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Student Designs Cardboard Computer Case
SpaceGhost writes "The Houston Chronicle has a story on a Grad student at the University of Houston who has designed a cardboard case for a computer. This is not a new concept, but this one is meant to be used in manufacture. The idea is that it will be faster and easier to produce (no fasteners for example) and dramatically easier to recycle."
But its probably not recyclable after it catches on fire from my overclocked processor
What's that burning smell?
from 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
to 45 2F 6E 40 3C DF 10 71 4E 41 DF AA 25 7D 31 3F
Not to mention, it's enviromentally friendly!
Some pictures?
My imagination is running wild.
"Speaking the Truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act." -- George Orwell
When I spray coke over it like I normally do when reading Slashdot?
Donte Alistair Anderson Roberts - hi son!
Karma: Chameleon
http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/05/recompute-a-closer-look-at-the-sustainable-cardboard-pc/ for a better description and better pictures
MUJI speakers!
Set your phasers on "funky"!
I'm not one to worry about shiny panels, glowing lights, etc. that are just going to sit unseen under a desktop. So long as it provides adequate cooling and airflow, and it's reasonably quiet, I'm in.
If libertarians are so opposed to effective government, why don't they all move to Somalia?
is grounding no longer a problem? I haven't built a computer in a while, but I'm not sure if cardboard makes a good ground.
im glad my chasis is waterproof (and stain proof...)
The case is either Al or steel sheet metal, easily recyclable. The toxic sludge and heavy metals in the PCB, capacitors and solder are the problem. Call me when they invent cardboard solder.
I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
I bet the case will be all eaten in a year or so.
New Economic Perspectives
Not again.
This is not the first time we have seen this idea
cardboard does not act as a Farady cage and the computer will leak large amounts of radio frequency interference so will not be legal in most countries.
...would be a cardboard case for a house.
They did. It's called "Duct Tape"
Brawndo: It's what plants crave!
I've used very early AT cases all the way into the socket 7 era - I even built an ultra rare P-II era system into an early AT case once. Then, when I went to ATX I kept reusing cases. Hurricane Ex Wife stealing everything followed by Hurricane Ike put a stop to that reuse chain, but I do intend to start reusing cases again.
The biggest "need" for a cardboard case comes from big name manufacturers that insist on making proprietary boards and cases instead of sticking with industry standards. I understand why, you don't want people gutting an HP, putting an ECS main board in it and reselling it as an HP at a flea market, but I'm sure there's other ways to deal with that particular issue.
The preceding post was not a Slashvertisement.
... and the cardboard box came in metal shipping crate.
Brawndo: It's what plants crave!
I think its a good idea, but it will require a good fireproof coating to pass UL certification, along with being rigid enough to hold a beer or computer books. Just at a glance the idea does have some flaws though, mainly heat will make it brittle over time since it's still paper /w a coating, it poses a fire risk, it will not dampen much noise and vibrations will probably cause it to wear out much quicker, than say METAL that is already recyclable.
When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail
TFA is light on details, but I wonder: how does this deal with interference? For consumer electronics, that's a big deal. Aluminum foil? What about flammability?
I think this is a neat way of thinking about a case. The "spill" issue unfortunately makes it a non-starter where I work... let's just say that many of the people I work with are idiots. For my own personal projects, I prefer a nice case that I reuse for a long time (like a Lian-Li).
As others have pointed out, the case is not difficult to recycle or toxic.
And who the hell throws away a case? It's the part that goes obsolete slowest, and several computers might occupy a case before it needs to be replaced.
# cat
Damn, my RAM is full of llamas.
why the hell are desktop cases so damn expensive?
I used to have up right computer cases becasue glass monitors were getting so damn big, and thus heavy. Now with LCD monitors, I would think the desktop would come back.
It saves more space then the tiny uprights Dell sell that stand next to the monitor, and makes room on the floor.
