The Internet Enabled Fridge - Bogus or Brilliant

a_unique_person · 16th March 2003, 03:11 PM

Quote:

THE fridge, always the fridge, everyone asked about the fridge.

LG Electronics has not sold one in Australia yet, but everyone who saw it knew about the LG Internet Refrigerator - the keystone of LG's Digital Home Network.
I spent a weekend living in a networked apartment, LG Electronics set up near the Sydney Opera House and a ton of people dropped in to check it out -- the lure of a view over Circular Quay may have helped.

Everyone ooh-ed and aah-ed at the colossus of an appliance with a 15.1in (37cm) touchscreen LCD monitor in the door.

Some wanted the sticker-shock straight away - $17,000 - some wanted to see it run the other appliances: an internet-enabled microwave on a shelf nearby and an internet-enabled front-loading washing machine. LG also has an internet-enabled air-conditioner, but that was not set up.

The novelty of having an inbuilt camera take their picture was too much for many to resist.

Some went a bit further and emailed those pictures.

Requests to run the washing machine from the fridge resulted in wide-eyed astonishment.

The most common question was: "But why?"

http://australianit.news.com.au/arti...nbv%5e,00.html

As they ask in the article, "But Why".

They have been advertising it on the TV, and haven't sold one.

espritch · 16th March 2003, 04:10 PM

The novelty would wear out after about 2 days tops. Then you'd be sitting there slapping your head saying: "I can't believe I spent that much money on a fridgerator!"

The Central Scrutinizer · 16th March 2003, 04:35 PM

Keep in mind that 20 years ago people were asking "Why would you want to spend $1000 just to tape a TV show? It would be a lot cheaper to stay home and watch it".

16th March 2003, 07:11 PM

As I'm already considering having a lap top in my kitchen for recipes, shopping lists and doing the shopping (we do the groceries online), as a phone/address book, checking email, etc, etc, I can see some use for the fridge. I can't see myself paying for it though. Right now, a fridge that size without the computer would probably cost no more than AUD$2000-$3000. I have a fridge of sufficient capacity now and only a few months old - the lap top I can get for less than AUD$2000. That's still a long way ahead of LG's price.

I also don't need my fridge to take pictures of me or turn my washing machine on, particularly as I can't imagine the fridge hopping into the laundry to load it for me and hang out the washing too. I would also be able to take the lap top elsewhere, whilst the fridge is pretty much stuck in the kitchen.

The ad for it makes me think that an internet enabled fridge is designed for people who need their whitegoods to make them seem interesting when in fact they are horribly, terribly dull.

The Fool · 16th March 2003, 10:02 PM

yea, an Internet fridge, just what I need. Does it take 5 minutes for the door to open?

arcticpenguin · 17th March 2003, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Central Scrutinizer
Keep in mind that 20 years ago people were asking "Why would you want to spend $1000 just to tape a TV show? It would be a lot cheaper to stay home and watch it".

You're right. people will be saying "why should I go home to eat, the 'frig can take care of that for me." And then the first time your appliances get hacked, you will reconsider.

Occasional Chemist · 17th March 2003, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Central Scrutinizer
Keep in mind that 20 years ago people were asking "Why would you want to spend $1000 just to tape a TV show? It would be a lot cheaper to stay home and watch it".

And most people didn't spend $1000 to tape a TV show. But they did agree that taping a TV show was something that it'd be nice to do someday - when it gets cheaper.

How many folks are there waiting for a fridge that can take their picture? How does that make their lives easier?

Soapy Sam · 19th March 2003, 03:04 AM

Does it have shielding for the fridge magnets? I wouldn't want to wipe the hard drive.

MRC_Hans · 19th March 2003, 06:02 AM

Mmmm, reminds me of a very old Donald Duck strip:

Granny Duck (is that her name in English?) is visiting, and she offers to do the dishes. "Well, its easy, I just got a dishwasher!" Donald answers and shows her how to start it. Then he leaves on an errand.

Later, he returns and is greeted by a now rather irritated Granny: "I dont know what you paid for that thingy, but if you ask me, you were cheated: I turned it on half an hour ago, and it hasn't even cleared the table yet!"

Hans

Psi Baba · 19th March 2003, 08:15 AM

The only useful feature of such a device that I could imagine doesn't seem to be part of it: that would be that it should keep track of its inventory and automatically place an order with the nearest supermarket when supplies are running low on things like milk, butter, soda, ketchup, etc. You should be able set user preferences for such things as "low supply" thresholds, which brands to order, quantities to be ordered, etc.

Captain_Snort · 19th March 2003, 04:19 PM

wow, I could look at porn and download MP3's while making a sandwich.

All we ned now is an internet enabled toilet and I'm set

16th March 2003, 03:11 PM	#1
a_unique_person Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Mt Disappointment Posts: 33,317	The Internet Enabled Fridge - Bogus or Brilliant Quote: THE fridge, always the fridge, everyone asked about the fridge. LG Electronics has not sold one in Australia yet, but everyone who saw it knew about the LG Internet Refrigerator - the keystone of LG's Digital Home Network. I spent a weekend living in a networked apartment, LG Electronics set up near the Sydney Opera House and a ton of people dropped in to check it out -- the lure of a view over Circular Quay may have helped. Everyone ooh-ed and aah-ed at the colossus of an appliance with a 15.1in (37cm) touchscreen LCD monitor in the door. Some wanted the sticker-shock straight away - $17,000 - some wanted to see it run the other appliances: an internet-enabled microwave on a shelf nearby and an internet-enabled front-loading washing machine. LG also has an internet-enabled air-conditioner, but that was not set up. The novelty of having an inbuilt camera take their picture was too much for many to resist. Some went a bit further and emailed those pictures. Requests to run the washing machine from the fridge resulted in wide-eyed astonishment. The most common question was: "But why?" http://australianit.news.com.au/arti...nbv%5e,00.html As they ask in the article, "But Why". They have been advertising it on the TV, and haven't sold one.
	__________________ *Continually pushing the boundaries of mediocrity.* Everything is possible, but not everything is probable. For if a man pretend to me that God hath spoken to him supernaturally, and immediately, and I make doubt of it, I cannot easily perceive what argument he can produce to oblige me to believe it. Hobbes

