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Project Plex-Box

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the fun-hacks dept.

Greasy Spoon writes "Behold! The most ultimate XBox in the whole world. After growing tired with the dull black appearence of this guy's XBox (even with the green lighting skin added) he decided to spruce it up a bit."

40 of 332 comments (clear)

  1. Pretty boring by TheGrimace · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's an XBox in a plastic case. Somehow that just doesn't excite me much.

    1. Re:Pretty boring by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's going on sale soon at eBay. /. has just been used for promotion.

    2. Re:Pretty boring by JudgeFurious · · Score: 4, Insightful

      My thoughts too. "This? This is the ultimate XBox?"

      So basically all I need to do is replace the body on my corvette with a square plex box that a monkey could assemble to have the "ultimate Corvette" right? I'll pass.

      Post the story where some guy takes the existing XBox chasis, makes a mold of it, and casts his own in aluminum or clear plastic with lights inside of it and it might be worth the slashdotting that this guy's going to get.

      --
      Appended to the end of comments you post. 120 chars.
    3. Re:Pretty boring by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Give the dude some credit now. It takes talent to turn a $179 computer into a $600 computer.

    4. Re:Pretty boring by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Funny
      Not like this really matters, but if you are going to make one out of aluminum, you are not going to cast it. Cast aluminum is not that sexy. You're going to have to machine it. I suggest bead blasting and then anodizing it black afterwards, but of course the color is up to you, and a polished aluminum Xbox would be pretty sexy, too.

      Injection molding on a home scale is possible but that requires far more intense machining than making a new case for an Xbox, as you have to make molds, and machine them to a mirror finish. If you were going to make a plastic case you'd be far better off gluing it. The glue used for acrylic (aka, plexiglass) is simply acrylic dissolved in some kind of solvent; the same solvent will bite into the new acrylic. If you do a good job gluing it's very difficult to tell where acrylic has been glued.

      Aluminum is definitely the way to go in my book, because it hasn't been done to death. I would very much like to make an aluminum case for my game boy and game boy player - separate cases of course, as they are now - that would make it match my red game boy SP. But then, where do you stop? If I make a case for the GC, I'm going to have to make a controller, too. But, a metal controller is going to get wicked hot, so then I'm going to need to add cooling fins and a fan, and before you know it I've dropped it in my lap and it's assaulted my crotch. No no, far better to let someone else do that shit, and make aluminum parts for my car, instead.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    5. Re:Pretty boring by Idimmu+Xul · · Score: 4, Funny

      The developer version of the x-box is a transparent x-box case anyway.

      This really is more boring than you'd imagine!

      --
      The problem with slashdot is that most of its users were bullied and stuffed into lockers as kids!
  2. "My XBox is naked!!!..." by tombou · · Score: 4, Funny

    "My XBox is naked!!!...

    but it doesn't light up, and that's a problem for me..."

  3. Great... by Thargok · · Score: 4, Funny

    The God of Hubris sits in amazement as he wonders what is so great about a plastic to plexiglass with lights conversion. He then realizes how easily the title of 'God of modding' is and is content with hubris.

  4. Mixed feelings by jptechnical · · Score: 3, Interesting

    While I applaud your for your efforts, isnt this thing a little big? I mean it looks like it has twice the volume of the other case.

    I would be more impressed if you took some of the original shape or something so you could look at it and still recognize it as an XBOX.

    complaining aside, good work with the plexi, I would have a mishapen mess and nothing but scratches and abrasions

    --

    Boredom's not a burden anyone should bear.
  5. Oh oh ........ by jobbleberry · · Score: 3, Funny

    I guess this voids his waranty then :)

  6. Looks great, but... by teamhasnoi · · Score: 4, Funny

    does it cook a turkey in under 3 1/2 hours?

  7. Seems to me ... by Niet3sche · · Score: 4, Insightful
    That this is not in the spirit of modding. For instance, when he says, "look for it on ebay soon!", it sucks all the joy out of it for me. I thought that we, as a Geek Collective, made mods to overcome limitations imposed on our tastes. Instead, this seems to just be a mod to sell for profit.

    I'm not sure how this sits with me.

    My $.02

    1. Re:Seems to me ... by adrianbaugh · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I thought this at first, but then realised that he probably only wants to sell it so as to buy something else to mod.. Recognise the signs of addiction, people! :-)

      --
      "'I pass the test,' she said. 'I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel.'"
      - JRR Tolkien.
    2. Re:Seems to me ... by Pseudonym · · Score: 4, Funny

      There's a problem with that theory. Geeks don't have any taste.

