The very name exudes quality – not just aristocracy, but royalty. Parvenus opt for Rolls Royces, but princes reside in Bentleys. Nothing less will do for the ambassador’s receptions. For such elevated gatherings, one must also have appropriate technology, in this day and age. Accordingly, Bentley has made a laptop.
It has Microsoft Vista, a 160GB hard drive, and what T3 describes as a “satisfyingly chunky” handle modeled on those used on its vehicles. It is £10,000.
A certain Nixon quote springs to mind.
And it looks like a cheap padded vinyl toilet seat.
I think you may be off a bit. A Bentley is to drive, a Rolls Royce is to be driven in; both are of equal pedigree.
And given that Bentley will match pretty much anything to the interior of your vehicle, for a price, a matching laptop isn’t far out there.
Reminds me of the original iBook: http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/ibook/stats/ibook.html
My favorite Bentley vs. Rolls story: Rolls used to make a spectacularly tasteless “coupé” called the Camargue. (Top Gear: “Even very rich people like a joke every now and again”).
One of these was badged as a Bentley, at a customer’s request. As in, not a model of it, just a single one. And never, ever again.
looks like an ibook
a spectacularly tasteless “coupé” called the Camargue.
Yeah, that. I heard a rumor that a photographer had discovered an angle from which the wheelbase didn’t look 25% undersized for the tragically mis-proportioned body but I haven’t been able to confirm it.
For those who haven’t been keeping track, BMW now owns Rolls Royce and VW owns Bentley. They haven’t been the same company, or English owned, for some time.
Is the Nixon quote “What?”?
Well they screwed it up real good, didn’t they?
Does the leather padding mean it’s ruggedized? Because I could use a new stadium cushion.
Oh, c’mon — the Camargue isn’t that bad. PininFarina is pretty much incapable of designing a bad body. high angle shot, 3/4 rear, side. The same pF designer who penned the Camargue did the Fiat 130, which it closely resembles, and that’s considered one of the best looking cars of its time.
But yeah — this laptop is pretty much an abortion. The naff styling is bad enough, but badge engineering is utterly beneath Bentley. But then so is being owned by Volkswagen. Shame all around.
Makes me think of a sandwich toaster.
SO am I the only one who saw the “B” on the outside and briefly thought it was a tragically over designed “Breville Sandwich Toaster”?
I don’t know maybe the laptop is one of those things that looks rubbish when photographed under what seems to be the standard “tech-toys” lighting which is designed to make the cheap-but-glossy plastic of iThings look good… Then again I would have gone for something other than silvery plastic on the inside, maybe some nice walnut veneer.
I’m sold on the sturdy looking integrated carry handle though.
I clicked on the image link to get a better view…
“faggiestthingieversaw.jpg”
…really? as the image name?
Camargue not that bad? Hmmm… not to my eye. Look at the straight rear view and think Ford Maverick. From the side the rear wheel opening harmonizes with nothing above, behind or in front of it.
From the B pillar forward it’s above average for a Rolls, but from there back nothing goes together aesthetically. Pinin Farina tried to make a design with long lines on too short a chassis and it looks like two different cars spliced together.
One last cheap shot: the ovo-rectangular chrome trim around a pair of round headlights looks tacked on and conflicts with the otherwise admirable restraint in the brightwork department.
“And it looks like a cheap padded vinyl toilet seat.”
…Or an Avon Lady’s ultimate wet dream.
I think you’re all just wildly jealous, it has class, it has style, it has pizzazz, it has…..a huge price tag. But its real beauty lies in the 1950s retro look which is so “now” and of course will be, even more so, in another fifty years.
The laptop is tacky and ugly – better suited to the owner of one of those hideous Rolls Phantom Dropheads than the more stylish and self-assured Bentley driver.
Though I have to agree with Zayfod that the carry handle looks like a nice bit of sturdy, practical design.
i think my mom would like it. to keep her makeup in
no Achewood comments yet?
it is sad to see the decline in the British car industry and the
decline of Rolls Royce and Bentley which now have a Teutonic flair about them: on a still day you can get a whiff of the gas ovens.