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Use a small formfactor motherboard that may be collecting dust in your garage, a handful of other components from your PC junkbox, and some simple HTML and script code, put together the MidniteBoy...Again!
This is another version of a project I posted about 18 months ago, the "MidniteBoy" (Mb):
http://www.instructables.com/id/Multimedia-PC--Low-Power-File-Server-Recycled/
I took the last one apart and re-used the parts with some additions in a new design. I call it "MidniteBoy2" (Mb2).
The main changes are an integrated LCD panel (yes, I had one from a project that became scrap), some improvements on the simulated wood technique, a fan to deal with the added heat, much better user interface software, more Windows chrome removal, and a few other interesting tricks.
Also, this version is made to hang on a wall like a painting instead of sit on a shelf like a PC-style box next to a TV.
This is another version of a project I posted about 18 months ago, the "MidniteBoy" (Mb):
http://www.instructables.com/id/Multimedia-PC--Low-Power-File-Server-Recycled/
I took the last one apart and re-used the parts with some additions in a new design. I call it "MidniteBoy2" (Mb2).
The main changes are an integrated LCD panel (yes, I had one from a project that became scrap), some improvements on the simulated wood technique, a fan to deal with the added heat, much better user interface software, more Windows chrome removal, and a few other interesting tricks.
Also, this version is made to hang on a wall like a painting instead of sit on a shelf like a PC-style box next to a TV.
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Signing UpStep 1The Design
I have a bunch of sketches I made while I was trying to figure out what I wanted here. I also did some research into the art of Marquetry and wood inlay designs. From the sketches, I went to Photoshop with some very good images of real wood textures from the web. Using the "Image" search features on Google, Yahoo!, etc. were tremendously helpful.
In the whole design, I tried to keep the look consistent with how I would make this sort of thing by hand with real wood. To do that, I selected a finite set of natural-looking wood textures. These gave me my four colors to work with.
I then used the texture images and cut out shapes for the design and put them together into single, high resolution images. It was awesomely fun. I highly suggest it.
In the whole design, I tried to keep the look consistent with how I would make this sort of thing by hand with real wood. To do that, I selected a finite set of natural-looking wood textures. These gave me my four colors to work with.
I then used the texture images and cut out shapes for the design and put them together into single, high resolution images. It was awesomely fun. I highly suggest it.
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Could you add something next time into the finished article photo for perspective? Maybe a ruler or a soft drink can or .....
Great Instructable and it has given me an idea of what to do with 3 old laptops........
The board is actually the same mini ITX from the first version and the screen is a spare desktop LCD monitor.
It works well for me as a media server too. I sometimes leave the motherboard on and blank the screen. It's harddrive has my album collection in a Windows shared folder. I can access them from my other home PCs and laptops.