Updated: Sun Dec. 27 2009 12:59:11 PM
ctvottawa.ca

Think of Alberta, and what comes to mind? Mountains, open spaces, the oil industry. Well, it's time to think again. How about avant-garde computers?

This is the Enlighten computer, made in Vegreville, Alta.

This device went to the top of the Christmas list at the prestigious Wired Magazine.

It's turning heads at the Wired store in Manhattan.

Noah Norman, the store manager, says "The first reaction we get from everybody, which is obvious, is - what is this?"

This is the Enlighten PC by Suissa. It's both high tech and high design, made of wood and glass and aluminum. It is a computer, but it does not look like one.

And it's a long way from the workshop ,where it was built in downtown Vegreville.

Howard Suissa, the creator, says "I designed this because as an artist, I need to express something about technology, about society, and about culture."

The computers are hand-crafted and made to order - everything from the type of wood, glass and metals on the outside, to the components on the inside.

"The system is there to express you, something to store your memories on, something that is beautiful and reflects the beauty of your memories."

It's that sleek beauty and audacious vision that helped Suissa's PC hit the top of the list in December's Wired magazine

Joe Brown, editor at Wired, says "Suissa the company uses the best components, and this case that you never want to get rid of. It's such an object, and when you live with technology more people are going to want to show it off."