Obviously, the people on slashdot that get in and out of there case is probably a higher proportion then most people so I can see why some of you wouldn't want one.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
as if they're not attracted by the heat alone, now you're gonna provide them with an edible house ?!?!?
carry your iPhone 3G in style... recession style.
Why this case is a fail: The metal is an RF shield, it helps ensure proper operation of both computer and surrounding equipment.
Grounding is NOT an issue here; the power supply is grounded, there are grounds (usually multiple!) running to disks and whatnot. RF is very much an issue, however. The grounding is way secondary to the shielding.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Nothing new. On the ScreenSavers G4TechTV they built one that lasts. With cardboard Power and Reset buttons.
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss
Finally a use for is_computer_on_fire()
http://www.eeggs.com/items/15121.html
I wonder if making parts of out compostable plastic (http://worldcentric.org/biocompostables/bioplastics) makes even more sense. I'm curious how far you could go with that. For example - could the cooling fan blades and body be made out of that stuff too?
I seem to have got some notion somewhere that paper products such as cardboard burns at around 451 Fahrenheit (thats about 232 centigrade in proper units). If any part of your computer in contact with the case is anywhere close to that temperature, there is plenty of stuff that has already failed.
In any case, your current computer likely has a thin, metal case, which will conduct heat very nicely. If it is heated to 232 centigrade, then it will likely heat the floor/desk beneath it to almost the same temperatureï. What do you think happens to wood/carpet? There would be thousands of cases of red hot computers setting peoples homes on fire.
If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we shoot people for Apollo-related non-sequiturs?
The price of computers coming down is definitely a good thing and making them easier to recycle is great. Unfortunately there is growing trend of waste due to these cheap computers. As a consumer desktop technician I would see people replacing perfectly good hardware due to software issues. They are just so cheap and labor can be be pretty expensive, that it would be stupid to do anything else. The con is that a lot of cheap computers are going to the dump. Things would be perfect if people could learn the basics. Something as basic as backing up files and reinstalling the OS is beyond the scope of most consumers.
Pizza Box Linux Server ...
http://slashdot.org/story/99/09/10/1621242/Steaming-Heap-of-Quickies http://www.linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=1999-08-25-014-10-PR
A cardboard case sounds good in principle but probable isn't practical for computers due to EMI issues and noise line interference. Hell, I take a look at the 'plastic' cases that some do and already think that they are not all that well shielded.
One advantage of a card board case is it would be easier to read what is happening in the computer with remote sensors. Or to just it down with a microwave with a hole cut in the door.
Pretty sure a cardboard box with a modern motherboard inside doesn't quite meet the FCC Part 15 class B regulations for unintentional radio emissions needed for residential use. That's why computer cases are usually metal instead of plastic.
Moderating "-1, Disagree" is simple censorship. Have the guts to post your opinion.
magic elixir and that case will hold up to a lot more.
Won't replace shielding though. Maybe snip some tinfoil from your hats?
deleting the extra space after periods so i can stay relevant, yeah.
Now we can just print the electronics http://www.gizmag.com/go/4749/ directly on the cardboard box and just re-use the shipping crate for the computer and capacitive touch sensing keyboard. Now if we could just invent a switching power supply and power cord made entirely of paper it would be almost completely recyclable. Maybe Organic LED printed solar panels instead? Hmmmm, it better not rain much...
âoeWe already know that the computer will be thrown out, so I designed an object that does just that,â he said. âoeIf we were already reusing cases and replacing hardware (and software) at a mass scale, we would not have nearly the problems that we have now.â
0 = 1 + e^(Alt something)
Let me know when they have 5U 24 hot-swap drive cardboard rackmount cases. :-) Seriously though, this might be a good idea, I don't know. I do know no one reuses their cases anymore, but maybe a handful of people who know how to put a machine together, and only then if the machine isn't destined to be hand-me-down or somesuch. Just thinking of all the worthless-when-they-were-new E-machines out there makes me think it might just be a really good idea. As far as getting it wet goes, just paint it, which you'd probably want to do anyway just to make it presentable.
