We have covered the Mac Vs PC argument from many different angles, but one we have not touched on is the repeated claim by Mac fans that Macs are simply better looking.

It is often heard that Macs are better quality but we have shown that they use the exact same parts as a PC and even with expensive aluminum cases, Apple Tax varies between couple of hundred and couple of thousand greenbacks. Once that item was finished the argument was thrown out that Macs are designed better and more aesthetically pleasing. Just as in the ads Apple is fond of putting out the going belief is that PCs are dull and boring. They lack the clean stark lines of the Apple designs. Of course to many the stark white boxes are also dull and boring but that is a very subjective matter.

What Apple fans fail to see about the PC are the vast possibilities that are there for you, Macs are, for the most part, a what-you-see-is-what-you-get product. You are locked in as far as upgrade, performance, and yes aesthetic choice.

With a PC I can buy the case I want, the parts I want and even the OS I want. It is truly mine, as unique and individualized as I am. But I am digressing a little here; the reason I bring choice in is to show that you do not have to buy from Dell or HP, or Acer to get a PC.  There are literally dozens of boutique PC builders that can and will make you a custom PC to rival the looks of any Mac out.

Many of these builders make gaudy boxes or do not do much more than impressive air brushing to a existing case. But there is one that comes to mind that does so much more. They take the stock boxy PC and turn it into a work of art; a show piece that, like a well composed photograph, you can spend hours discovering all the details in.

Now, this company is murderbox.

If you are not familiar with murderbox take a quick break and give your eyes a treat by visiting their website. Don’t worry we will be here waiting for you to get back. And that is just the beginning - we spoke with Charles Harwood [creator of the murderbox] about the site and he told us that they are rebuilding the site and adding new photographs and concepts.

Now that is out of the way let’s talk about the artistry you just saw. There is no doubt that murderbox builds beautiful systems. They are live 3 dimensional photographs. As with a well taken picture your eyes are drawn to parts and then wander around discovering other details that are both separate and part of the whole.

The level of detail and craftsmanship is evident even at a glance; from the individually sleeved power cables to the fabric sleeves on the SATA cables to simple and clean interior layout. The exterior is the height of simplicity in design and execution. The powder coating gives a stain glow to the black color; the simple red lit murderbox logo draws your eye to it better than the brightest neon ever could.

The murderbox simply stands out; it is like a visible shout catching your eyes and imagination at the same time.

The murderbox is not something you shove under the desk that is for sure, no you would place this in an easy to see position for everyone to enjoy.

But the murderbox is not just about looks; it is about quality and performance at every level. Charles Harwood, Nils Papke, and Kirk Olson have made a commitment to make the most elegant and powerful systems out. As Charles says on the murderbox website;

“The ultimate fusion of power and beauty, murderbox ascends to assert its place atop the high-end PC platform with a statement like no other.  Murderbox exploits the very latest advancements in computer technology while employing classic design cues derived from a simple, elegant concept of form balanced with function.”

I have to agree with him on that sentiment. Just take a look at the components used in a murderbox, high-end Intel Quad Core CPUs [including the Core i7] Dual and Triple SLI or Crossfire and quad Crossfire-X setups, great performing memory, powerful and efficient power supplies and fast hard drives. Across the board it trounces the Mac in terms of hardware and available performance. You're not locked in using Windows operating system, since there are many operating systems to choose from.

So for those that feel the Mac still beats the PC in terms of performance, elegance and artistic form. I give you the simply stunning and beautiful murderbox; a PC that outshines the Mac in both performance and beauty.

The murderbox is quite simply the anti-mac. It doesn't go into philosophical discussions who's who or what's what. It is simply a PC on a different level, a sportscar that you look for hours before entering the cockpit.