Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

icruise · 06:17 PM

I've posted this in the iBook forum, but I didn't realize there was a Mac Modification forum. I thought I might find some like-minded people here...

Anyway, my mod consisted of painting the powerbook's lid, bottom and trackpad button, changing the color of the apple logo, and installing a new translucent blue keyboard.

The details are on Applefritter.com. Thanks!

pi · Jun 23, 2001, 10:37 PM

Good job.

That's a great color scheme you've got there.

So you're the person who caused "Ghost Type" huh? Thanks, because I agree their ttypeface borders on attrocious.

pi

Nimisys · Jun 24, 2001, 04:05 AM

thats an awesome mod.... next thing is that you need to find all the non blue LEDs and change those over... but damn that is very well done.

icruise · Jun 24, 2001, 08:32 AM

Yes, I'd like to be able to replace the capslock, numlock, and sleep lights with blue LEDs, but I don't think I'm up to it. Maybe sometime in the future.

ctt1wbw · Jun 25, 2001, 03:29 AM

Hey, check out www.resexcellence.com. Scroll down to where you see the add for add on keyboards. That's pretty sharp.

ctt1wbw · Jun 25, 2001, 03:31 AM

http://www.digitalhipps.com/english/.../keyborg04.htm

Pretty cool stuff.... hopefully this link works...

zac4mac · Jun 25, 2001, 08:07 AM

That's beautiful.
I wish I didn't need to look at the keys as I type..

Z

waffffffle · Jun 25, 2001, 09:56 AM

Hey great job! I have a silver Pismo and I love the attention that I get because of it. I have been looking into a keyborg for a while and I also hate that ugly font. It's good to hear that they're going to sell a normal typeface soon, so I can buy myself a nice silver keyboard to match my computer. I'm also going to make the trackpad button and the power button silver too. I already made my drive bay devices silver. I'm thinking about redoing the whole thing because the silver stuff scratches really easily, but I'm pretty lazy so I'll wait on that. I really want to have mine done in time for MWNY. That would be something very cool to have. Although the silver wallstreet has been around for a while.

Do you find that the paint can come off? I emailed Dr. Bob a couple years ago about painting a powerbook and he told me that any paint would wear off in everyday use. That's why i went with the vinyl sheeting for my baby.

icruise · Jun 25, 2001, 11:13 AM

Do you have any pictures of your powerbook? I considered silver myself, but it had been done before, and the blue apple logo turned out so well that I decided to go with blue.

As for the paint coming off, it's only been a couple of weeks, so I can't really comment on how it will look in the long term. No problems yet, anyway. However, the paint I used (Pactra Racing Finish) does seem to be different from other paints in that it really bonds with the plastic -- it isn't just sitting on the surface. I tested the paint on a junk laptop I had (admittedly made of a different kind of plastic than the powerbook). I've scratched it hard with a key and other sharp objects and while it will (of course) leave a bit of a mark, the paint just won't come off. Peter Liethen (www.liethen.com) has given me a lot of advice about painting powerbooks, and he claims that the paint is stronger than the plastic underneath when it dries. I am inclined to believe that.

I've been impressed by the KeyBORG people, and I like their product. The blue version might look pretty good with silver as well.

waffffffle · Jun 25, 2001, 12:26 PM

Unfortunately I have no pictures. I don't have any sort of digital camera so I never got around to it. My family will be getting a DV camcorder this summer so I'll be able to use that. I'm hoping to get some attention at Macworld this summer. Hopefully I will be able to get a keyborg by then.

I went with silver because I knew where to get it (right from kohei mimura himself, I think he sort of ripped me off though) and it wasn't paint. I was concerned about the paint coming off and I liked how the vinyl sheeting works, It's not too hard to get it to conform to the contours of the machine. If I were to take it all off and do it again I would do a much better job, of course.

