Gizmodo: build your own

Build Your Own Computer at Wal-Mart

Travis Hudson — Thu, 04 May 2006 16:14:50 EDT

Wal-Mart has been experimenting with 20 build-your-own computer stations around the nation and they will begin expanding this program to over 1,200 stores by the end of this year. Wal-Mart has been selling low-budget prepackaged computer for years, but service is the similar to that of Dell or Gateway with a slew of customizable options. The PC building is done on-site, possibly while you wait.

The large computer manufacturers like Dell, Gateway and Apple shouldn't be worried about Wal-Mart taking business, but you can expect this new service to severely hurt the Mom'n'Pop computer shops around town.

Wal-Mart to sell build-your-own computer [Reuters]

BYO Media Center 2005 PC

johnb — Wed, 10 Aug 2005 15:04:53 EDT

It's pretty rare to see a full BYO appear on the Internets, but here you go: a working MCE 2005 Media Center in all its rackmounted glory. Very cool external display, dual DVD burners for copying "personal movies" and all kinds of sweet images of the guts of a pretty powerful machine.

I haven't seen MCE for a little while and I'm hoping it's a little healthier than it was when I looked at it about 6 months ago. I love the idea of MCE, very clean and nice, but I don't like the Microsoft heavy-duty DRM taint. Oh well. It's still a nice looking PC.

DIY Building a Windows Media Center (MCE) 2005 [Krunker]

Homemade Video Projector

Travis Hudson — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 11:00:40 EDT

Plans for homemade projectors are appearing around the web and our fatherless Jeep loving friends over at jeepbastard are providing a little insight to this homemade project. Essentially all plans work around the same concept, remove the backlight and reflective material from an LCD (monitor or laptop) and place it on top of an overhead projector. Some creative engineering is needed for proper mounting and cooling, but once it is complete people claim for it to display identical to the low end digital projectors. If people complain about how big and ugly it looks, simply throw some of the money you saved at them, that will shut anyone up in a hurry.

Homemade LCD Video Projector [Jeepbastard]

Laser Sighted Pencil Launcher

johnb — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 16:31:00 EDT

This is SO COOL. It's a DIY laser-sighted pencil launcher that can kill you or—worse—shoot through a can. All you need is a laser pointer, some rubber bands, some clips, and some other junk. Called the Super Mauly, it can be found on a site dedicated to the construction and testing of office-based projectiles. Imagine shock and awe-ing your boss as he sits down to his sad sack lunch. Wicked.

Super Maul [OfficeGuns via BoingBoing]

Phone Pimp in Da Hiz-ouse

gizmogo — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 10:59:12 EDT

Give it up fo' Vonage's "Pimp That Phone" contest, where four design enthusiasts get to bling up tired ol' ringers into an "uberphone," and you get to pick the winner! We're hoping for bejeweled dialpads, luminescent numbers, and whicka-whicka-whack receivers. Let's just hope their phones are better than my pathetic attempt at ghetto slang.

Pimp That Phone [Vonage]

BYO External Laptop Display

johnb — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 10:38:48 EDT

Why wait fifteen to twenty-five years for Windows Vista when you can have a cool external laptop display—flogged by MS since last year as the latest in rocking UI—right now. MAKE magazine repurposed an old iPaq to become a super-ninja external display with all the color trimmings. Then, by using Konfabulator, AKA Apple Dashboard for Windows, they created a unique looking UI. Unfortunately, then they had to go ruin things by taping the thing to a Toshiba, which isn't terribly good looking. I was hoping for some proper Dremelling.

HOW TO make a "Windows Vista" (Longhorn) Auxiliary Display (now) [MAKE]

Dubious DIY MIRT Turns Red Lights Green

johnb — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 14:29:26 EDT

A MIRT—Mobile Infrared Transmitter—is a device used by law enforcement and ambulances to turn red lights green. It is very illegal and very bad to have in your possession and if you decide to build one, we take no responsibility for the world of hurt you'll be in if someone finds out. Otherwise, solder way, haXorz!

DIrtY MIRT (Do It Yourself Mobile Infra Red Transmitter [I-Hacked]

BYO Outdoor Misting System

johnb — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 14:00:08 EDT

With only a fan, a spray bottle, and a little love, you, too, can cool your mottled, puffy skin with a sweet mist. While I'd fill my spray bottle with a little kerosene and create a beautiful light show for my neighbors, you can hook yours up to the garden hose for hours of delightful misting action.

Building an outdoor mist cooling system [Grynx]