[LINK] Internet Bar Fridge Announced

[Tom Worthington]

                 LINK INSTITUTE INTERNET ALERT

                 INTERNET BAR FRIDGE ANNOUNCED

Canberra, 21 February 2003: The world's first range of Internet Bar Fridges 
was announced today by Professor Klerphel of the Link Institute. The units 
combine solid state cooling and digital electronics in a compact desk or 
wall mounted cabinet.

Initially two models will be available: the "Executive" desk-top model with 
15 inch LCD screen and space for six cans and the "CEO" wall model with a 
106 cm plasma screen and space for 24 Champagne bottles. Both units feature 
a slim line case, not much thicker than a flat screen TV. They use solid 
state cooling in place of the motors in other Internet fridges.

While there have been other Internet fridges released (and years of 
research on the subject by Apple Computer), these have been large units 
designed for a family home. The Internet Bar Fridge will be aimed at the 
"empty nester" small home owner, home office and corporate executive office.

Professor Klerphell said at the launch: "The Internet fridge has shown the 
utility of integrating a device for cooling food with Internet access. We 
have all seen the massive improvements to quality of life from being able 
to access the Internet while standing in the middle of the kitchen. The 
Internet Bar Fridge brings all those advantages to the office environment."

The Internet Bar Fridge will include a digital door lock and anti-tamper 
alarm to prevent unauthorized access to the fridge contents. Hotels are 
said to have expressed interest in the unit as a replacement for the bar 
fridge, safe and TV.

The desktop Internet fridge is a direct replacement for a 15 inch LCD 
screen. The screen is mounted on the front of the fridge door, which swings 
out of the way to access the cooling chamber behind. From the front the 
fridge looks no larger than an ordinary screen. The fridge has VGA 
connectors for video and USB for door control. The increased size and 
weight of the screen is said to be an advantage, making it more stable than 
a lightweight LCD and more difficult to steal.

The wall mounted Internet fridge can be recessed into the wall for a 
slimmer profile. The plasma screen is also the fridge door and is power 
operated by a touch control, rising out of the way. An optional "digital 
barman" scanner is available to take stock of the content and reorder via 
the web.

Klerphel rejected criticism that the Internet Bar Fridge was an 
underpowered, overpriced energy wasting gimmick: "Our unit has comparable 
power, pricing and utility to other Internet fridges. Like them we price 
our Internet fridge at about twice that of a non-Internet model. Other 
Internet fridges don't have an energy star rating, so the jury is still out 
on efficiency. The competition run the obsolete Windows 98 operating 
system, whereas our fridge can run Windows XP or Linux. As for utility, 
people can sit down while using our desk top unit, who wants to stand up 
while using a computer?"

At a press conference today Professor Klerphell denied rumours that several 
senior government officials had accepted gifts of the fridge: "It would be 
a criminal offence to offer, or accept, a free fridge. Such a suggestion is 
insulting to us and the government people we do business with. Several 
fridges are on short term trial with consumers chosen at random. Thank you 
for your time. We will have to cut it short as I have an urgent call to make."

".... Is this microphone off? ... Good ... Hello George, make up some 
fridge trial documentation and backdate it six months. Then get the units 
back from those fat cats as soon as they sign those government orders. ... 
WHAT? ... I don't care if she has it built into the wall, it has to come out!"

;-)



Tom Worthington FACS tom.worthington@tomw.net.au Ph: 0419 496150
Director, Tomw Communications Pty Ltd ABN: 17 088 714 309
http://www.tomw.net.au PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617