Comments on: Hello Gorgeous! Best of Networking Industrial Design http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/2009/07/hello-gorgeous-best-of-networking-industrial-design/ Data Centers, Virtualization, and Cloud Computing Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:31:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Douglas Gourlay http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/2009/07/hello-gorgeous-best-of-networking-industrial-design/comment-page-1/#comment-120 Douglas Gourlay Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:21:00 +0000 http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/?p=58#comment-120 I have to agree with you, I think the Airport was a wonderful design! I could travel with it very easily, plug it in my hotel room, and also extend the range of my iTunes to another room quite easily. Setup and cnfig were a snap, and it just looked so cute. I was not a fan of the UFO one, and subsequently replaced that one with an Airport Extreme 11n. I do wish they would have put one more USB port on it and an SPDIF optical audio output. But hey, whose complaining... dg I have to agree with you, I think the Airport was a wonderful design! I could travel with it very easily, plug it in my hotel room, and also extend the range of my iTunes to another room quite easily. Setup and cnfig were a snap, and it just looked so cute.

I was not a fan of the UFO one, and subsequently replaced that one with an Airport Extreme 11n. I do wish they would have put one more USB port on it and an SPDIF optical audio output. But hey, whose complaining…

dg

]]> By: LeitM http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/2009/07/hello-gorgeous-best-of-networking-industrial-design/comment-page-1/#comment-118 LeitM Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:56:24 +0000 http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/?p=58#comment-118 How about the Apple AirPort Express 802.11 access point? Not flashy but simple (and unobtrusive). How about the Apple AirPort Express 802.11 access point? Not flashy but simple (and unobtrusive).

]]> By: Bill Erdman http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/2009/07/hello-gorgeous-best-of-networking-industrial-design/comment-page-1/#comment-63 Bill Erdman Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:29:21 +0000 http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/?p=58#comment-63 What about Unified Communication systems such as Cisco Telepresence and Cisco IP phones. I am amazed that you can start and stop 3 large screen TV's, directional microphones, , and view a mirrored environment 3000 miles away without any transmission delays, all with a push of a button on an IP phone. Even the best all in one remote controllers for home entertainment centers have trouble matching this seamless integration. From an industrial design end I think this is a home run; multiple piece parts all linked together with tightly integrated scheduling and connection mgmt software. What about Unified Communication systems such as Cisco Telepresence and Cisco IP phones. I am amazed that you can start and stop 3 large screen TV’s, directional microphones, , and view a mirrored environment 3000 miles away without any transmission delays, all with a push of a button on an IP phone. Even the best all in one remote controllers for home entertainment centers have trouble matching this seamless integration. From an industrial design end I think this is a home run; multiple piece parts all linked together with tightly integrated scheduling and connection mgmt software.

]]> By: Douglas Gourlay http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/2009/07/hello-gorgeous-best-of-networking-industrial-design/comment-page-1/#comment-59 Douglas Gourlay Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:57:23 +0000 http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/?p=58#comment-59 Well, industrial design is somewhat different than art in that the item has to be useful as well as artful. Not saying the 18-slot is not useful, but the design challenge on the front-to-back model was much greater. However, that being said, I like the idea of using a single-hinged door structure as opposed to the double-doors - that was something I don't remember considering when working on the ID of the 7010. Well, industrial design is somewhat different than art in that the item has to be useful as well as artful. Not saying the 18-slot is not useful, but the design challenge on the front-to-back model was much greater. However, that being said, I like the idea of using a single-hinged door structure as opposed to the double-doors – that was something I don’t remember considering when working on the ID of the 7010.

]]> By: Martin http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/2009/07/hello-gorgeous-best-of-networking-industrial-design/comment-page-1/#comment-57 Martin Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:15:35 +0000 http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/?p=58#comment-57 You see you have now started to look at the features, and not the aesthetics - how quickly the geek in us emerges. From my point of view a double opening door is "cool" regardless of the air flow. The 7010 has been compared to both a "woody" with the double doors, and a large SUV like an Expedition, where the doors open in three parts. For this alone, I prefer the 18, as it is cool like a fridge. Both have integrated cable management, so that is a tie, the air filter makes the 7010 look nice, but the doors could be improved. You see you have now started to look at the features, and not the aesthetics – how quickly the geek in us emerges.

