Computer Hardware

We had such a positive response with our Free-As-In-Beer Mac disassembly instructions last time around, we decided to do it again: We've made six more FixIt Guides, perfect for those intrepid road-warriors who refuse to trust anyone else to work on their 'Book. Now there's nothing stopping you from trying that

This site has a very hard cored modification. Since everyone is modding their cases with a window lately (1, 2, 3). This guide take the window installation in a different perspective. So, I wonder why would anyone take apart their hard drive and cut it into pieces so they can see it spinning? or perhaps he is taking the term of Windows™ installation too literally, who knows?. Anyway here's the link

Cottonbuds has been busy sending us loads of links, here's another:
By Engadget,
in case you'd like to find out the process of disassembling the new MacG5 here's a guide.
Link with photos

Please note:
Doing so will void the warranty.

Here's a crazy case mod. He basically took a toaster oven, gutted and used it as a case. The red neon tube adds a very cool effect. Kinda reminds me of the PC EZ Bake Oven from last April.

Here's a modder that decided instead of modding something he wanted to make something. So he decided to build a huge keyboard. This keyboard will cover a small desk.
Thanks Cottonbuds for the link.

Here Mr Matsumura describes how to make an Anime figure in detail.
Additionally, he has constructed various full 1:1 scale anime mod cases here

His home page

Please note that all below mods are low budgets.
1. The ULTIMATE - Afro-Li PC-69DD case -
Now you can actually build your own ultimate Aluminium for under $12. It's a possibilitiy that you already have these items in house.
2. Additionally there is a ultimate mini multipurpose water cooling solution by serially interconnect of high definition coloured straws.
4. Afrostyle RAID 1 Solution.
3. And finally the watercooled Bucket PC.

Cottonbuds writes - Today I stumbled upon an interesting computer case called Orac³. Now, for those who don''t know what Orac³ is, the father of this project describes that Orac³ is a intellectually snobbish, difficult and incredibly brilliant computer, hand built by an eccentric scientist, which was introduced by the British/Science series of Blake 7, back in the 70s/early 80s. This computer case modding is totally awesome, the modder has spend alot of time on it (around a year I think), and as you can see from the pictures the modding was performed in every tiny detail. Part 1-4 Link
Part 5 Link

Here's a cool case mod. This guy took a Millenium Falcon toy ( from ones big those remember Kenner), and fit all the components for his computer into it. The instructions aren't that great, but he does include some good pics and describes the problems he ran into. He doesn't say which motherboard he chose, but it looks like a mini-itx fits perfectly in there. If you want all the details, he's even got a DVD for sale.

In the past, hard core tech geeks that used Macs were few and far between (although I've known a few in my time). Mac users were often times the graphic artist, the yuppie that wanted fashion over function, or that friend that works at Apple. Then OS X changed all that. With it's core based on BSD, it's gorgeous interface that even some hard core command line users love (tolerate at least), and ability to use any dev tools that run on BSD, the Mac became an object of affection for many geeks. But there was still the price, to get a Mac, you have to go to the store (online or brick and mortar) and buy one, right? Wrong, you can build your own. This article has instructions and list of resources to build your own G4.