Core77

Microsoft's Next-Gen PC Design Competition is over, and the results are in. "Some of these winning designs look like nothing we've ever seen in the realm of computing," says one Microsoftie, and he ain't wrong:

The "blok" concept, photo left, is for kindergarteners. "Children do not learn or use products the way adults do, and they cannot be expected to use computers intended for adults," says Christianne LeBlanc, one of the designers. So far so good.

The "bulbPC" concept, photo center, is intended to be an ultra-low-cost, low-energy computer for the developing world. "It makes the digital lifestyle available to the half of the world population who make less than $2 a day," says co-designer Allen Wong. Roger that.

The "MADE in China" concept, photo left, is designed to resemble an "Asian-style dining platter complete with chopsticks-stylus." This was the first-prize taker, but we're not too sure about this one; philosophically, it's the opposite of those automobile diagnostic machines that are purposely designed with angled tops to prevent mechanics from putting their coffee up there.

You can see the rest of the concepts here.