The exterior design of both PCs and notebooks has become far more innovative in recent years, partly as a result of the convergence of computing and consumer electronics.

Apple chic has undoubtedly had an effect on PC design though it has never been the case that Macs had a monopoly on computing elegance, as a glance through PCW show reports of the past few years can demonstrate.

But the migration of powerful low-drain processors from notebooks to desktops has enabled the design of slimmer, quieter PCs (and Macs) because they require less cooling. The FIC models, pictured top left in a choice of pastel colours, are typical of one format being pushed at Cebit this year.

Similar models, the size of a large book, were on show from several companies including ECS (above right, in a choice of postures).

Shuttle showed a new mini x100 design styled like a hi-fi unit; Gigabyte also had a couple of living room models, as well as the concept design (above left), in which a PC system box could be stacked like hi-fi units on top of similarly styled peripheral boxes.

Some of the new designs were clearly aimed at women. Like the pink Asus notebook with its matching case (right).

  Of course this would limit the choice of clothes, but a company called  Ego computers, showed this notebook (left) with a choice of different covers. That is a plastic woman, by the way, not a real one.

A polar opposite in terms of target market is this Gigabyte gaming machine, which actually has a radiator cap for the water cooling like a car.

And if you think that is bizarre, take a look at this pimped model, which brings a new meaning to the term ‘home PC’.