You can also find a desktop computer that will actually fit in the palm of your hand! This particular model can be found at www.cappucinopc.com. This site is what sparked my interest in this relatively new technology.
After pondering the possibilities, my two neighbors and I decided to create our own “out of the ordinary” desktop computer. After about a year and endless tests and designing, we now have the “Compucar”. The Compucar is a desktop computer that looks like a car. We utilize a Mini-ITX mainboard and a patented chassis design to create something you can only find in O’Fallon Missouri. We are currently found on the web at www.compucarllc.com. This started out as a challenge to create something different utilizing new and emerging technology and ended up becoming a very unique business venture.
I believe that over the next few years, you will begin to see very “different” looking desktop computers. I just wonder how long it will take the big companies to start becoming a bit more creative.