This dude does know that cases are normally made of aluminum and recycling them is profitable and kills no trees like his cardboard does right?
Wow, this is so unimpressive that I don't know what to say. The fact that this guy got away with this for his THESIS illustrates the decline of education in our society.
My 4 year old nephew did just this, does he qualify for the degree, too?
I've seen cat carriers made of corrugated plastic (just like cardboard, but with flexible plastic sheeting, it's a good bit stronger than cardboard) and that would seem like a much better choice of material. Liquids aren't an issue and it's still fairly easy to recycle, plus the plastic can be made with different colors and opacities so it would look nicer too.
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
"expects arguments about whether the case is really sustainable, given that it seems designed to be easily disposable."
Disposable is sustainable. The problem is not that things are disposable, it's that they aren't disposable enough.
I get a disposable coffee cup, I drink my coffee in 15 minutes and the plastic lid is going last 1000 years, that's hardly disposable.
My coffee cup should last only as long as I need it too. A disposable coffee cup that would start degrading with in 2 days would be a fine timeframe.
Mass manufacturing means that it's usually cheaper to get something new than to fix something old, just like it's easier to pick new fruit than to fix rotten fruit.
...and that is all I have to say about that.
http://jessta.id.au
What about Humidity, dirt, paper-eating bugs etc... ;) ;)
Aluminum and steel are already easily recyclable enough and are highly durable, I used my old steel AT case for 8 years till the ATX era and I think my current steel ATX case will last at least for the same time
No cardboard box can last the same
I do believe that cardboard could be a good replacement for plastic and metal in all situations where you don't need durability (I've seen cardboard chairs at a festival), but I want my pc to last ;)
Cya
Unluckily Murphy was right.
Plastic used in cases sequester carbon from the atmosphere helping to combat global warming! Paper just rots and releases more of it.
A computer case? Check out my HOUSE!
http://www.sweetawesometours.com/photos/003portland03/box-house.jpg
Bradbury tells all
Makes me remember those futuristic cars with wings drawn in 50s. This - http://www.chippc.com/thin-clients/jack-pc/ seams kinda cooler to me.
http://www.chinatraderonline.com/Files/Gifts-and-Crafts/Gift-Boxes/shoe-box-23064117699.jpg
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
I think modern hard drives rely on transferring some of their heat through the metal of a case. I remember Seagate back when they introduced the 10k drives where saying that they could reduce the heat of these drives by 5-10 degrees by using better case mounting that ensured the heat was transfered to the case.
You can recycle the case by giving it to a really short homeless person to live in.
This is my signature.
soid st egr.hyTa rsiugm usnin
Any questions?
Cardboard PC Case by Lupo.
Another article, from Gizmodo.
PC cases are one thing, but please don't take it too far!
Is anybody familiar with what it takes to make a good wood case?
It's a joke and all, but one of the useful properties of solder in electronics is that it is conductive as well as adhesive.
...the future crusty old bastards are already drinking the Kool-Aid.
a 100% aluminum or steel case is 100% recyclable. This "cardboard" thing is a gimmick. In fact most computer cases metal components are always recycled as the metal has the highest value.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
What next? Paper books?!!/?!??!
Ummm... no.
Aren't there some terrible chemicals used in the processing of cardboard? Have you ever driven by one of these plants? It's not what I would call "environmentally friendly".
I mean, kudos for thinking out of the "box" but I think the idea needs work. A kid spills something on the top of the case and you're toast. For what people pay for a modern computer, they want it protected, safe from fire, and they want it to look nice.
Catching on fire
Getting wet
Condensation
Humidity
Supporting other objects
Stress
Changing structure
Changing composition
Bacteria
Mold
Bugs getting inside, getting them back out
Mites
Unwashable
Overheating
Weight of components
EM interference to internal components
EM interference to external appliances (possible FCC violation)
Grounding
Reusability/longevity
Papercuts
Transportability
Modification
Static
Security
Looking stupid
Did I miss anything?
