COMMUNITY : FORUMS : TECH

Asus, a sponsor of Instructables, has put together WePC where they are asking for input on their next generation laptops. As part of their sponsorship, they've asked my opinion on various aspects of laptops. Most recently Ways to customize your laptop? I just had a call with some of the people at Asus this morning, and they are actively finalizing the list of features for the community-designed laptop. So, if you still have a suggestion, head over to WePC and submit!

I've written before about how I think customization makes a laptop attractive, and how my favorite way to customize laptops is with a laser etcher. However, I realize not everyone yet has access to a laser. So, what are some other non-traditional (i.e. stickers) ways to customize your laptop?

Whiteboard material -- you could use it as a giant, oversized to-do list! Make sure to include a snapping plastic cover to protect your notes from being rubbed off.
Neon message board laptop -- a neon message board is a erasable luminescent whiteboard-like surface that is illuminated from the edge; they are often seen is restaurants showing specials. Use the laptop's backlight for the illumination, and broadcast your message or design with fluorescent markers.
Magnetic surface -- magnetic laptop poetry.
Corkboard -- Remember to always use the flush thumb-tacks!
Chalkboard -- perhaps a little dusty, but you could probably end meetings early by "accidentally" running your fingernails across it.

The cool thing about all of these materials (perhaps excluding the corkboard) is that they could easily fit into the minimalist, clean-lined laptops that have become the norm. But, they allow you to really be expressive when you need a splash of something unique to break you out of a funk -- or just a note to pick up milk.