Project Soxtop.

[Mr B]

When I was writing up the article on the front page where I dissected and upgraded a Presario 1700 (www.overclockers.com/articles1157), I mentioned in passing I was thinking of building one of these from the ground up.

"Thinking" has changed to "Doing". I've got a bare shell, for a 1720US, and I'm working on getting some of the other parts already.

Where I've got a bare shell, I've decided to paint it. As I sat, mulling over ideas for colors, I noticed the "4 way scroll" button below the touchpad is molded in what kinda looks like a baseball shape. There's a couple of grooves in it, resembling the stitching on a baseball....

So, I had an idea....here's what a couple hours of farting around in Photoshop got me...out of my head and onto the screen.

First, here's what it looks like originally:

[Mr B]

Closed;

[Mr B]

Painted;

[Mr B]

Closed, painted; (the Compaq logo will get replaced by the traditional Red Sox logo)

[Mr B]

The graphic on the palmrest is a sticker...I'll clearcoat over that.

I think this ought to look pretty sharp once it's done. :D I'm hoping it'll be together, painted and running by July or so.

B.

[techun]

nice!! i approve!!

cept i don't like baseball..a sport where you have to wait in line?!?!

[dark_15]

It's such a crying shame that you couldn't put that to a better sport (soccer *cough*)... or at least a better team ;).

I'm jk!!! :D

That'll look sharp!!! Keep up posted on your progress!

Random Thought:
Although could you live with the remote possibility of the Red Sox BSOD'ing on you???

[Mr B]

It's such a crying shame that you couldn't put that to a better sport (soccer *cough*)... or at least a better team ;).

I'm jk!!! :D

That'll look sharp!!! Keep up posted on your progress!

Random Thought:
Although could you live with the remote possibility of the Red Sox BSOD'ing on you???



LOL...nah. If I painted it blue, it'd blue screen. A "Yankee Blue" screen of death. :p Thanks for the kind words guys. :)

The 17XL260 hasn't given me a single hiccup yet (*knocks on wood*). I see no reason the 1720 wouldn't work as well. The only difference between them is the CPU format, and chipset.

The biggest part I'm missing is the motherboard. I figure if I don't get that until after I paint, I won't rush to put this together, and the paint will have plenty of time to cure properly.

[Sentential]

Looks realy nice, however I must say it looks like a photochop. Not disbeliving you of course, its just the pix look unusual and cartoonish. Probably from the ultra-bright red you are using :D

[Mr B]

Looks realy nice, however I must say it looks like a photochop. Not disbeliving you of course, its just the pix look unusual and cartoonish. Probably from the ultra-bright red you are using :D

Um...it IS Photoshop.. Even said so in the first post... :p

[dark_15]

LOL...nah. If I painted it blue, it'd blue screen. A "Yankee Blue" screen of death. :p

OK, so you found a greater evil... I can accept that then.

Thanks for the kind words guys. :)

Anytime!

And about the paint, isn't there some Krylon stuff that drives in like 5 minutes???

[Sentential]

Um...it IS Photoshop.. Even said so in the first post... :p
DOH..... thats what 3hrs of sleep and 15PPD does to the human brain...dont try this at home kids:D :-/ :cry:

[Mr B]

DOH..... thats what 3hrs of sleep and 15PPD does to the human brain...dont try this at home kids:D :-/ :cry:

NP....actually, the fact that you remotely *thought* it was a picture means my Photoshop skills are getting better. :D

[Xenocide]

fanboy....

bah!

[Mr B]

fanboy....

bah!

Yep...and proud of it. :attn: I've lived and died with the Sox for longer than most of the members here have been alive... :eek:

And I'm darned well gonna enjoy it. :burn:

And about the paint, isn't there some Krylon stuff that drives in like 5 minutes???

While there is, I'm undecided on whether I'll rattle can it, or save up a few bucks and get it painted professionally at an auto shop. Spray bombs at home will be a ton cheaper, but I'm concerned about the durability of the paint on the top of the palmrest, where my hands sit while typing.

Do it myself, and maybe have to touch it up (the palmrest) every once in a while, or spend a bit more and probably not have to worry about it, ever.

There's a fellow here now, that posted a link recently to another forum he's a member of, that's dedicated to laptops (www.notebookforums.com). I took a wander thru over there one day, and they do things to laptops over there like we do to desktops here in the Alt Modding topic. :p Some really nice, custom painted rigs I saw pictures posted of over there.

I'm going to do some reading before I decide, and let thier experiences help me figure out which way I'll go.

