laptop mods

[jwhairybob]

does anyone know of any laptop mods out there? Maybe that i could do at home and not have to buy much. I've searched the web and their aren't many things i can find.
thanks alot...

[dang]

I've heard of doing water cooling mods on laptops, but that sounds like a pretty scary mod

[jwhairybob]

I agree, don't want to try that. Also, this laptop doesn't have a screen, so i'm just using a monitor. Maybe i could do something cool with the keyboard or something...

[IronSerif]

The only things that I've heard of or can think of is replacing the LED's. You could also add some extra leds or glow wire, maybe under the keyboard, since a Cold Cathode would almost be unfeasible.

Painting it is also possible.

You can also get rid of whatever bezel logo you got and go with something from http://www.muzzlenose.com/

Definately let us know what you decide on doing man, and good luck :D

[Ioman]

Can you show us a picture of the laptop? I think it sounds kind of funny that there is no screen for it! What are the computer specs on it too?

[jwhairybob]

i don't have a digital camera, but it's an old laptop. Brand is CTX International, Inc.: EZBook 700 series. I've never done any mods before, so i don't have any ideas. I got it for free, so i don't really need to take real good care of it. What i mean by no screen is that the original owner broke the lcd, and disconnected it and threw it away (i wish he didn't, those are fun to try and fix), so now i'm just using a plain old moniter (which i got for free, also, so i got pretty lucky, entire free system). Sorry for no pics, and thanks for the replies.:)

[llbbl]

Originally posted by jwhairybob
i don't have a digital camera, but it's an old laptop. Brand is CTX International, Inc.: EZBook 700 series. I've never done any mods before, so i don't have any ideas. I got it for free, so i don't really need to take real good care of it. What i mean by no screen is that the original owner broke the lcd, and disconnected it and threw it away (i wish he didn't, those are fun to try and fix), so now i'm just using a plain old moniter (which i got for free, also, so i got pretty lucky, entire free system). Sorry for no pics, and thanks for the replies.:)

No offense, but I think it is time to start saving for a new computer. That thing sounds like a piece of junk.

I found something on how to mod a iBook.

http://homepage.mac.com/mpaulton/PhotoAlbum8.html

[jwhairybob]

I don't have much income.... i'm 13. I'm tryin to get a job, well thanks for your positive attitude at least......

[IronSerif]

Originally posted by jwhairybob
I don't have much income.... i'm 13. I'm tryin to get a job, well thanks for your positive attitude at least......

I feel ya man. Good luck with everything and keep your head up :)

[dang]

Originally posted by jwhairybob
I don't have much income.... i'm 13. I'm tryin to get a job, well thanks for your positive attitude at least......

I will ask around when I get back from Vegas and see what I can dig up for ya! Maybe I can find a new screen or an old laptop I can send ya. I should be back in town Saturday, so gimme a week after that.

Sound good?

[jwhairybob]

thanks, man. Everything costs more up here in good old (man am i being sarcastic) Sitka, Alaska (i'm not being sarcastic about sitka)! Very small town, 8500 people, and not much to do for computers. Well thanks for your help, and i'll be checking back for an update... and oh yeah, i read the post about nomoreaolcds.com, and i made myself a wall hanging out of my unused old program and aol cd's. I'll try and post a pic.

[llbbl]

Originally posted by jwhairybob
thanks, man. Everything costs more up here in good old (man am i being sarcastic) Sitka, Alaska (i'm not being sarcastic about sitka)! Very small town, 8500 people, and not much to do for computers. Well thanks for your help, and i'll be checking back for an update... and oh yeah, i read the post about nomoreaolcds.com, and i made myself a wall hanging out of my unused old program and aol cd's. I'll try and post a pic.

Not much to do in Alaska right about know. I bet there is like 10 ft of snow and only going to increase. :) It sure is beautiful country tho. I am glad to hear that our posts have given you a good idea of something new to try. It does sound like a cool project. I hope you find a job so you can buy that new computer that you have always wanted!!

[jwhairybob]

i'm trying to attach a pic of the computer, but i'm not sure if it'll work, please reply....

[jwhairybob]

i'm trying to attach a pic of the laptop, please tell me if it worked (i had to make it really low quality to stay under the limit

[llbbl]

Originally posted by jwhairybob
i'm trying to attach a pic of the computer, but i'm not sure if it'll work, please reply....

Not yet. But try again. You have to make sure it is under a certain size. ( 102400 bytes or 102 KB) You can edit your post above and try attaching it to that or you can make a new thread, what ever is easier for you. Just hit the browse button at the bottom, above where you hit the "Submit Reply" button. That is of course when you are posting a new one.

[llbbl]

Ok now I see it.

Well I guess it isn't bad for your first computer and for the fact of where you live.

:)

[IronSerif]

lol...that's crazy man.

And I didn't realize you were that far away from us...