      Coming soon: Queer Eye for the Geek Guy

      --
      sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f(q{sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f});
  8. Thats one dead server... by node159 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Ohh the HUMANITY!

    --
    GPLv2: I want my rights, I want my phone call! DRM: What use is a phone call, if you are unable to speak?
  9. mirror by ultrapenguin · · Score: 3, Insightful

    here.

    I don't understand though, most people case mod to make things smaller/nicer.
    He managed to take an already huge XBox and turn it into something even bigger.
    Why not just put a normal PC inside that case then? Heh.

    1. Re:mirror by jobbleberry · · Score: 3, Funny

      I did not think it was possible to make an X-Box bigger. I would like to see what he could do with the controllers.

    2. Re:mirror by cgenman · · Score: 5, Funny

      You mean like what this guy did to a GameBoy?

      --
      The ______ Agenda
  10. Re:Where are the fish? by a.koepke · · Score: 4, Funny

    Here is your fish, all you need is X-Box Linux and you are set.

    --


    (\(\
    (^.^)
    (")")
    *This is the cute bunny virus, please copy this into your sig so it can spread
  11. Let me get this straight... by Tyler+Eaves · · Score: 4, Funny
    He took something in a big, and ugly case, and then put it in an even bigger, and uglier case. Um, right. Even funnier, at the bottom of the page:
    The Final picture. Project Plex-Box is a sucess. Look for it to go on sale on ebay soon!
    He actually thinks someone will buy it? I'm not sure which is smaller, his brain, or his...well, you know.
    --
    TODO: Something witty here...
  12. God of modding? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'd think god would have steadier hands with a dremel tool....

  13. Call to MS X-Box support... by Realistic_Dragon · · Score: 5, Funny

    My XBox DVD Rom drive is broken.
    <MS> Ok, no problem sir, we can replace it - is your warranty still valid?
    <owner> Well, it's in date...
    <MS> Have you done anything like adding a new hard disk sir?
    <owner> Errr, no... not as such... just some small comsmetic changes in fact.
    <MS> Stickers? Those are covered.
    <owner> Not exactly.
    <MS> Paint? I think we can live with that.
    <owner> Well, I sort of ripped it apart and made a new case for it.
    <MS> ?!
    <owner> Which glows. But thats not why it's broken! I never went near the DVD with the hammer when I was taking the case apart.
    <MS> !!
    <owner> Hey, when you take it back for repair, you will be careful not to scratch the pexi glass right? Or break the soldering on the new LEDs.
    <click - call terminated>

    --
    Beep beep.
  14. thanks for clarifying by Ravagin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ahh, I see. The most ultimate. As opposed to the less ultimate ones, such as the moderately ultimate and least ultimate.

    talk about the penultimate x-box.

    (heh also note the way the submitter just copied the webpage text and changed a few personal pronouns. i am in awe of such laziness.)

    --

    Karma: T-rexcellent.

  15. Quick Capsule Review by Nathdot · · Score: 5, Interesting

    To quote the late great Bill Hicks:

    "Quick Capsule Review: 'Piece Of Shiiit!'"

    Seriously. It's fucken ugly. There's a reason more manufacturers out there aren't investigating clear perspex. Computer insides are not aesthetically pleasing.

    So the next time you're thinking about modding your boxen stop and say to yourself: "Can I do better than simply dumping my computer's insides into a fish tank?"... The answer, if you're wondering, is a resounding yes.

  16. Why? by trystanu · · Score: 3, Funny

    1) Build ugly ridiculous looking xbox mod, because I can
    2) ...
    3) Make ludicrous amounts of money

    Is step 2 slashdot+eBay?

  17. Another lame mod... by Kulic · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Is it just me or are all case mods the same these days? Add plexiglass, lights, leds, maybe vaguely interesting feature (X2 logo).

    Does anyone else remember when case modding used to be cool? Where are the stylish custom stickers? (some nice ones on penny-arcade a while ago) The lego man stuck in cryo in the optical mouse? (too lazy to go find this link too)

    Why isn't anyone pulling apart their CD/DVD tray and making that out of plexiglass?

    In summary, novel and innovative=cool, gratuitous use of plexiglass and lights=lame. (Soz for all the whining).

    1. Re:Another lame mod... by Palverone · · Score: 5, Informative

      1st link in google! you are super-lazy

      http://metku.net/cryo/

  18. cease and desist by fermion · · Score: 3, Funny

    This is to notify you that you are in violation of the DMCA. All MS hardware includes proprietary encrypted screws and advanced adhesive patented security technology to protect our IP. By removing these technological protections, and exposing the underlying technology, you have violated more IP rights than you can possible imagine. You are a terrorist. The FBI will soon be at your house to throw you in a dark deep dungeon.

