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Intel, Asus partner on 'dream PC' design site

Chipmaker and notebook maker launch a Web site that solicits ideas from consumers with the goal of producing what they call "the world's first community-designed PCs."

Steven Musil Night Editor / News
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Steven Musil
2 min read

If you could design your own computer, what features would your dream machine have?

That's what Intel and Asus are hoping to learn from WePC.com, a Web site launched jointly by the two companies Wednesday that solicits ideas from consumers with the goal of producing what they call "the world's first community-designed PCs."

The site divides its focus into three "conversation groups," in which consumers work together to design Netbooks, notebooks, and gaming notebooks.

"Visitors to the site can share ideas, vote on submitted concepts and engage in discussions with other community members about the qualities of the 'dream' PC," Intel said in a statement.

"Intel believes the spark for innovation can come from anywhere," Mike Hoefflinger, general manager of Intel's Partner Marketing Group, said in a statement.

Many of the contributors' suggestions are fairly mainstream desires for most PC users: more powerful batteries, less shiny screens, and lighter overall weight. Some have specific desires for processors, while others have asked for high-definition screens and 3G connectivity.

However, there have been some creative suggestions that some visitors might not have considered. One suggestion asked for a durable notebook that was waterproof with a "nighttime look to glow in the dark."

One reader suggested doing away with the notebook's buttons and screen for a virtual reality experience. "I know that the technology for plugging your nervous system directly into your brain is very far off, but we've got some fairly cheap technology that could be applied to a computer that would be fairly awesome." Another reader suggested telepathic communication that would rely on the sensing of brainwaves.

But some ideas may just leave you shaking your head.

"I like the idea of a laptop that has hair on it. You can than cut said laptop's hair to your liking. The hair of course grows so you can have multiple haircuts a year," wrote one visitor.

Some of these ideas may make it into a PC some day--if they make the cut.