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Who is Making Cases out of Natural Materials?

Posted by Cliff on from the turn-your-pet-rocks-into-computer-cases dept.

alansz asks: "I've been rereading William Gibson's Idoru lately (insert your favorite bookstore link). The main character uses a computer made by 'Sandbenders', an Oregon commune that designs computer cases (and parts) from natural materials like stone, wood, glass, etc. The theme is a blending of the natural/analog and the relentlessly cybernetic/digital. Like the imaginary customers of this commune, I find the idea of such a computer very appealing. There's a fair number of case mod stories here on Slashdot. Have any of you actually made (or decorated) or found a company that makes PC cases that incorporate unusual materials and a natural aesthetic?"

7 of 57 comments (clear)

  1. Almost 30 years ago by MarkusQ · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I had a Northstar (8080) with a cherrywood case. It was sweet (*sigh*). 2 MHz, and 32k of RAM...what a great machine.

    -- MarkusQ (waxing nostalgic)

  2. Here! by Konster · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...like this?

  3. Be careful of EMF by photon317 · · Score: 4, Informative


    If you undertake a project to build a funky case out of plastic/glass/stone/wood/whatever, be sure to take the EMF into account. If it's something opaque like wood, this is easily remedied by liing the inside of the case with a faraday cage (wire mesh of the right size, basically). I'm not sure what you should do for clear materials - perhaps leaded glasses have some emf shield properties? not really sure on this.

    --
    11*43+456^2
  4. Kharma Whoring by Pfhor · · Score: 3, Informative

    I was procrastinating from writting a paper and noticed the page was running slowly. Here's a mirror:
    http://www.students.bucknell.edu/cbarker/ case/

  5. old news by DMBoyd · · Score: 3, Funny

    I already have this. My computer's made entirely of natural materials.
    Sand for the circuit board and transistors.
    animals and plants to the crude oil that makes the plastics.
    And natural rocks, found in the ground, refined to give the metallic casing.

    from 100% natural materials.

  6. Natural Glass? by blueroo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Last I checked steel and aluminum was about as natural as glass is...

  7. You could try these guys... by Sierran · · Score: 5, Informative

    ...I've seen them around for a while.

    http://www.arbustus.com/ ...they make wood cases and computer systems, as well as periphs (mice, keybds, LCD monitors *DROOL*). They'll even let you pick the wood. They also do PDA veneer and the like. Some of their high-end stuff is quite striking, if out of my price range. :-)

    --
    A hero is someone who knows when to run away. I am a hero. -Trent the Uncatchable