Edit... after reading this article (http://spiike.shadowdragon.net/laptop%20painting.htm), I might just rattle can it, if I can get it this nice... :eek: :drool:

[skab]

You might want to check out the auto parts stores for some "plastic" paint, specificly designed for painting plastic interior parts like armrests and door panels. Supposed to last longer than regular paint for plastic.

[skou]

Brian, that sounds good, but you are using the wrong color scheme. It should be Teal green and purple! :D:D

You have to see my newest project. I'm converting an IBM T20 into an "active" picture frame, for my mother. My big brother is a professional photographer, and does all kinds of digital work, and he has a shop full of wood working equipment.

Mom's going to get a real nice picture frame, that will have pictures of all her grandkids on it. It will also play DVDs.

Sorry for the thread-jack! :D

steve

[Mr B]

Brian, that sounds good, but you are using the wrong color scheme. It should be Teal green and purple! :D:D

You have to see my newest project. I'm converting an IBM T20 into an "active" picture frame, for my mother. My big brother is a professional photographer, and does all kinds of digital work, and he has a shop full of wood working equipment.

Mom's going to get a real nice picture frame, that will have pictures of all her grandkids on it. It will also play DVDs.

Sorry for the thread-jack! :D

steve

I've seen articles around here (or the front page, it might have been) on making one of those LCD picture frames. Nice project. :thup: I bet she'll love it. A picture on the wall, she can change to whatever, whenever, and even watch a move from Blockbuster on. :D

[skou]

What, nothing on the teal green, and purple? I'll bet Mr Schilling still has a shirt with those colors on it. Or, maybe a ring? :D:D

Seriously, this will be a decent looking thing. The only problem I'm having is the power switch, which is on the keyboard.

It was that front page article that pointed me in that direction. I'm also putting a 15.1 screen in it, instead of the 14.1.

steve

[Asj69]

I like yellow myself but man that looks cool that way with the boston sox on there hehe.

[skou]

And I'm darned well gonna enjoy it. :burn:

And, you should!!

Even though one of those Red Sox (the one with a REAL RED SOCK!) has a ring from my favourite teams.

And, it only took them 4 years! :D:D

steve

[Leviathan41]

Haha that's pretty cool, nice work B! Although I'm still not quite over my Cards getting swept by the Bosox in the WS. :(


Here's how I'm going to paint mine

http://www.benlewiscomputers.com/pictures/lappy-final.jpg



:p

[Mr B]

Haha that's pretty cool, nice work B! Although I'm still not quite over my Cards getting swept by the Bosox in the WS.


Here's how I'm going to paint mine

http://www.benlewiscomputers.com/pictures/lappy-final.jpg



:p

LOL.... I was wondering if someone might do that...(although, I admit, I expected a Yankees fan to do it, and try to put 26 years worth of dates, encircling the entire LCD... :rolleyes: )

Photochop of a photochop... :p

Hey, the Cards had a year any team could be proud of. :thup: It isn't every year your team leads the league with 105 wins, and goes to the Big Dance.

Don't forget ('cause we don't), your Cards won in '46 and '67. ;) I've (personally) been waiting for this for 25+ years...I want to celebrate with more than a t-shirt and pennant. :D

[Leviathan41]

Yeah, if anyone but the Cards were going to win, I would want it to be the Red Sox, I like their team and players, they never took themselves too seriously (plus I strongly dislike the Yankees). Congratulations! :)

[ozzlo]

that paint job reminds me of a red swingline stapler for some reason.

stapler (think geek) (http://www.thinkgeek.com/cubegoodies/toys/61b7/)

maybe you could mod your lappy with the stapler... place paper inbetween the keyboard and the lcd and cha chink instant staple lol.

i give that photochop a 9 outta 10... -.5 for jaggies and -.5 for red sox :sn: :)

[Mr B]

that paint job reminds me of a red swingline stapler for some reason.

stapler (think geek) (http://www.thinkgeek.com/cubegoodies/toys/61b7/)

maybe you could mod your lappy with the stapler... place paper inbetween the keyboard and the lcd and cha chink instant staple lol.

i give that photochop a 9 outta 10... -.5 for jaggies and -.5 for red sox

LOL...thanks. :D

Jaggies; If I was really trying to be perfect, knowing I was gonna get "graded"... :p I'da also not "turned on" the battery charge light (right LED on front). It *shouldn't* be on with no power cord running to it... ;)

I had thought if my paint job turned out as good as that paint article I linked to looks, I'd be doing good. Now it sounds like I ought to aim for it to be as good as my Photochop. :p

I'll take a 9.5 anyday, all day. :thup: Thanks!