"Most people, I think, don't even know what a rootkit is, so why should they care about it?"
My buddies and I used a cardboard computer case for a desperate friend at a lan party in highschool. As we quickly found out, the worst thing about it, is the complete lack of easily mountable intake and outtake fans. The actual ingeneuty of the story is far more interesting (basically 12 of us scrounging for enough computer parts to allow our friend to play), but to this day it still boggles my mind we got the darn thing working. To prevent overheating though, we pulled the mobo and everything out of the cardboard box. It stopped overheating then pretty quickly.
Posting with out proof reading since 2001.
Working in a large Data Center, we explicitly prohibit staff and customers from bringing cardboard onto the DC floor because of dust. Not only does cardboard have a habit of carrying dust from the outside, it's a huge contributor of dust as the cardboard breaks down. Hopefully they plan on treating the cardboard to mitigate this decomposition.
If only existing computer cases where made of materials which could easily be recycled. Say steal, plastic, and aluminum. When will we learn!
... anywhere else that thing is going to collect colossal amounts of dust.
...as much as the next guy and I even got rid of my gas guzzling sports car but there are limits to my conservation efforts. I like shiny cases. I have a Mac Pro running Windows 7 and it' just a thing of beauty. I think it's great what he's doing but at the same time I don't want to feel guilty about placing some value on things that look or perform nice at the expense of the environment. I'm all for reducing our footprint but at the same time I'm emotionally shallow enough that I like to surround myself with pretty metal things that probably took a lot of effort to extract from the earth. ;)
Don't know about the rest of the world but I rarely 'dispose' of gear. There is always some piss-poor excuse for keeping that 486dx around. Maybe it's just sentiment.
boycott slashdot February 10th - 17th check out: altSlashdot.org
I challenge any claim that this has environmental benefits...
1) metal computer cases do not significantly contribute to environmental issues. Sure, they add bulk to landfills, but they aren't full of toxins or dangerous substances. It's the motherboards and components that are of concern with disposing of this type of stuff... and that's all still present in a cardboard-cased computer.
2) by making the outside of the computer more "disposable", they're encouraging people to throw them away at the end of life more than to recycle them... people will feel less guilty about doing so. If you think 18% recycling today is bad, this won't help improve things. You'd be better off making cases out of lead, mercury, and plutonium to get people to handle them properly upon disposal.
Net effect? More disposal of the stuff that actually causes problems... sorry, this ain't a winner.
MadCow.
I used to have a sig, but I set it free and it never came back.
Don't set your ipod on it!
Aluminum and glass are recyclable too I think I'll stick with them instead.
-Xen
Since when was Duct Tape made out of cardboard?
== Jez ==
Do you miss Firefox? Try Pale Moon.
Cardboard housing in general may be a good way out of recession.
"Dad! I thought you got me a computer! I ripped the cardboard box open and all I see is computer parts!"
A computer is not a device which you "dispose of" on a constant basis. Okay, sure, they don't exactly last forever, but a half descent computer should give a good two years of service at the very least. I'm typing this on a vintage 2006 computer and somehow I don't feel like it's useless. Cardboard is about the worst material for durability, fire resistance, liquid resistance etc. You spill a little liquid on it, its ruined. After a few months of just getting moved around it will look like hell, not to mention it does already. The CASE of the computer is not the expensive or the difficult to make part. It's just a metal box. You still have the power supply, the motherboard and everything else.
This case would easily disintigrate before the useful life of the computer ends. It would end sooner, though. If the case had some descent mounting hardware, you could upgrade it a lot easier than this.
Of course you can recycle a case made of steel, plastic or aluminum. It might not be quite as easy, assuming you need to reduce it all the way back to the raw materials.
