TiDesktopWherein I manage to repurpose a broken-hinge Apple Titanium PowerBook as a desktop computer.
I've long had the impulse to build a desktop computer from a busted-hinge Titanium PowerBook. I sketched out a number of possible designs, but finally decided to keep it simple. |
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Here's what I finally came up with.
It's a simple maple frame with a bent stainless steel tube for the stand. I used a router and chisels to cut mortises in the sides and made tenons for the ends of the horizontals. Again with the router, I cut fat slots into the sides for the body of the 'Book. I used my tablesaw to machine away the insides of the horizontals to fit, with ample relief for access to the ports on the back edge of the 'Book.
The nifty cord clip is made from a slice of PVC pipe.
The base is a chunk of stainless tubing, bent to shape and friction-fit into holes drilled into the back of the uprights. I'd like to think the hoop-shaped stand bears some stylistic resemblance to the Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh's curved base.
I had planned to drill additional holes above and below the current set to allow for various possible tilts (plug stand into higher hole to tilt more, lower hole to tilt less,) but didn't as I decided this angle is just about right.
I put a bevel on the base of the feet to ensure it didn't tip forward easily. It may look odd to some eyes, but I thought it the best solution among those I considered. I cut a notch out of the top edge in front of the optical drive, which makes it easy to see where a disk goes and comes out. It's the only curvy bit on an otherwise straight-edged piece.
The sleep light shines through a plastic light pipe inserted into a hole drilled through the face. My dad (the recipient of the completed machine) complains the light is too bright in his bedroom. :-P
Looking back, I think I'd rather instead of drilling the hole completely through, have left a tiny bit at the front and had the light shining through a thin layer of wood. Oh well. :-\ . I didn't provide any access to the PCcard slot, but I did drill a hole in the side for the headphone jack.
The PowerBook I used is a 400MHz Titanium model, but any of the TiBooks will fit. One reason I used this particular unit (instead of just fixing its hinges) was that it wouldn't charge a battery, so sadly it has to be kept plugged into power all the time else it dies just like any other desktop computer. The keyboard and trackpad are fully functional, just in case of emergency. :-) |
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contact me at macdan at comcast dot net rev history:: initial page - 2009.01.09
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