From my point of view a double opening door is “cool” regardless of the air flow.

The 7010 has been compared to both a “woody” with the double doors, and a large SUV like an Expedition, where the doors open in three parts. For this alone, I prefer the 18, as it is cool like a fridge.

Both have integrated cable management, so that is a tie, the air filter makes the 7010 look nice, but the doors could be improved.

]]> By: Douglas Gourlay http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/2009/07/hello-gorgeous-best-of-networking-industrial-design/comment-page-1/#comment-56 Douglas Gourlay Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:40:42 +0000 http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/?p=58#comment-56 My take is I like the 7000 10-Slot chassis better. But I am a bit biased on this one as most people well know. The main draw for me is the front-to-back airflow in standard racks as it makes deployment easier and doesn't require reconfiguring the physical plant layout. Also worth noting - you CANNOT put a side-to-side airflow system into a newer data center with hot-air containment - that would be a non-starter. My take is I like the 7000 10-Slot chassis better. But I am a bit biased on this one as most people well know. The main draw for me is the front-to-back airflow in standard racks as it makes deployment easier and doesn’t require reconfiguring the physical plant layout. Also worth noting – you CANNOT put a side-to-side airflow system into a newer data center with hot-air containment – that would be a non-starter.

]]> By: Martin http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/2009/07/hello-gorgeous-best-of-networking-industrial-design/comment-page-1/#comment-55 Martin Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:38:00 +0000 http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/?p=58#comment-55 Well if we are getting into it, is the Nexus 7010 better looking than the Nexus 7018 - which is the better looking....I have an opinion but would like to hear from the "crowd". Well if we are getting into it, is the Nexus 7010 better looking than the Nexus 7018 – which is the better looking….I have an opinion but would like to hear from the “crowd”.

]]> By: Douglas Gourlay http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/2009/07/hello-gorgeous-best-of-networking-industrial-design/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Douglas Gourlay Sun, 26 Jul 2009 21:23:29 +0000 http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/?p=58#comment-52 I have to agree Omar, a truly beautiful networking box. Am especially a fan of the locking doors and integrated cable management. I have to agree Omar, a truly beautiful networking box. Am especially a fan of the locking doors and integrated cable management.

]]> By: Omar Sultan http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/2009/07/hello-gorgeous-best-of-networking-industrial-design/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Omar Sultan Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:31:49 +0000 http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/?p=58#comment-45 OK, since no one else if gonna say it, I will throw out the Nexus 7000. Yes, I have a bias, but is a damn fine looking switch. Outside of that I am not sure network gear is all that exciting--next on the list would be my Apple Time Capsule. Servers and workstations seem much more interesting, such as the Apple Cube G4, Thinking Machines CM-5, and the comfortable-looking Cray XMP. Omar OK, since no one else if gonna say it, I will throw out the Nexus 7000. Yes, I have a bias, but is a damn fine looking switch. Outside of that I am not sure network gear is all that exciting–next on the list would be my Apple Time Capsule.

Servers and workstations seem much more interesting, such as the Apple Cube G4, Thinking Machines CM-5, and the comfortable-looking Cray XMP.

Omar

]]> By: Douglas Gourlay http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/2009/07/hello-gorgeous-best-of-networking-industrial-design/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Douglas Gourlay Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:51:07 +0000 http://www.douglasgourlay.com/blog/?p=58#comment-44 I used to have an SGI O2 on my desk. I liked the OpenGL spinning SGI logo screen-saver and of course I REALLY wanted to get wings I could put on the sides of it and some fake toast coming out the top. (a tribute to AfterDark screen savers...) But what about switches, routers, wifi boxes, and all those connectivity products - does Industrial Design matter in networking? Is there a dearth of good ID? Or is all the good ID coming from Jonathan Ive and resident on my MacBook Pro? I used to have an SGI O2 on my desk. I liked the OpenGL spinning SGI logo screen-saver and of course I REALLY wanted to get wings I could put on the sides of it and some fake toast coming out the top. (a tribute to AfterDark screen savers…)

But what about switches, routers, wifi boxes, and all those connectivity products – does Industrial Design matter in networking? Is there a dearth of good ID? Or is all the good ID coming from Jonathan Ive and resident on my MacBook Pro?

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