Here's a crazy idea: A case made of reasonably durable materials. A simple ATX/FlexATX/ITX standard case. In other words, an ATCX case which also has screw holes in it so you could put an ITX style motherboard or one of the other reasonably standard variations. That case will be not just recyclable but entirely reusable until all of said standards have been completely abandoned and no longer avaliable for mother boards - which is likely to be some time. Computer getting old? Why buy a new one. Get a new mobo and pop it in the case. Use the same power supply and case and you can even use the same optical drives and other accessories! Too complicated for you? Send it back to the manufacturer and they'll put a new board in it, and even clean off all the fingerprints and grime on it.
The box it ships in.. is the case! Just like Model A's using part of the crate as floor boards.
Congratulations on doing something most computer techs did in grade school. Since we'd rather pay for a new house instead of a $30 case we might as well pad the inside with newspapers to damper the sound of the computer.
Hey, how about a cardboard oven? Cardboard lamp? Cardboard lighter?
I wonder what would happen if something hit it... I can't imagine it would be very sturdy... What if some angry jackass just kicks it? Or what if I spill my coffee on it?
Er, folks? This was well-blogged over five years ago when the japanese company Lupo produced it.
The company's gone, and not in waybackmachine, but here's plenty of pics from G'image
http://images.google.com/images?safe=off&q=lupo%20cardboard%20computer&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi
Oh, and a /. mention of it from 2003
http://slashdot.org/story/03/05/07/179254/Oddball-PC-Cases-From-Japan
Dunno which is more amusing this morning - that Taco didn't remember, or that nobody else has pointed it out in the comments already.
My then-really-expensive Chieftec case for my home desktop now houses it's third motherboard. I had to replace the ATX PSU with a ATX2 PSU the last time I changed motherboard, but I did NOT have to replace the case. I see absolutely no reason to throw away a good PC case ever, unless they change the ATX standard and I seriously doubt will be done within the next 20 years. Why would they do that? Would a cardboard box survive that long?
One more little detail. The last time I changed motherboard/CPU was because the PC turned off and there was smoke emanating from the motherboard when I opened the case. I wonder how well cardboard would have handled that little incident, specially if I were not in front of the computer at the time?
9/11: Never forget it was a false-flag operation
Not sure if I'm proud or not. Of course, if he wanted to fit the stereotype, he would have used plenty of duct tape.
The best thing about a boolean is even if you are wrong, you are only off by a bit.
Ah, so the silver-colored, reflective dust tape, then?
Or maybe you people can start using duct tapes for what it was intended - patching up wounds.
Same goes for you whippersnappers who think super glue is anything but a liquid bandage.
Why would you want a cardboard case? Is it actually beneficial in any way?
Cases are generally made from steel and/or aluminum... I thought both of those could be recycled easily already? Is cardboard actually easier to recycle than steel and aluminum?
What about grounding? Yes, I know, there are ground paths on all the power plugs on your components... But the case has always provided another grounding path. Is this no longer necessary?
What about RFI? I thought one of the major reasons to use a metal case (as opposed to the very few all-plastic ones out there) was to cut down on RF interference.
My understanding was that the majority of nasty (hard-to-recycle and/or toxic) stuff in a PC came from the PCBs, capacitors, ICs, and like kinds of things. How does a cardboard case cut down on this at all?
How durable is this cardboard anyway? I know I accidentally kick my computer at least once a week... Will this cardboard box stand up to that kind of abuse?
And the reasoning - because PCs are disposable? If your PC is disposable you're doing something wrong. Yes, they get damaged from time to time... And technology marches on... But PCs aren't disposable. It isn't like you're supposed to buy a new one every season. It isn't like you buy a new computer to match your fabulous evening gown.
And if anything is disposable in a computer, it sure as hell isn't the case. I've been re-using this same case for about 10 years now... It's a monstrously huge HP case that originally contained a storebought computer. I've replaced every single component in that case several times over, and I'm still using the same case.
Yeah, a paper computer sounds all nifty and green... But I really have to wonder at the logic. It doesn't seem to me that a cardboard case would actually improve much of anything, except maybe the manufacturer's bottom line.