    --
    "She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
  19. THIS LOOKS LIKE ASS by thelizman · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Lissen up folks, just because someone does a really good job cutting plexi and mounting stuff to it doesn't make it a good case mod. It's a box. My dead granny can make something more imaginitve than this.

  20. It's obvious why he did this... by Osrin · · Score: 3, Funny

    Clearly (based on the pics) he does not own a TV, leaving the xbox itself as the only form of physical entertainment.

    The black box must have been as boring as hell.

  21. Mass-produced replacement cases by blincoln · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'm really surprised that more manufacturers haven't jumped on selling replacement transparent and/or coloured cases made to otherwise look like the originals for the most recent wave of consoles.

    It's easy to find them for the PS1 and Dreamcast, so why not the current ones?

    This is the kind of thing I'm talking about.

    --
    "...always new atoms but always doing the same dance, remembering what the dance was yesterday." -Richard Feynman
  22. All it needs now by KalvinB · · Score: 3, Funny

    is a spoiler.

    Rice-Box(tm)

    Ben

    --
    Work Safe Porn
  23. Yeah great by brunes69 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Hey guys, I have a swell idea! Let's take an already huge and clumsy game console, and make it even LARGER! In fact, let's make it 3 TIMES LARGER!

    While we are at it, we can increase its already HORRENDOUS power consumption by ADDING MORE LIGHTS!

    This will get us on slashdot for sure!"

    Seriously though, most case mods are cool, but this is retarded. Not only does it look like ass but the form factor is now so huge you could'nt even keep it in your entertainment centre. Plus I bet it is significantly noiser now that it isn't in its native housing.

    The XBox is already a huge ugly console before doing this.

  24. Re:"most ultimate"? by Coward,+Anonymous · · Score: 5, Funny

    Most ultimate is more bester than just plain ultimate.

  25. IT *WAS* sold on E-Bay - Today! by Greasy+Spoon · · Score: 5, Informative

    Good God... After reading your comment, I thought I would search e-bay for "xbox mod" and holy shit... Here it is:

    1. Re:IT *WAS* sold on E-Bay - Today! by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 3, Informative

      Well, according to the item description, which you apparently didn't read:

      XBox Game System - $200

      Plexiglass - $25

      Neon Light - $10

      Presumably, that's pretty close to the true values. (It looks like you can get a new XBox on sale at Amazon for $180, and I imagine you might get a bit better if you shop around, but $200 is probably about right.)

      So he made $70 for his labor. Unless he was really quick, it probably wouldn't be a good idea for him to quit his day job.

      --

      How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
  26. "God"? by t0ny · · Score: 3, Insightful
    If he really were the god of modding, you would think he could make something that didnt look like somebody dumped parts into a fishtank.

    IMO, it looks worse than before he started. BTW, "God" needs to learn to use a spellchecker before he posts a page on the internet.

    --

    Manipulate the moderator system! Mod someone as "overrated" today.

  27. My eyes have been raped. by MindNumbingOblivion · · Score: 4, Funny
    So, for those who were going to read the posts and then go look at the page of crappiness, here's a summary.

    1)Bigger box of plexiglass does not in fact make the Xbox any less of an unholy demonic powered eyesore.

    2)Green lights do not make for less power drain.

    3)A better word for "most ultimate" would be...ultimate

    4)And one of my own...I was surprised at first that it wasn's /.-ed...and then I looked at the page and realized why. Any momentary frying of the server would have resulted from the multitudes of viewers getting to the page and simultaneously trying to back out. Like a drunk frat boy who has a sudden moment of sobriety and notices that the girl he thought was teh h077n355 really might not be all that attractive after all...

    --
    #define CLUE 0
  28. This just proves... by rjung2k · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ...industrial design should not be done by amateurs.

    --

    --R.J.
    Electric-Escape.net

  29. Wow! What a complete and utter clusterfark! by BiOFH · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wow! That really is the ugliest thing I've ever seen! Thanks, Slashdot, for bringing this piece of crap to our attention. Now hundreds of 1337 g4m0rz who have modded their PCs with... well the same tubes and LEDs and plexy crap, really... can feel better about their 'Tandy 30-in-One' lookalike craptastic boxes! They have truly acheived 1960s electronic chic.

    Now, if we could find something to make all those airfoiled, spoilered,prismatic,fiberglass Civic, Prelude and Supra mods look like more than some 6 year old's first attempt at a Revell Mustang kit. They need love too.

    Yours truly,
    The Bitch

    --
    - I am made of meat.