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Wooden-Cased Computers, Small and Extra-Large

Posted by timothy on from the that-stuff-grows-on-trees dept.

DCPete writes "Some guy made a pretty nice mahogany computer table; apparently he does this as a hobby. I've seen lots of stuff like this before, but this one is actually nice and would be fun in a kitchen or studio apartment." On the smaller end of things, LoSmilzo writes "This guy made a real wooden laptop ... totally stunning! Not a wooden-covered laptop, but a real wooden one, made by hand, fully portable and usable, lighter than his original plastic shell."

35 of 282 comments (clear)

  1. Whos 'Some Guy'... by maxdamage · · Score: 4, Funny

    It looks to me like 'Christopher Horn' made it...

  2. Meh by Neil+Blender · · Score: 5, Funny

    My computer has been generating wood since the 80s.

  3. fire by kevinx · · Score: 3, Informative

    overclockers beware

    1. Re:fire by slAckEr+Of+dOOm · · Score: 5, Funny

      I mod his laptop -1, Flamebait

  4. Uhh by FireballX301 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Note to self: Never use Intel with wooden cases. Also keep away from fireplaces, errant sparks, or anything that may trigger flame.

    Very good mod, though, and it would definitely fit in with the right theming.

    1. Re:Uhh by AndroidCat · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I used an Intel chip with a wooden case. Of course, it was a 3 MHz 8085...

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  5. False Advertising by fembots · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Considering this guy's selling the laptop, the statement of "the ENTIRE LAPTOP is made by SOLID WOOD" isn't quite true.

    I wouldn't pick on the LCD screen or the touch pad, but what about the keyboard? It should be quite easy (compared to what he has done) to make wooden keys to fit.

    --
    Rock that crushes, Paper & Scissors that don't matter.
    1. Re:False Advertising by LearnToSpell · · Score: 3, Informative

      I remember Wired (?) doing a thing on a wooden computer a few years ago. Basically, everything that could be wood, was, including the keyboard. It looked amazing. 20 thousand bucks, IIRC.

      --
      Haida Manga
    2. Re:False Advertising by timmy_otoole · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yeah...he's just being lazy. Just by a copy of Scrabble and voila...instant keys.

    3. Re:False Advertising by EtherAlchemist · · Score: 4, Insightful


      It's OK, but not great. Honestly, IMO, the workmanship seems really rough on the wooden laptop.

      If I were to make one, I think I would have:
      - Recessed the screws (or at least made sure they were flush, sheesh)
      - Used hidden joints
      - NOT used verneer
      - Put more effort into thje finish

      --
      R(k)
  6. hmm by seymansey · · Score: 5, Funny

    I had a laptop once, it wooden go...

    1. Re:hmm by NanoGator · · Score: 4, Funny

      "I had a laptop once, it wooden go..."

      I had a Compaq once, too.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
  7. From the looks of that laptop by w.p.richardson · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Splinters could be a problem. It looked like shabbily stained pressed wood.

    Why not use a good looking wood, if you are going to all of that trouble?

    --

    Curb CO2 emissions: Kill yourself today!

  8. coming soon? by Sv-Manowar · · Score: 5, Funny

    Apple PowerBook G5: Mahogany Edition

    comes bundled with iLumberjack

    --
    Business Voyeur
  9. These would sell by Paul+Slocum · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I've had this idea for a long time, but will never have enough time to build it. I think wooden cases would sell well, since lots of people would like to have a PC that doesn't look like a hunk of plastic technology. Personally, I'd love to have one with old skool controls and readouts. Neon bulbs for power/HD and maybe some VU meters. Probably been done by some case modder, but where can you buy one?

  10. I think it's ugly. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Obviously, some people have a low threshold for what they consider to be "stunning" woodwork.

  11. I'll bet that case mod... by donnyspi · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...voided the warranty :-)

  12. Some engineering problems... by corporatemutantninja · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I wonder if it's laminated or solid wood. If the latter, he could have some problems with expansion/contraction as the wood moves with humidity changes.

