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Ye Olde World Charm

Posted by Soulskill on from the anachronistic-appliances dept.

The Solitaire brings us a link to Datamancer, where Richard R. Nagy shows off his Steampunk Laptop. The attention to detail and the creative style, which includes a copper-plated keyboard and speakers shaped like violin f-holes, make this an impressive case mod. From Datamancer: "This may look like a Victorian music box, but inside this intricately hand-crafted wooden case lives a Hewlett-Packard ZT1000 laptop that runs both Windows XP and Ubuntu Linux. It features an elaborate display of clockworks under glass, engraved brass accents, claw feet, an antiqued copper keyboard and mouse, leather wrist pads, and customized wireless network card. The machine turns on with an antique clock-winding key by way of a custom-built ratcheting switch made from old clock parts."

8 of 130 comments (clear)

  1. The Fossil Computer by PIPBoy3000 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Years ago, before I had my second kid, I created a Fossil computer that was Victorian themed in brass, wood, and had an old fish fossil mounted where the tag went. It took a huge amount of time, but was one of those great father-son bonding experiences (he has a full machine shop, so he did most of the work). I loved the look and still feel I should turn it into a Media PC and stick it in our living room.

    It seems a little sad that it's now my daughter's computer, sitting on the floor. The most excitement it gets these days is to play online Barbie or NickJr games.

    1. Re:The Fossil Computer by QuickFox · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Who gives a flying fuck what YOU think? Just in case you didn't notice, I would like to point out that you are not being entirely polite.

      Furthermore, please note that this is a discussion site. This means that it is intended as a place where people may voice their thoughts and opinions, just like the grandparent did.

      You might consider bearing this in mind in the future, should you wish to give a less stupid impression.
      --
      Terrorists can't threaten a country's freedom and democracy. Only lawmakers and voters can do that.
  2. Too bad about the cover by Goaway · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It really is a shame to put that much effort into making something, and then totally ruining it with that cover, that just screams that the creator knows nothing about how clockwork actually works. It really is kind of an eyesore on an otherwise beautiful piece of work.

    1. Re:Too bad about the cover by CensorshipDonkey · · Score: 5, Informative

      If you read the article, you'd see he originally attempted actual, moving clockwork on the back powered by an electric train motor. However, in order to hold gears in the very precise positions necessary, their axles must be set in a thick piece of material. This made for a top case so thick and heavy the laptop would overbalance and fall backward when opened. So, he instead went with a thinner, workable cover and cosmetic only gears.

  3. Re:alternatives by Hal_Porter · · Score: 5, Informative

    You can spot these hidden goatse links quite easily. Let's break the code

    Here's a search for "test" on google

    http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=test&btnG=Google+Search

    Now q is the search string. btnG is the function. If I clicked I'm feeling lucky I'd have got btnI instead.

    Let's look at the parent link.

    http://www.google.com/search?Searchq=old+world+case+mod&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&gn=10&refer=4e9fd9f4624c02685096769364a81d95&ref=cff0e9b1f2db017a44b88bb0d174771d&q=goatse.ca&btnI&link=hooray

    Searchq is ignored by Google. The next few things are obfuscation too. At the end we see q=goatse.ca and btnI which means I'm feeling lucky. First hit on goatse.ca is the dreaded image and btnI means "I'm feeling lucky", i.e. jump to the first hit.

    --
    echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
  4. Ye olde worlde .... YECH! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative
    Ye Gods.

    Once upon a time, there was a letter, Thorn. It made a th sound. It came to look like the letter Y. Then it disappeared. What we are left with is Ye Olde Everything.

    Thorn in the form of a Y survives to this day in pseudo-archaic usages, particularly the stock prefix Ye olde. The definite article spelled with Y for thorn is often jocularly or mistakenly pronounced /ji/ or mistaken for the archaic nominative case of you, written ye. It is used infrequently in some modern English word games to replace the th with a single letter.


    Sigh. Anyway, the computer is amazing. I have to find one of those Underwoods.
  5. /.ed by gaderael · · Score: 4, Funny

    Me doth thinkest yonder website has been Slashdotted...eth

    --
    Anyone got a light for my sig?
  6. Corel Cache by Razed+By+TV · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://www.datamancer.net.nyud.net:8090/