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January 09, 2008
Okay, but why?
Whirlpool has unveiled a refrigerator that has some very high tech features:
As if storing food wasn't enough, Whirlpool's $1,999 Central Park refrigerator now does double-duty with attachments that dock an iPod, display digital photos, hold a tablet PC and serve as a whiteboard.
The unit, about the size of a large textbook, clips onto the top of the freezer door and connects to the fridge's power. Each is sold separately, the iPod dock for $149, the digital picture frame for $249, the tablet PC for $799 and the white board for $100.
This made me recall that Oprah recently gave every member of her audience a refrigerator with a High Definition TV built into the door. (Incidentally, it's really hard to spell refrigerator.)
All I can think is, what purpose does this serve? Refrigerators are important kitchen appliances, but they aren't ones that people gather around for any sustained period of time. Sure, there are probably moments of family togetherness when everyone stands in front of the fridge to choose between the mango salso or the bean dip, but once the task is completed you leave. Why, then, would someone stand in front of the fridge to work on his computer, when there is a perfectly good kitchen table somewhere? You can't even sit down!
Why would anyone want an HD TV in his fridge? It's probably the only HD most people have: "Hey, Bill, wanna come over to my house and watch the Super Bowl? We can watch it on the HD!"
"Sweet, I'm there."
"Make sure you bring one of those collapsible lawn chairs, 'cause we're watching it on my fridge! Oh yeah, and bring your cooler, I don't want to miss anything because I have to open the door to get a beer."
What a rocking Super Bowl party that one would be!
Or maybe one would want to throw a dance party. "Everyone gather in the kitchen, I can plug my brand new iPod into the Frigidaire! It has a subwoofer and everything."
Putzes.
entry no. 1055
Posted at January 9, 2008 04:45 PM