    --
    Actually, I was trying to be Insightful, not Funny.
  13. WOOD? :-S by adolfojp · · Score: 4, Funny

    Great, just great.

    Computer bugs have made me loose sleep and hair for years... ...and now I also have to worry about termites.

    Some people are just asking for trouble ;-).

    Cheers,
    Adolfo

  14. I hate to urinate in his breakfast grains, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...that's one UGLY laptop. The idea of a wood case has potential, I admit but I'd rather have my soulless plastic than that thing.

    A+ for innovation.
    D- for implementation.

  15. Intel Inside... by telstar · · Score: 4, Funny

    Fugly Outside...

  16. Re:already been done? by dmf415 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Maybe he got the idea from this company, that already makes wood computer cases.

    site here:
    http://www.exoticwoodcrafts.com/

  17. Jokes by phalse+phace · · Score: 4, Funny

    And here come the jokes about his site being hosted by the wooden computer, the site being /.ed, and the wooden computer burning in flames...

    1. Re:Jokes by EMH_Mark3 · · Score: 3, Informative

      The old 'printer on fire' message wasn't actually an easter egg. Read this for the full story.

      --
      Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me
  18. Mirror anyone? by dustinbarbour · · Score: 3, Funny

    It has already been /.ed. I hope the fire department is on their way!

    --
    What is your penile percentile?
  19. Re:The only things left to add to this laptop are by darth_MALL · · Score: 5, Funny

    4. Wodden SpeelCheckr

  20. Cedar ROM Drive by iNatrix · · Score: 5, Funny

    I found the woodburning kit a bit cumbersome and time consuming when burning music Cedars.

  21. Better looking wood computers by jerometremblay · · Score: 5, Informative

    Holzkontor makes incredibely nice keyboards/monitors/mices in wood and stone.

    If only they weren't so fucking expensive.

  22. Wood and brass computer by PIPBoy3000 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I got the hunkering a few years ago to build my own wood computer.

    I dubbed it "The Fossil Computer", based on the fish fossil I have as a badge. The buttons and CD cover are hand-made out of brass. The wood was made on a milling machine. It turned out amazingly beautiful.

    On the down side, a solid wood case is quite heavy. It's also an excellent insulator so I had to be careful with airflow.

  23. Totally Stunning? by JudgeFurious · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'm sorry, I know the guy made a laptop out of wood but honestly, it looks like ass to me. This is 2005, there's no excuse to be getting all big in the head about making an ugly wooden laptop. That was 5-6 years ago. Now I'm impressed if someone makes an attractive laptop out of wood that's also thinner than a PowerBook.

    Standards are higher, get with the program people.

    --
    Appended to the end of comments you post. 120 chars.
  24. Observation by mstyne · · Score: 3, Funny

    That laptop looks really shitty.

    --
    mstyne: real name, no gimmicks
  25. Re:already been done? by Red+Leader. · · Score: 4, Informative

    As Christopher Horn, I can safely say that I did not get my idea from those people - in fact, I only have only recently become aware of those cases that you linked to; I recently started a Google AdWords campaign to sell my case and they appear to be my primary competitors.

    Though I have to run home now and see what you all did to my poor server (aka desktop computer), my website will tell you that the case is for sale. If you want to purcahse it, message me at this account, or wait for my little cable modem connection to recover and send me an email through my online form. I'm asking US$1,800 and can deliver within a good distance from Washington, DC (including NYC), or can arrange to ship the case.

  26. So YOU'RE the one Foamy was ranting about. by Chas · · Score: 4, Funny

    I wondered why this was so familiar.

    --


    Chas - The one, the only.
    THANK GOD!!!
  27. Hmmmm... by Alpha_Traveller · · Score: 3, Funny

    Brings new meaning to the phrase..."I got a woody."

    Would that we all would have a woody.

    --
    "Love is like pi - natural, irrational, and very important." (Lisa Hoffman)
  28. Re:already been done? by Sloppy · · Score: 5, Funny
    I have to run home now and see what you all did to my poor server
    Well, fortunately, most computers aren't made of easily-inflammable materi-- OH NO!!
    --
    As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.