"Work is the curse of the drinking classes." -Oscar Wilde
I see a lot of people commenting on how this is a bad idea because the case is the most reusable piece of a computer. While that may be true, how many people do you think actually reuse the case of their computer when they upgrade? I'd be willing to bet that most Joe Sixpack type consumers simply replace the entire machine when they're ready to upgrade. Sure, the /. crowd may upgrade parts until they can upgrade no more, and finally replace the entire guts, but do we realistically think that grandma is going to do the same? No, she'll buy an entirely new computer, and throw her current one out.
Don't get me wrong, I think a cardboard case is a terrible idea. There are just so many things that can go wrong (fire, water, instability due to vibrations, etc, etc). I just think that saying it's a terrible idea because a normal case can be reused isn't an entirely realistic argument.
Everything I say is a lie. Except that... and that... and that, and that, and that, and that... and that.
So, this guy figured out a way ot make the one reusable part of the PC just as disposable as the rest of the system? When you figure out a way to make a cardboard motherboard, or to implement a cost efficient business model whereby someone can exchange an old case for a new one with new guts (I.E., the propane tank model), then we will see some benefits. This guy just did the equivalent of trying to combat global warming by unplugging the speedometer in his SUV.
That case is impractical. What happens if the power supply or motherboard decide it's time to put on a light show? Instant fire! That's a liability they will have to overcome. Current metal (and plastic to some extent) will contain small fires or explosions you might get from a PC. Think it's too far-fetched? I had an Abit VP6 that went up in flames a few years ago, and on another occasion an MGI "viper" power supply that caught fire (serves me right for using anything but sparkle)
Beyond that there are other practical concerns:
The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
Buying a proper case , such as a chieftec is the best "upgrade" i've ever done. CPU temp on my Prescott dropped from 80*C to 40*C (no bullshit) due to proper ventilation. Hard drives stopped buzzing all day long , and best of all , unlike all the cheap cases i've ever had this one worked without bending at the rear when inserting the mobo , and is still usable after all these years , and will still be usable when i upgrade the rest of my components. Every time i got a cheap case something on it broke , got really dirty due to bad design or the components just plain didn't fit. The reduced stress due to lots of space inside , toolles screws and reduced "finger cutting in sharp edges" just added to the benefits. It might've cost 5x times as much as an cheap case , but it made up the difference 10 times. Since then I've replaced all cases in the house with proper cases. My point is: cheap metal cases suck anyway , paper would suck even more. Don't be a cheapskate , you get what you pay for. * *doesn't matter if you see the pc as if it were a toaster with more buttons.
This will match my new cardboard house!
And when static, dust, or heat kills the computer, who pays for the replacement?
What about the electrical issues?
Sorry, but I like my eco-unfriendly steel case. Sturdier, more durable, and safer.
Knowing Google's lust for data collection, the Soviet Union is still alive and well inside the psyche of Sergey Brin....
It never fails when you order a computer piece mail that you forget to buy a part. This time it was the case. So I took the UPS box that it came in, and carved out some slots for the ports, and used it as a case. I just made sure never to leave it on overnight in case of fire.
God spoke to me.
BTW:
I already did this when my replacement mobo wouldn't fit my old case, and had to wait until a suitable case came in.
Cost me nothing, since I used the box it was shipped in.
Knowing Google's lust for data collection, the Soviet Union is still alive and well inside the psyche of Sergey Brin....
I designed and built a case out of a small storage tote, since I wanted a smaller case than standard.
It fit nicely, cooled well, and ran nicely. It looked pretty cool, too, translucent.
But Lordy, don't underestimate the value of shielding/grounding that your metal case gives you. That sucker threw off so much RF interference it was insane. And I got video/sound interference on the display/speakers for the PC, quite serious. And I had occasional lockups.
Tossing the same gear into a metal case, and everything was fine.
