Teenage Engineering's free computer case • Hacker News Board

Re: Teenage Engineering's free computer case

#11

Post by isoprophlex » Fri, Aug 15, 2025, 5:35 AM UTC

wahnfrieden wrote: post #10

brandokyk wrote: post #7

they have a branding problem - they are starting to being perceived like a snobby brand with ridiculously overpriced products sold as a status symbol - a Balanciaga of creative tech basically so they are trying to put out some cheap good value products to signal a return of the original hacker ethos

They’ve always had those two tiers of pricing/products. That’s a read from a decade ago

Browsing through their store I see only the "overpriced balenciaga-tier bullshit" category though...

Edit: i kinda take that back, as two people pointed out that EP-133 sampler actually has an okay feature-to-price ratio.

But $250 leather wraps to "transport" your OP-1 in tho, or $250 singing wooden dolls without obvious interfaces except bluetooth midi... i guess I'm not the target market

Re: Teenage Engineering's free computer case

#12

Post by userbinator » Fri, Aug 15, 2025, 5:38 AM UTC

Free as in speech or beer...?

I wonder if they used static-dissipative/ESD-safe plastic, as pure polypropylene is good insulator and easily builds up a static charge. There's a reason nearly all computer cases are conductive.

Re: Teenage Engineering's free computer case

#13

Post by senectus1 » Fri, Aug 15, 2025, 5:40 AM UTC

al_borland wrote: post #2

Sold Out. I was expected this to be a 3D print design people could grab for free.

i mean... this should be a thing.

hmmm now you have me thinking.

Re: Teenage Engineering's free computer case

#14

Post by jdiff » Fri, Aug 15, 2025, 5:41 AM UTC

uoaei wrote: post #4

Has anyone tried using this with a Framework mainboard?

They're both Mini-ITX.

Re: Teenage Engineering's free computer case

#15

Post by dmos62 » Fri, Aug 15, 2025, 5:42 AM UTC

userbinator wrote: post #12

Free as in speech or beer...? I wonder if they used static-dissipative/ESD-safe plastic, as pure polypropylene is good insulator and easily builds up a static charge. There's a reason nearly all computer cases are conductive.

Wouldn't the power supply ground all static?

Re: Teenage Engineering's free computer case

#16

Post by monster_truck » Fri, Aug 15, 2025, 5:45 AM UTC

brandokyk wrote: post #7

they have a branding problem - they are starting to being perceived like a snobby brand with ridiculously overpriced products sold as a status symbol - a Balanciaga of creative tech basically so they are trying to put out some cheap good value products to signal a return of the original hacker ethos

This is a naive take, borderlining on bait. They are not 'trying', they have by and large succeeded. Both the PO and KO series devices are fantastic value for their respective prices.

If you consider something like the TX-6 an overpriced status symbol, you have clearly never tried to make a 6 channel stereo mixer this small with these specs. And if you can't imagine a use for something so small and portable, then it simply isn't for you.

Re: Teenage Engineering's free computer case

#17

Post by grimoald » Fri, Aug 15, 2025, 5:45 AM UTC

isoprophlex wrote: post #11

wahnfrieden wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They’ve always had those two tiers of pricing/products. That’s a read from a decade ago

Browsing through their store I see only the "overpriced balenciaga-tier bullshit" category though... Edit: i kinda take that back, as two people pointed out that EP-133 sampler actually has an okay feature-to-price ratio. But $250 leather wraps to "transport" your OP-1 in tho, or $250 singing wooden dolls without obvious interfaces except bluetooth midi... i guess I'm not the target market

The pocket operators and the EP-133 sampler are fairly priced.

Re: Teenage Engineering's free computer case

#18

Post by unfunco » Fri, Aug 15, 2025, 5:47 AM UTC

isoprophlex wrote: post #11

wahnfrieden wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They’ve always had those two tiers of pricing/products. That’s a read from a decade ago

Browsing through their store I see only the "overpriced balenciaga-tier bullshit" category though... Edit: i kinda take that back, as two people pointed out that EP-133 sampler actually has an okay feature-to-price ratio. But $250 leather wraps to "transport" your OP-1 in tho, or $250 singing wooden dolls without obvious interfaces except bluetooth midi... i guess I'm not the target market

The field system is probably what you're seeing, products like the EP-133 are reasonably priced: https://teenage.engineering/store/ep-133

Re: Teenage Engineering's free computer case

#19

Post by kristopolous » Fri, Aug 15, 2025, 6:02 AM UTC

brandokyk wrote: post #7

they have a branding problem - they are starting to being perceived like a snobby brand with ridiculously overpriced products sold as a status symbol - a Balanciaga of creative tech basically so they are trying to put out some cheap good value products to signal a return of the original hacker ethos

I never saw them in any other way. High end brands with conspicuous design have existed in tech for at least 100 years. Fancy cars, televisions and audio equipment for instance. Before that, there were ornate luxury tools.

Re: Teenage Engineering's free computer case

#20

Post by thomascountz » Fri, Aug 15, 2025, 6:02 AM UTC

brandokyk wrote: post #7

they have a branding problem - they are starting to being perceived like a snobby brand with ridiculously overpriced products sold as a status symbol - a Balanciaga of creative tech basically so they are trying to put out some cheap good value products to signal a return of the original hacker ethos

Being called "...a Balanciaga of creative tech" isn't a "branding problem," if it is, in fact, the brand.

We may or may not agree about it being a brand we'd buy, of even if it's an accurate description, but there's little doubt for me that TE has an identifiably unique and profitable brand.