16th March 2003, 04:10 PM	#2
espritch Graduate Poster Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,380	The novelty would wear out after about 2 days tops. Then you'd be sitting there slapping your head saying: "I can't believe I spent that much money on a fridgerator!"
	__________________ "I'm the master of low expectations." - G. W. Bush

16th March 2003, 04:35 PM	#3
The Central Scrutinizer Penultimate Amazing Pither Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The White Zone Posts: 42,264	Keep in mind that 20 years ago people were asking "Why would you want to spend $1000 just to tape a TV show? It would be a lot cheaper to stay home and watch it".
	__________________ If I see somebody with a gun on a plane? I'll kill him.

16th March 2003, 07:11 PM	#4
spoonhandler Guest Posts: n/a	As I'm already considering having a lap top in my kitchen for recipes, shopping lists and doing the shopping (we do the groceries online), as a phone/address book, checking email, etc, etc, I can see some use for the fridge. I can't see myself paying for it though. Right now, a fridge that size without the computer would probably cost no more than AUD$2000-$3000. I have a fridge of sufficient capacity now and only a few months old - the lap top I can get for less than AUD$2000. That's still a long way ahead of LG's price. I also don't need my fridge to take pictures of me or turn my washing machine on, particularly as I can't imagine the fridge hopping into the laundry to load it for me and hang out the washing too. I would also be able to take the lap top elsewhere, whilst the fridge is pretty much stuck in the kitchen. The ad for it makes me think that an internet enabled fridge is designed for people who need their whitegoods to make them seem interesting when in fact they are horribly, terribly dull.
spoonhandler Guest Posts: n/a

16th March 2003, 10:02 PM	#5
The Fool Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 11,558	yea, an Internet fridge, just what I need. Does it take 5 minutes for the door to open?
	__________________ And what is good, Phaedrus,and what is not good. Need we ask anyone to tell us these things? R. M. Pirsig. (Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance) Lose half your IQ....Ask me how.

17th March 2003, 07:47 AM	#6
arcticpenguin woo ban clan Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 5,717	Quote: Originally posted by The Central Scrutinizer Keep in mind that 20 years ago people were asking "Why would you want to spend $1000 just to tape a TV show? It would be a lot cheaper to stay home and watch it". You're right. people will be saying "why should I go home to eat, the 'frig can take care of that for me." And then the first time your appliances get hacked, you will reconsider.
	__________________ The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who don't have it. - George Bernard Shaw

17th March 2003, 08:21 AM	#7
Occasional Chemist Muse Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 513	Quote: Originally posted by The Central Scrutinizer Keep in mind that 20 years ago people were asking "Why would you want to spend $1000 just to tape a TV show? It would be a lot cheaper to stay home and watch it". And most people didn't spend $1000 to tape a TV show. But they did agree that taping a TV show was something that it'd be nice to do someday - when it gets cheaper. How many folks are there waiting for a fridge that can take their picture? How does that make their lives easier?
Occasional Chemist Muse Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 513	__________________ Warning: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2) in /usr/local/apache/htdocs/vbulletin/admin/db_mysql.php on line 38

19th March 2003, 03:04 AM	#8
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,885	Does it have shielding for the fridge magnets? I wouldn't want to wipe the hard drive.
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,885

19th March 2003, 06:02 AM	#9
MRC_Hans Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Whithin earshot of the North Sea Posts: 16,600	Mmmm, reminds me of a very old Donald Duck strip: Granny Duck (is that her name in English?) is visiting, and she offers to do the dishes. "Well, its easy, I just got a dishwasher!" Donald answers and shows her how to start it. Then he leaves on an errand. Later, he returns and is greeted by a now rather irritated Granny: "I dont know what you paid for that thingy, but if you ask me, you were cheated: I turned it on half an hour ago, and it hasn't even cleared the table yet!" Hans
	__________________ Don't. Just don't.

19th March 2003, 08:15 AM	#10
Psi Baba Homo Skepticalis Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Occupying my barstool Posts: 3,177	The only useful feature of such a device that I could imagine doesn't seem to be part of it: that would be that it should keep track of its inventory and automatically place an order with the nearest supermarket when supplies are running low on things like milk, butter, soda, ketchup, etc. You should be able set user preferences for such things as "low supply" thresholds, which brands to order, quantities to be ordered, etc.
	__________________ Save Caribbean Rum! (seriously)

19th March 2003, 04:19 PM	#11
Captain_Snort Muse Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 665	wow, I could look at porn and download MP3's while making a sandwich. All we ned now is an internet enabled toilet and I'm set
	__________________ UKLS - 1984-2003, 2007- Girl 6: Besides, it's like he's an absentee landowner... And, I hate slumlords... ;-)