[jwhairybob]

well, i've got a family computer, and it's nice. Dell 8200 2 ghz, geforce4 ti4200 64mb, and i just recently got a cable modem connection, so i'm in pretty good shape with a usable computer, it's just the laptop that i wanna spuce up some. I'm kinda usin it like a jukebox, connected to my room surround speakers, but other than that, no real gaming can be done except for on the dell.

[llbbl]

LOL and here we thought that the laptop was your only connection to the net. :)

[IronSerif]

Yeah no kidding :P
I'm over here thinking "Yeah...poor guy...up there in Alaska, with a laptop w/ no screen so he has to rig up his own contraption of some sort, his only means of communication and computing.."
hah :D

[jwhairybob]

hey, i was wondering where i could get some paint for the exterior of the laptop, and how much it would cost. Are there any good tutorials showing how to do about the painting?

[llbbl]

Goto Walmart or a big retailer and buy a large plastic trough sized storage container. Then goto the paint section and find the cheapest paint you can find. Buy about 1-2 gallons of your favorite color. Go home, put the latop in the bottom of the storage container. Dump paint. Turn laptop over to get an even coat. Dump more paint. Taa Daa a newly painted laptop.

:)

Oh I have another idea for a laptop mod. It involves a sledge hammer. Want to hear it ?

[jwhairybob]

where's a good l.e.d. modding how-to, i was thinking i could try that first. Also, how much to led's cost?

[llbbl]

Originally posted by jwhairybob
where's a good l.e.d. modding how-to, i was thinking i could try that first. Also, how much to led's cost?

LED's are really easy to get powered. There is only one way you can do it. If it is backwards than they will either not light up or pop and explode if you leave it connected for too long. So all you need is a wire from your power supply, I think the red one, but I am not sure, and then hook it up too the black one? Again I am not quite sure on the wiring diagram or how you will power them but it is easy thing to do once you figure out what wires are the correct ones. On a laptop, I am not sure what you can do because the power supply may not have any extra wires. On a desktop there are two options, buy a modding kit that might have an adapter for the standard plug or cut the wires and make your own. Beware of the Power ! Unplug the machine Before cutting wires.

You can buy lots of LED's from sites all over the internet. Try pricewatch or another search engine to see if they have any listed for cheaper than what comes up from a Google search. I expect that the most expensive part will be shipping because they cost only a few cents a piece. Do a search for LED modding kits and let us know what you find! Post what you have decieded.

[Ioman]

What are some other possible laptop mods? I would love replaceable keyboards or shells if they made em. What about decals for your laptop?

[llbbl]

Originally posted by Ioman
What are some other possible laptop mods? I would love replaceable keyboards or shells if they made em. What about decals for your laptop?

I know one that involves a sledge hammer :D

--

jwhairybob:

I like your new Avatar. Stacked translucent orange balls :)

[0pal_t0ad]

i know this thread is a little outdated, but i'm also interested in this subject so i'm gonna add my 10 cents... 'cos i can! plus i've had experience working in a hardware store, so i know stuff :D

first of all painting a laptop is going to be TRICKY! it's extremely difficult for paint to stick to plastic properly. I have tried plastic primer before which seemed to work pretty well on my desktop, but i'm not sure how well it'll work on a laptop that gets knocked around a bit though.

as for decals, try google for laptop stickers. i found a few nice ones and also a few blatant script kiddie "I HACK, SUE ME" type stickers... some pretty cool ")( Wardriver" one tho'

one trick i wouldn't mind trying is... instead of cutting a window like a desktop, for obvious reasons, i.e the only place to put one would be on the lid! WHOOPY!!! look at the back of tft!!
what i was thinking of doing is use a dremmel tool to cut a logo into the lid 'cos back of the tft also(apparently) lets off light, so you could light shining through the letters/design.

another idea i had is ALOT more difficult!!!!
if u stripped it down completely and made plaster casts of the casing you could then paint fibre glass resin onto the cast and create a totally clear case! how wicked would that look??? or you could reinforce it with Carbon fibre matting!!!!!

[openbsd-flipp]

I want that laptop.

[0pal_t0ad]

i did a little research into carbon fibe last night. It doesn't seem to be that expensive(~$15 for 30"x50").... IF u live in the US, unfortunately for me there doesn't seem to any suppliers here in the UK.

[openbsd-flipp]

The easiest place to find Carbon Fibre is at an auto custom shop. Any place that deals with rice burner (suped up and lowered japanese cars) mods will be able to get cf, they need it to do repairs and one off jobs to the high payers

[ECA]

And a NEET trick for those that WANt to know..
If you live in the boomies(VERY urban areas) find and make friends with the truckers.
Find out there route, and ORDER something, then ask the trucker to pick it up for ya..
Esp, in Sitka...Much cheaper to pay 48 states prices, even canadian, then ALASKA prices..
Or someone that goes back and forth alot to Vancouver BC, or Seatle...Ask them to pick it up for you..
And AS a kid...You dont PAY TAXES..