Sydney Morning Herald Online  Home   >   Opinion   >   The
Heckler   >   Article  Cold comfort for internet fridges  August
20, 2003  Printer friendly version Print this article Email to a
friend Email to a friend  High-tech gadetry doesn't do a thing
for Ben Smyth.  Hold on, where did the future go? Last month the
side of every bus heralded the arrival of the internet fridge,
with its integrated internet-enabled telephone, MP3 player, and
PC. But today the fridge, and the hotly anticipated future along
with it, have disappeared.  Most would argue that price is to
blame. This product carries a price tag of $15,000, putting the
future well out of reach of all but a lucky few.  However, this
should not be a problem for a nation of backyard tinkerers and
handypersons, highly trained by years of do-it-yourself TV.  All
we need is an entry-level laptop computer ($2000), a fridge
($800), and some silicon glue ($19.95). Using a sheet of paper
(obtained from work for free), trace a template from the laptop,
then use