Vivenne Tam HP digital clutch
It’s a tough decision, right? You want to take your laptop out with you but – horrors! – it’s dingy, metallic and it doesn’t match your frock. But never fear, here’s ‘the world’s first digital clutch’, an innovation from HP that looks set to end the war between computing and looking stylish. Or at least that seems to be what the aim of this pretty but perplexing product is.
Good-looking gadgets are great – no one wants to tote devices that look as though they were crafted from Bakelite by a short-sighted Aeroflot engineer. But fashion designers and technology can be uncomfortable bedfellows – LG’s first Prada phone looked fabulous but it proved to be an abomination if you actually wanted to send a text or make a call. Armani and Dolce & Gabbana have also launched themselves at the mobile market without making much of an impact. And last time I looked, cutting-edge laptops looked pretty good to me – understated, shiny and nice and computer-y. Surely a designer clad-computer is simply a case of gilding the lily?
More annoying still is the idea that women can be coaxed into buying tech by making it pink and flowery. When the ‘high fashion meets high tech’ HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam edition was announced at New York fashion week back in September, no specs were available, but more attention was paid to its hue - ”The HP Mini coordinates perfectly with stunning Vivienne Tam pieces!” gushed the promotional material. Thank god it matched – how embarrassing would it be if there’d been a clash??
But perhaps I’ve been broken by too may press releases trumpeting technology for ‘the ladies’ that are illustrated by average gadgets updated with nothing more than a rosy tint. I asked my female colleagues what they thought about the digital clutch. Two thought that while it looked quite cool, they’d rather buy a laptop that could fit into their handbag rather than investing in something that’s trying to look like one. Another work mate liked it, but thought she’d quickly get bored with it while another simply rolled her eyes and dubbed it patronising.
The digital clutch, which is actually a great mini laptop is available now, though, like all so many other over-hyped designer tie-ins, it’s limited edition so if you’re in the market for a machine that’s al la mode, get your order in now. Suffice to say that I won’t be picking one up to go with my peony-print party dress – I’ll stick to a nice Macbook or Asus instead.
Call me a conspiracy nut, but is this not a scheme to force peopleto upgrade not (as usual) when the product is obsolete, but when it is merely out of fashion. If only the tech-industry could operate on the same timescales as the fashion industry (they figure) we could all make so much more money!
I actually like it. Its a step on from the pinking up and dumbing down trap that so many tech brands fall into. I am not sure I would walk into a boardroom with it. Thats where the opportunity is for tech brands: professional women who still want to assert their femininity but don’t want to want to have pink ‘girly’ tech products.
That is possibly the sleekest bag I’ve seen. But wait, it’s not a bag, lol. It looks pretty much like a handbag but it’s not. I agree with the post above though that this isn’t something you could take into a board room, too feminine. Maybe a nice casual black one?
There’s part of me that likes the wallpaper-esque design, but maybe that’s just my mood today and because I’m wearing a red top?
I think our taste is too changeable to commit to such a strong design. Think how quickly we go off our favourite shoes, dresses and t-shirts!
… OR do I reject it, like Diet Coke, because it’s such an overt girlie statement and I don’t want people to judge me?
You just couldn’t be taken seriously in a meeting with a laptop like that. They’d expect you to have your bejeweled handbag-dog chained up outside!
This design certainly makes a fashion statement,but seriously how many business people will want to flash this little gem? HP must have done their market research to justify introducing this product but I have to question how many sales they will make.
A nice designed laptop. Maybe taking it in the street, someone will say:oh,what is pretty handbag!!!!
This looks like a really stylish laptop & I agree that there’s no reason why all computer hardware has to be dull and off-back. However, something like this would be a bit too impractical for me, having to plan your outfit every day to match your laptop, and I think you’d get a few funny looks across the boardroom.
I think that people should stick to having a funky & individual laptop bag or business handbag rather than being tethered to a specific style for the life of your laptop.
And it’s interesting that everybody seems to need a guest fashion designer to help them sell more products – when in fact the big fashion houses are struggling as much as anyone else, talk about jump aboard a sinking ship! See this article I found about designer handbags in the recession for more info: http://budurl.com/HandbagRecession
Although, on second looking, that hinge is really snazzy – maybe I’ve been convinced…
This cute laptop could be a good consideration for ladies when they want to buy laptop. They tend to look small laptop that can fit into their bags/handbags, though sometimes this kind of laptop is not suitable for heavy duty operations. Nice posting!
lol very pretty