Coffee tables aren’t just for holding your drinks and showing off imported magazines. They’re the backbone of any living room set-up; a neutral zone between the TV and couch. One that can be turned towards the dark side with a bit of cash and/or circuitry.
Even though Microsoft’s Surface is the benchmark for ridiculous coffee tables (yours for a sweet $20 thousand), there’s been an influx of techie coffee tables in recent years. These range from DIY efforts like the fully functioning NES control pad to the production line iTable. In amongst that you’ll find converted arcade cabinets, digital light shows, a whole lot of touchscreens and hundreds of marriages torn apart by men attempting to install Linux in a coffee table.
Sure, the introduction of the iPad makes most of this totally obsolete, but there’s something to be said for coffee tables too high-tech for your morning coffee. And hey, it certainly beats one of those faux pine efforts from IKEA. Or being poor.
Buy a
Microsoft Surface or an
iTable and flaunt your nerd credentials.