[dicecca112]

That is the most beautful laptop I have ever seen.

[Mr B]

That is the most beautful laptop I have ever seen.

Thanks my friend... ;) If the Pats win two more (@ Pittsburgh next Sunday, and then the game after that (which would be the Super Bowl)), I might just have to look for a 2nd top cover (with the touchpad and buttons), and paint one up with blue and silver trim, and a Pats logo on it, and swap covers as the seasons come and go... :p

[I.M.O.G.]

Looking good B, real nice! :)

Can't wait to see the finished product. :)

[d94]

very nice job!
i have a laptop w/the same upgradeable videocard and p3 650mhz w/speedstep that always runs @ 500mhz no matter what i do. i can play the original half life @ 800/600, but mostly 640x480. Where can we find a replacement video card?

[Dreamstalker]

That is awesome; really looking forward to seeing it finished. A laptop even my technophobe mom would use (diehard Sox fan) :D

[Mr B]

very nice job!
i have a laptop w/the same upgradeable videocard and p3 650mhz w/speedstep that always runs @ 500mhz no matter what i do. i can play the original half life @ 800/600, but mostly 640x480. Where can we find a replacement video card?

Your laptop can't be from the same model line as this...the Presario 17XLxxx and 17XX series have the video built into the board.

What's the model number of your lappy? I can try to help ya track down the info, but need some info to work with. ;)

Concerning your SpeedStep issue, check in your BIOS for the SpeedStep settings...it sounds to me like it's set to an "always on" setting. I've got a few different settings for the option in my BIOS: always on, always off, and off with AC/on with battery, and (oddly enough) off with battery/on with AC.

Can't figure that last one...why underclock the CPU when you're plugged into the wall, and then run it full tilt when on battery power only?!? Makes no sense, but the option is there... :confused:

But yeah...check your BIOS. I'd wager it's set to "always on". ;)

[Mr B]

That is awesome; really looking forward to seeing it finished. A laptop even my technophobe mom would use (diehard Sox fan) :D

Show her the Photoshop pics at the beginning of this thread.... I'd be curious to hear her reaction... ;)

Thanks for the kind words, BTW... :D

[Mr B]

OMFG!..... :eek:

I got it running! :attn:

I had gotten a 2nd system, with a working LCD and supposed dead mobo. I got a CPU for it, and put it in and....nothing. LED's came on, heard the drive spin up, but that was it.

Popped the CMOS battery out for a couple minutes, put it back in, and IT FIRED UP!!!!

I am happier than a "swine in feces" right now... I've got WinXP installing on it across the room. :cool:

hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe heheheh :burn:

[skou]

Dude, that's AWESOME!! How much was that lappy with the "dead" mobo??

I wonder, did the guy sell the "working" CPU, to someone else? It just might be what died.

Congrats Bro!!

steve

[Mr B]

Dude, that's AWESOME!! How much was that lappy with the "dead" mobo??

I wonder, did the guy sell the "working" CPU, to someone else? It just might be what died.

Congrats Bro!!

steve

$97, plus my AIW7500 in trade, shipped. I got;

Complete shell, with guarranteed working 14.1 LCD. (incl keyboard, memory cover, etc..)
"Dead" mobo (still installed)
mPCI modem
heatsink/fan assy.
hard drive caddy
Full set (5 CDs) OEM Recovery/apps disks
Floppy drive (hotswaps with CD rom)

Did not include;

HDD
Optical drive
CPU
RAM
Battery
AC adapter

All 6 of these items sold in other auctions on eBAY. He hadn't pulled the rest of it completely apart...just enough to pull the CPU to sell. I won auctions for the floppy and HSF, and swung a deal outside of eBAY for the unlisted parts. I had sent him an e-mail inquiring on the unlisted pieces, and started a nice rapport with him, back and forth.

Basically, I mentioned my feedback at eBAY, and heatware (combined, about 100 - 0, all positive..:D ), and asked if he'd be interested in a trade for the parts he hadn't listed yet.

I got the bonus plan, eh?? Oh yeah...where his new lappy has USB 2.0 built in, he threw in his unneeded PCMCIA USB 2.0 card too.

Now I just need a 2nd battery, AC adapter, and a drive caddy for my original DVD-ROM from my 17XL260.

And warm, dry weather to paint the bare shell. ;)

[Mr B]

Group shot... :D

Once the shell is painted, the innards will get moved over from the current shell the 1720US is in.