Idea for New PC/Workstation case with APC installed- Comments?

[Anonymous user]

I have long wanted a PC/Workstation case with the following features built in. Take a look and offer a comment or add your own desired features.
****Slide In/Out Power Supply Module located near bottom of case**
****Slide in/out backup battery module w/ internal backup management connector (perhaps internal usb)**
****2 extra UPS power receptacles**
****Case fans with optional dust filter capability**

I think this could be an additional line of products for APC, low end margins perhaps, but much appreciated by those of us who want to reduce the numbers of wires hanging off the backs of our machines. The very fact that not everyone will see the need would make for a small but loyal group that could preserve the market niche.
It would add a bit of weight to the unit but a castor roller add on could solve that.

Message was edited by: mtaylor619@hotmail.com

[Erasmus_apc]

That is a good idea, I believe Google integrates battery backup directly into their servers, to some degree. The only hiccup would be making sure it is adaptable to cases from a large variety of manufacturers. Even among a single form factor design, many mfgs. like to take their own approach to port, power supply, and general case "slot" placement.

[Anonymous user]

I suspect you are right....and yet, I wonder if some kind of one size fits all 'sub case' could be placed under a PC that holds the UPS, provides the modular function, and offers close by usb management. If those sold, it would not be long before some savvy case manufacturer decided to integrate it and then adopt the other feature set.

[Erasmus_apc]

Well I'm sure some company like Falcon Northwest or Alienware or CyberPower or any of the other PC outlets that cater beyond the "casual user" to hardcore or niche crowds would find this promising. Even if there was a guarantee they could build a case that would fit a UPS internally, there would still be several problems that I think would prevent the idea from ever getting off the ground in terms of what a large company may deem "feasible". AC-DC conversion for internal parts, customer demand, possible integration with the board/chipset for native power options, etc.

A self-contained "sub case" may cause problems for some customers because batteries are very susceptible to temperature issues. This also applies to systems where cooling runs on the high side due to wires and cables and just bad space/fan management in the case, and during summer months.

[voidstar_apc]

A while back I came across Guardian On Board:

http://www.eetimes.com/op/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=18302911

They produced some internal UPSes, but it never seemed to go anywhere.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Good thoughts from all...though the lack of overall response to this thread would suggest it is more of a dead idea than I would have guessed. Although I am not a MAC user or fan, I do admire Apple's pursuit of new ways to do old things (and new things). When they came out with the PC components in the base of the display, I thought, good move Mr. Jobs. Then the 'all in one' came out and again I salivated...not over the software, but the hardware innovation. The only problem thus far with the 'all in ones' is the lack of real processor/memory combos or dual display support.
Then I looked at my PC with all the USB this and USB that, wires everywhere, so many of them that I can no longer tell where they all go and I thought ...got to be a better way. All kinds of ideas popped into my head
wireless chargers on top of the case
wireless sychronization of the PDA/phone
wireless speaker extensions
wireless keyboard/mouse with its own wireless charging mechanism
....and of course the internal UPS idea.
I think I thought that of all places, the APC forum would be the place to pitch the thought. However, few of you responded, much less read the subject line. I suppose it is time to close off the discussion and save this idea for another day. Any last thoughts?