Hanging Laptop Digital Painting

Step 6 Software setup

Currently I am using the screensaver as the picture display software, but there are so many options, from videos, to flash things, to art, to whatever, it is limitless.

I would suggest using the energy saving features in mac os x that allow you to set when the computer turns on and off, this was a great feature because the display is in my office at work.

I set the laptop up on a wireless network with my desktop and I have access to it, so i can upload pictures into the screensaver folder whenever I want, and I don't have to take the frame down.

I hope you have fun building your own, its a great project, and a great thing to do with your old laptop!

Go to town!

Comments

[rjc3000]

For a mac if you have Timbuktu installed on the G4 you can control it from any other computer with Timbuktu (or other remote desktop app). I happened to have Timbuktu installed on the G4 to be used so it was a logical choice. Great idea!

[kingsface]

How long do you keep the screen on ? 24/7 ? Anything to worry if you do so ?

[Dharmin Majmudar]

There is absolutely nothing wrong in that. You can keep it on as long as you want!!

[nonbrewer]

wireless keyboard and mouse usb adapter and you can still use it as a computer.

[BluePlanet]

Great Idea for recycling those old laptops! However if you want to make it slimmer ( and you are REALLY good with computers ) you can remove all of the unnessesary hardware and the case from the laptop. When I did this I took out the keyboard, CD drive, and ALL of the casing from the monitor and the computer, oh and and the fans. I then heatshrinked the area where the monitor back would be touching the exposed parts of the circut board. I hand built the frame for it with stereo speakers so I could play sound clips and movie files over my wireless network. I vented the back and sides of my frame and mounted a whisper fan with a heat sensor over the CPU as well as a flat heatsink. I also made holes in the bottom of the frame so I could plug in USB keyboards and etc. So far The fan seems to be keeping the thing cool, and it seems to work, BUT Whatever you do DONT let anything touch what it shouldn't touch, and if you cant find a heat sensitive fan, DONT remove the original fans because they change speed depending on the temperature of the CPU.

[GunBlade]

This is by far the best idea I ever got for my very very old Pentium 133mhz IBM laptop. Thank you!

[s300pmu1]

For non-mac projects, a neat utility called RM Clock can be used to undervolt the processor (Intel ior AMD). If you are a geek, it should be clear to you that this reduces power consumption and hence minimizes heating; if you are not a geek, or at least a semi-geek, don't try it - the utility has no user manual and you have to use some common sense and browse through their forum to get an idea how to set it up and running... A search in google using the "RM Clock" search string should bring it up. BTW, this utility might be also of use for Intel/AMD based notebooks including CoreDuo. I personally use it on my Pentium M and I am pretty satisfied with the power savings it provides.

[s300pmu1]

For non-mac projects, a neat utility called RM Clock can be used to undervolt the processor (Intel ior AMD). If you are a geek, it should be clear to you that this reduces power consumption and hence minimizes heating; if you are not a geek, or at least a semi-geek, don't try it - the utility has no user manual and you have to use some common sense and browse through their forum to get an idea how to set it up and running... A search in google using the "RM Clock" search string should bring it up. BTW, this utility might be also of use for Intel/AMD based notebooks including CoreDuo. I personally use it on my Pentium M and I am pretty satisfied with the power savings it provides.

[parsniplee]

Here's my version, thanks for the idea, my old g4 was no longer portable, and was just gathering dust.