I'm thinking about changing my apple logo as well but I have yet to figure out what color to do. There was that guy who did the Apple stripes to his iBook, and that could be pretty cool, especially if it was done with celophane tape instead of paper. Then it would be really bright. Otherwise I'm not really sure what color would go with silver and black, Maybe bright green. . . (please nobody steal that one!!!) Now I have to figure out where to get the clear stuff.

sine -''-..- · Jun 26, 2001, 01:18 PM

thats beautiful man. and i appreciate that its painted instead of stick on plastic like some...

the colors are awesome.

bluedog · Jun 26, 2001, 08:58 PM

Originally posted by waffffffle:
<STRONG>Unfortunately I have no pictures. I don't have any sort of digital camera so I never got around to it. My family will be getting a DV camcorder this summer so I'll be able to use that. I'm hoping to get some attention at Macworld this summer. Hopefully I will be able to get a keyborg by then.

I went with silver because I knew where to get it (right from kohei mimura himself, I think he sort of ripped me off though) and it wasn't paint. I was concerned about the paint coming off and I liked how the vinyl sheeting works, It's not too hard to get it to conform to the contours of the machine. If I were to take it all off and do it again I would do a much better job, of course.

I'm thinking about changing my apple logo as well but I have yet to figure out what color to do. There was that guy who did the Apple stripes to his iBook, and that could be pretty cool, especially if it was done with celophane tape instead of paper. Then it would be really bright. Otherwise I'm not really sure what color would go with silver and black, Maybe bright green. . . (please nobody steal that one!!!) Now I have to figure out where to get the clear stuff.</STRONG>

There are SARAN wraps, or other cellophane wraps that come in colors. You should look for them at your local grocery store. That seems like it would be ideal, although the colors may not be exactly what you want, it would conform to the curved surfaces really well.

itomato · Jun 27, 2001, 12:49 AM

I'm thinking about changing my apple logo as well but I have yet to figure out what color to do. There was that guy who did the
Apple stripes to his iBook, and that could be pretty cool, especially if it was done with celophane tape instead of paper. Then
it would be really bright. Otherwise I'm not really sure what color would go with silver and black, Maybe bright green. . .
(please nobody steal that one!!!) Now I have to figure out where to get the clear stuff.

Yeah, Saran Wrap is a good idea. Also, check your local hobby shop. There is a product called Monokote that is like giant, vivid, colored shrink-wrap. It's used to cover model airplane surfaces.

waffffffle · Jun 27, 2001, 07:33 AM

hmm, thanks. But I was hoping that the colored Apple logo would be the cheapest part of the 'book. I know I'm really cheap that I won't pay for a few rolls of saran wrap, but I like the idea of doing the striped apple logo, and getting 6 different rolls seems stupid to me. I'll have to look around for some stuff.

I have a pair of 3D glasses that I can use for the red and blue but neither of those are exactly what I'm looking for. I think they'll work though. I now just need to find 4 more colors lying around the house.

I'm not going to have the KeyBorg in time for MWNY though, so I definitely should get the Apple logo done since everyone has aready seen a silver PowerBook before. I have to look at least somewhat original

zac4mac · Jun 27, 2001, 07:48 AM

try a camera shop, ask for gel filters... maybe free scraps.

Z

CMYKid · Jun 28, 2001, 01:13 PM

actually, you'll probably have the most luck if you find a local sound and/or lighting production company. ask them if they have any scraps of Rosco or GAMcolor gel...we always had tons of these worthless pieces laying around our shop that we'd've been happy to give away...
if you cant find a production company you can likely find some hole in the wall or music store (gag) that sells DJ equipment (double-gag) and they'll sell you some...

:ryan

pi · Jun 30, 2001, 08:38 PM

Just use transparency paper on an ink jet. Measure the size of the apple then go into photoshop and do the rainbow in there. You'll have much better accuracy this way, hope you don't mind if I tool around with this idea on my Pismo as well. If I get up the nerve to open it before the 1 year warrany is up.

pi