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Mac Case Mods

Posted by Hemos on from the look-at-the-purty dept.

EyesWideOpen writes "Wired News is running two articles about numerous case mods to Macs. The first article is about Japanese mods that include painted PowerBook lids, a black iMac and a 'Beer Server G3' among others. The other article features mods such as the Philco radio Mac, a Mac writing tablet and an awesome G4 tower that lights up with fluorescent blue neon and has a LCD screen mounted in the front panel that can mirror the desktop or display other visualizations."

21 of 58 comments (clear)

  1. Did any one else notice... by arcadum · · Score: 5, Funny

    The magnet next to the hard drive?

    1. Re:Did any one else notice... by plastik55 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Not to mention the actual data, which is moving around in circles 5400 cycles/minute with respect to the "stationary" magnet.

      --

      I have a positive modifier on Troll. When I mod someone Troll their karma should go UP!

  2. Too much time by L.+VeGas · · Score: 3, Funny

    Ok, I guess I'm not uber enough, but just what is up with case mods? What's so magic about a computer case that you want to turn it into a circus?

    Ohhhh, because you use a computer, you want to decorate it. Come on. I grab my dork everyday, but it doesn't mean I want to turn it into a christmas tree.

    --
    Best Windows Freeware
    1. Re:Too much time by Dephex+Twin · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Why do people decorate their house? Get a nice car? Buy clothes for more than utilitarian purposes?

      People like to personalize stuff that they are around every day. People who do case mods like to express themselves, they like using the fun modded case, and above all, they enjoy the process of tinkering and carrying out the modifications.

      --

      If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe. -- Carl Sagan
  3. And another thing by Dephex+Twin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Some people DO decorate their "dorks"... it's called piercings and tattoos.

    --

    If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe. -- Carl Sagan
  4. I mod them so much by jlower · · Score: 3, Interesting

    That they aren't even computers any more. I've made aquariums out of 'classic' Macs, Lisas, MacTV's, and large monitors of all kinds. I've made Macs into bookshelf speakers, Old IBM PC's into cat litterboxes, and am now working on coverting an old laptop into an ant farm. I'm keeping my eyes open for a big PC tower so I can cut the top off, hinge it with a foot pedal and make a trash can.

    Why? 'cause I like to tear stuff up and make it into something else. Does anyone need a better reason?

    See a lot of my stuff here...

  5. When a G4 Cube isn't a G4 Cube by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Hey All,

    It sounds weird but it is happening... Take a look the birth pictures of my "Cube".

    http://www.wookieweb.com/linux/cube.htm

    wookie
    www.wookieweb.com

  6. G3 Beer Keg by rampant+mac · · Score: 3, Funny
    Thank god I never thought of turning my computer into a keg when I was in college.

    Imagine if I could've gotten wasted, wasting time chatting and playing games.

    Oh wait, I did. I just had to walk across the room to the fridge.

    Lucky bastards.

    --
    I like big butts and I cannot lie.
  7. Way, way, way too much time by thatguywhoiam · · Score: 3, Insightful
    I have to agree somewhat with the original poster. While some of 'em definitely look like interesting diversions (the radio was an old mac), I don't get the G4 case mod. It looks ridiculous, which is maybe the point, but I very very seldom see a mod that makes the thing look better.

    Just to be a designer-wank, I have to ask: what makes these people think they can do better than Apple? Do they not understand that part of the premium they've paid for the computer is that some smart m*therf*ckers sat around a looog time with their Chai Lattes and Industrial Design degrees, and figured out something incredibly spiff?

    I mean, if you want to, go for it, cut a hole in your G4. I guess I'm just lamenting the fact that it almost always looks much worse. Every time I see "l33t sexy mod' on Slashdot, I click through and start laughing my ass off. Then I wonder if the poster has maybe lost a heat-tile or two from their Aesthetic Discretion Module (apologies to N.S.)...

    --
    If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.
  8. Cool, but where... by MImeKillEr · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ... can *I* get a G4 case? I'd love to just rip apart and slap my Duron into it.

    Anyone know where I can get a G4 case cheap? Yeah, I know the case mods have been done before, but its not like I'm looking to publish it or anything. The PC cases are just too ugly, and even the McPC case is ugly to me.

