Why is computer hardware looking more like toys?

[warup89]

I've been an avid PC "enthusiast" for almost a decade and for the past couple of years I've noticed that hardware resembles cool toys more and more. These ridiculous designs on video card coolers, motherboards, and RAM sinks seem to be made for teenagers that like fire stickers and bright colors. I miss the days that everything keep the imposing enterprise looks instead like something serious. Now i dont know if I'm holding a video card or the latest edition of a super soaker. Is the demographic different nowadays?

 

[manofthem]

Pics or it didn't happen



Really, I don't see it exactly. Video cards, to me, look less silly than they used to from a few years back.

 

[xkm1948]

Simple, because these boys who used to love cool toys now have grown up to be the hardware designers.

 

[thebluebumblebee]

Is the demographic different nowadays?

Yea, they're made for people about 10 years younger than you. You're old.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Simple, because these boys who used to love cool toys now have grown up to be the hardware designers.

Nah! It is because more young boys have more money (perhaps because fewer teens are driving) and are spending their money on their gaming/social media machines with flashy lights and fancy facades.

Those who have grown up realize it's what's happening on the monitors that matters and cases should sit quietly and discreetly off to the side and NOT draw attention to themselves.

 

[ThE_MaD_ShOt]

Umm I remember when building a rig, what you ended up with was it seriously looked like someone threw up a bag full of skittles in your case. I mean colors and rainbows everywhere. Free love man.

 

[Disparia]

It will always feel like it was better in the old days because we're going to remember what we liked a lot more vividly than what we didn't like. The last couple years is still pretty recent, both the good and the bad are still in our conscious.

 

[R-T-B]

I must be buying different hardware...

 

[Jetster]

I think its quite the opposite.

I don't think anyone took gamers serious back then.. obviously


Old stuff

And new modern professional tools

 

[R-T-B]

I always found "Ruby" to be the epitome of "boy's toyz (tm)" mentality in manufacturing. I'm glad she finally got obliterated from marketing.

 

[Jetster]

Ruby?Didn't know it was her name

I loved this card but it was sooo expensive
ATI All-In-Wonder 9800 PRO $450

 

[cadaveca]

I've been an avid PC "enthusiast" for almost a decade and for the past couple of years I've noticed that hardware resembles cool toys more and more. These ridiculous designs on video card coolers, motherboards, and RAM sinks seem to be made for teenagers that like fire stickers and bright colors. I miss the days that everything keep the imposing enterprise looks instead like something serious. Now i dont know if I'm holding a video card or the latest edition of a super soaker. Is the demographic different nowadays?

I can't say it bothers me that much. It's exactly as you say, built to cater to the younger crowd. But guess what... my 14-year-old son who spend almost more time on his PC than I am comfortable with, gaming with his friends (which makes it semi-OK, at least he's socializing ), well, him and his friends could care less about that stuff.

 

[red_stapler]

I miss the days that everything keep the imposing enterprise looks instead like something serious.

Care to share an example of that? Everything was hideous 10 years ago.

 

[warup89]

So all in all im old haha, what sparked this idea was my motherboard. The MSI Big Bang ii. I bought it due to the best feature/price motherboard i could find at the time but....

 

[Jetster]

Are those crayons? lol


Yeah I dont know what they were thinking. There was a few of those with guns, magazine and stuff

 

[PLAfiller]

To me hardware always was a toy I am not making a living out if it. It's a hobby. Hobbies are supposed to be fun and engaging. I wanted it to be like toys. I don't mind that. That doesn't mean I have bought or I would ever buy a gundam case

 

[R-T-B]

So all in all im old haha, what sparked this idea was my motherboard. The MSI Big Bang ii. I bought it due to the best feature/price motherboard i could find at the time but....

Ok, you win. That is something awful...

 

[Dethroy]

Just buy some sleek case without a dumb window and you won't have to look at your hardware again. Helps your temp and noise as well.
But now you will still have to find a decent keyboard and mouse combo that doesn't look silly...

 

[MustSeeMelons]

Can't agree with you here, my old MSI 9600GT looks much more silly than my current MSI GTX 970.

Although, it still looks like a toy, but much more matured.

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

I am 50, i have been buying components for a long time, I dont agree with the statement.

Boards and cards look better now than they ever have.

 

[Shou Miko]

Then it's good he ain't in japan they sometimes have some anime stuff on the hardware and software boxes

 

[JalleR]

I guess that question can be answered with another question,

"Why does the box that a frozen pizza is stored in, cost more to make than the pizza itself..?????"

Getting the attention based on looks, and maybe not how it preform, (yes there is people that buys stuff based on looks )

Back in the "old days" (i'm 32) the cases was smoked yellow or some kind of funky blue and light was to show power status and HD activity, So back then we did all we could to make our case look cool. But it was a smaller group of peoples that cared about it so not the big deal $$$ for the hardware supplier.

and 20 åears ago I was the friend that had a computer witch was his own and looked cool , today all of my sons friends has a computer and some of them looks cool. there is more money in stuff that looks good as well and young people(has more money today) and old Gamers like me (is still around) to buy stuff that also looks cool.

 

[Kanan]

I think gaming is grown up more than ever now, the hardware resembles that, most of the times at least. But you can get whatever you want, super childish or super serious, there's hardware for everyone. Btw. I'm in the "I don't care about looks, I have a simple case"-fraction. That said, my older graphics cards looked a lot more childish than now... I had a MSI 7800 GT / 7900 GT, they looked so silly with girls on them (always girls on old cards oO). I think it has to do with female emancipation that these girls (almost) disappeared, it was strange anyways. Nowadays you see fancy colors, dragons and that like of stuff, supposed to be super maskulin or something, but I don't care about these editions either, would buy them only because they perform better. btw. that Big Bang mainboard is actually some of the funniest ever Mini guns rock.

 

[Assimilator]

The MSI Big Bang and Gigabyte Sniper series boards are the epitome of s**tty/"bling" design.

 

[RejZoR]

Just like I'm asking why on Earth would anyone want shiny chromed wheels with spinners for a car. And yet there are people who want that in quantity large enough for someone to make them. People like blingy stuff and vendors make them. Demand and supply. As simple as that.

Not all of us are like this. I'm using a "bland" black tower, Sabertooth X99 looks rather bland because most of the PCB is covered with grey frame, only thing flashy in my case is the ASUS Strix GTX 980 that has some red accents on the cooler. And CoolerMaster AiO that has white glowing logo. No LED fans, no other LED anywhere. It's all function over visuals. I want it silent and cool with high performance. But others want bright LED's, flashy covers and stickers. It's how it is.