If this cardboard case works, it must have some tinfoil or something in it to shield/ground things, or it'll be a dud.
Love many, trust a few, do harm to none.
People will Dells or many other prebuilt computers? They tend not to be friendly standard components/mainboards/etc... I tried cramming some in Dell cases to no avail
People with newer boards and older cases (again, some parts don't fit)
Those who insist on the newest case-de-jour that looks like ET with LED eyes...
Still like the idea of cardboard case though. and there is nothing wrong with painting it inside with aluminum paint to shield for RF and paint the outside to made it look nice.
My ism, it's full of beliefs.
"Sorry dude, I totally tripped over your computer while I was hammered last night, and its fucked"
"They confiscated everything, even the stuff we didn't steal!"
Does anyone really want disposable computers? Most of the cheap cases you can buy on Newegg or other online computer stores are already made of very flimsy, lightweight aluminum. They dent easily, chip easily, and the paint sucks. It's a shame, because the case is one of the easiest parts of a computer to reuse: the ATX form factor has been around since 1995, and still works very for full-size desktop systems, along with its moderately smaller variant microATX.
My current workstation got all-new components in 2008, but the sturdy, accessible case, PSU, and DVD-RAM drive date from the Acer system I bought in 2003. And I see no reason why they can't last another generation of components as well.
My point is: if you want cheap computer cases, reuse them! It's better for the environment, and easy to do.
My bicyles
is there any other pics beside from chron.com? i can't stand sites that use stupid, small images. it is rediculous, and so many news sites do that. small pictures are worse than no picture at all! 640px wide should be the minimum, and that's pushing it. it's 2009 for christ's sake! if it is gonna mess with the flow of your page, at least put in a larger-image-pop-up-viewer-thing!!
...
I'd like to see him do a cardboard netbook with an ePaper touch screen ;-P~~~~
"I hope you like Guinness, Sir. I find it a refreshing substitute for, er... food." Col. Jack O'Neil, SG-1
A true hacker runs his computer without a case, with the HDs hanging out every which way, and the motherboard resting on an old pizza box.
1.) It can't shield Raidio noise, and so will never be fcc compliant.
2.) fire hazard, metal is used to contain any electrical fires that may break out.
Cardboard would become fuel.
3.) Cardboard would act like a speaker cone amplifying any vibrations from the fan and harddrive.
trust me in the past 20 years I have seen many people try this, some when as far as metalic coatings and fire retardant. Other used graphite coatings.
It's just not a good idea. And will never get past FCC and UL listing which meaning using it in your home means if for any reason the house catches fire and it happened around the area of the PC, like the power strip, they will not insure your home.
I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso
"Did the environmentalists even bother... IMHO they should have demanded recycling plants for the solder we had"
But you should not?
Given that you're not an environmentalist, why do you care?
Different solders melt at different temperatures depending upon the mix of metals. Cardboard, depending on the chemical treatments would work, however the properties of cardboard are in question here because it is a good conductor for heat which does not dissipate and defeats the object totally. Also cardboard is lethal, given the right temperature, cardboard has incredible explosive properties at flash point and can create a blast akin to a small amount of C4 (Plastic Explosive). So as in MythBuster style "will this take off?" Yes it will take off your leg if it reaches the right temperature which is another good reason not to have ya box under the desk!
All cows eat grass!
I have regutted my case as well from many years ago. Ironically it's this.
:(
The specs at the end are the old system, I really need to update my site
from 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
to 45 2F 6E 40 3C DF 10 71 4E 41 DF AA 25 7D 31 3F
centipedes in my computor?!
Bamboo and sugarcane fiber are very tough and very cheap (especially sugarcane, it has been used for those brown clipboards for as long as I can remember). Assuming you don't use a bunch of epoxy resin to hold it together it should be relatively easy to recycle.
Paperboard and cardboard can be foil-lined, while not making it nice for recycling it is cheap and provides proper EMI shielding so you aren't interfering with various electronic devices.