    --
    Cruising the internet on my TI-99/4A @ a whopping 300 baud!
    1. Re:Cool, but where... by jlower · · Score: 2

      Do you know anyone who works at an authorized Apple Repair center? When I did (many years ago), we could create an entire Mac from service parts. In fact, when I built my MacTV aquarium I did so by ordering all the case plastic parts from Apple instead of tearing up an old computer.

    2. Re:Cool, but where... by Spencerian · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The problem with this idea is that, today, the cost of using service parts would easily exceed the cost of a built system. Geez...I just received a quote for a replacement multiprocessor module for a 2000 500MHz dual-processor G4 that cost almost as much as it would to buy a new dual 867MHz system today.

      I'm an Apple Service Tech.

      You'd be better off buying the whole working computer from someone. There's plenty of Blue-and White Power Macintosh G3 cases, and maybe more G4s. Caveat emptor.

      --
      Vos teneo officium eram periculosus ut vos recipero is.
    3. Re:Cool, but where... by Tycho · · Score: 2

      eBay, man eBay. Just search in the Mac section for case. However as neat as this sounds you are probably looking at about $120 for a case without a power supply, but with all of the important bits like the drive brackets, which from Apple can be surprisingly expensive. You would still have to get the standoffs out and I'm not sure what the best method for doing so would be. Also the original standoffs are significanly taller than standard PC case standoffs, which is another problem you would have to solve.

      --
      Impersonating Tycho from Penny Arcade since before there was a PA.
    4. Re:Cool, but where... by jpellino · · Score: 2

      "The problem with this idea is that, today, the cost of using service parts would easily exceed the cost of a built system"

      Geez - I got the same problem with my Dodge Neon - once I throw a front bumper with more lights, cold air intake, turbocharger, ground effect strips, altezza lights - gosh - I coulda bought a new neon for less!

      Only it just ain't the same... ;-)

      --
      "Win treats sysadmins better than users. Mac treats users better than sysadmins. Linux treats everyone like sysadmins."
  9. Why Mac Cases? by Kevin+Stevens · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I understand the basis from which PC case modding arose... people wanted something more than a beige square box with no personality. But Mac cases are already quite attractive. I guess case moding has now reached a hacker/artistic level where people do it just to push the envelope and find new ways to express themselves.

  10. Another Mac First by BitGeek · · Score: 5, Interesting



    Most people don't realize this but Mac users started the fad of case mods. I'm not kidding. Long before there were any companies catering to PC case modders, back when all PCs came in original IBM AT style cases, Mac users were modifying their cases. Not as fancy as these days, but I especially remember the case mods coming out of japan.

    Just as PC manufacturers have started emulating the more stylish, and then more colorful Mac cases, so has the PC mod community emulated the Mac mod community.

    Nothing wrong with that, just want to head off at the pass any idea that MAc users are copying PC users. Apple also puts out some of the most modifiable cases in the market.

    --
    Yeah, and you guys panned the ipod too: http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/23/ 1816257
  11. Place For Macintosh Mods by obi-1-kenobi · · Score: 3, Informative

    The best place for Macintosh mods is AppleFritter http://www.AppleFritter.com

    --
    "You win again Gravity!" -Futurama (Zapp)
  12. Trackpoint on mac laptops. by peterb · · Score: 2


    If I could get a Mac laptop modified to support a trackpoint, I'd buy a new iBook or Tibook tomorrow.

  13. Re:help with TiBook by EyesWideOpen · · Score: 2

    The best I could find was this site where mostly G3's are modded (though they claim that they 'work with other PowerBooks as well').

    --

    As with the sun's light
    My mom was magnificent
    Unquestionable
  14. Re:lcd by red5 · · Score: 2

    That would be a neat rack mount. Turn the lcd sideways and then you don't have to have a mopnitor in the rack.

    Or you could just buy this for $1499.

    --
    I know I'm going to hell, I'm just trying to get good seats.
  15. Re:lcd by usr122122121 · · Score: 2
    Or you could just buy this for $1499.
    Or... For a lot less money you could just buy this for $225. The monitor is not included, but it takes a 15" Flat Panel Display... which you can buy on eBay for a couple hundred bucks.
    --

    -braxton