• AppleCentral Network:
  • Tech Support
  • |
  • Open Source
  • |
  • Apple News
  • |
  • Register Domains
  • |
  • SSL Certificates
  • |
  • iPod Deals
  • |
  • Mac Deals
  • |
  • Mac Book Shelf
  • AppleCentral Home
  • MacTech Magazine
    • About MacTech in Print
    • Issue Table of Contents
    • Subscribe
    • Risk Free Sample
    • Back Issues
    • MacTech DVD
    • MacTech Archives
    • MacTech Print Archives
    • MacMod
    • MacTutor
    • FrameWorks
    • develop
  • MacNews.com
    • MacNews News
    • Blog
    • MacTech Reviews and KoolTools
    • Whitepapers, Screencasts, Videos and Books
    • News Scanner
    • Rumors Scanner
    • Documentation Scanner
  • Apple Expo
    • by Category
    • by Company
    • by Product
  • MacForge.net
  • Job Board
  • Advertising
    • Benefits of MacTech
    • Mechanicals and Submission
    • Dates and Deadlines
    • Submit Apple Expo Entry
  • User
    • Register for Ongoing Raffles
    • Register new user
    • Edit User Settings
    • Logout
  • Contact
    • Customer Service
    • Webmaster Feedback
    • Submit News or PR
    • Suggest an article
  • Connect Tools
    • MacTech Live Podcast
    • RSS Feeds
    • Twitter
You are not logged in. [Log In] AppleCentral » Forums » Mods and Hacks » Laptop Mods
      » Hardware Mods » cool ideas for a powerbook mod?
Register User    Forum List        Active Topics    FAQ
Topic Options
Hop to:
#477057 - 08/06/09 01:24 PM cool ideas for a powerbook mod? [Re: rosebuddy]
geeko Offline


Registered: 08/06/09
Posts: 6
does anybody have an idea of a cool mod i can do w/ my powerbook g4 12"? i got it in pieces from a garage sale for cheap, and accidentally broke the cable for the superdrive, so i have lots of extra room in the case. just searching for ideas. (oh, yea, i almost forgot, it does not have hinges, i thing i threw one away when i was making it into a desktop) also, could i mod it to attach to a different battery, i know they all have had the same connector since the clamshell ibook.

Top
#477058 - 08/06/09 02:34 PM Re: cool ideas for a powerbook mod? [Re: rosebuddy]
TonimusMaximus Offline


Registered: 01/08/08
Posts: 137
One word. TABLET.

Top
#477059 - 08/07/09 11:26 AM Re: cool ideas for a powerbook mod? [Re: rosebuddy]
TCPMeta Offline
MacModder

Registered: 11/16/07
Posts: 1816
Loc: Florida, USA
I say build a tablet system out of it and hard wire a USB hub into where the super drive use to be located and install a wireless mouse/keyboard dongle so when you're at home you can just use a book stand and use it like a desktop.

There are so many things you can do to it.

Top
#477060 - 08/08/09 01:22 PM Re: cool ideas for a powerbook mod? [Re: rosebuddy]
geeko Offline


Registered: 08/06/09
Posts: 6
what would be the best approach to make a tablet. i have seen all the tablet mods here, and am looking for something less expensive. also, if i connect an internal usb hub, it would render 1 usb port dead, right? also i don't think anything wireless works well through aluminum. and a battery, what would be the best way to approach that?

Top
#477061 - 08/08/09 11:36 PM Re: cool ideas for a powerbook mod? [Re: rosebuddy]
TonimusMaximus Offline


Registered: 01/08/08
Posts: 137
Yes, you would lose a port, but if you used a 4 port hub, you'd still be up 3. If you did decide to make an internal keyboard/mouse dongle, you'd be up 2 ports. Yes, the range may be limited due to being inside the powerbook, but range is fairly limited with those anyway. You may only have to be 8 feet away instead of 10. And you can get a digitizer from ebay for about $80-100.

Top
#477062 - 08/09/09 11:59 AM Re: cool ideas for a powerbook mod? [Re: rosebuddy]
geeko Offline


Registered: 08/06/09
Posts: 6
Originally Posted By: "TonimusMaximus"
And you can get a digitizer from ebay for about $80-100.


can you post a link to one of these. when i searched "digitizer" on ebay all i found were old wacom tablets and numerous pens.

Top
#477063 - 08/09/09 04:34 PM Re: cool ideas for a powerbook mod? [Re: rosebuddy]
geeko Offline


Registered: 08/06/09
Posts: 6
[censored]" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/Touch-Screen-Panel-C...4#ht_3929wt_912
it is an overlay. i am only going to use this for internet and things like that, would this be usable?

Top
#477064 - 08/10/09 07:56 AM Re: cool ideas for a powerbook mod? [Re: rosebuddy]
TonimusMaximus Offline


Registered: 01/08/08
Posts: 137
Yes, it would work, but isn't going to offer you a high level of sensitivity. I'm not sure it would be sensitive enough for anything smaller than a fingertip. Add that and a keyboard app, you should be good to go.

Top
#477065 - 08/10/09 10:53 AM Re: cool ideas for a powerbook mod? [Re: rosebuddy]
geeko Offline


Registered: 08/06/09
Posts: 6
leopard has a key board app built in. if you go to system preferences>international>input menu then click on keyboard viewer, and a flag will pop up in the top finder thing, click on that and the click show keyboard , it will give you an onscreen keyboard. if you can think of a more functional keyboard app, please do tell me.

Top
Previous Topic
View All Topics Index
Next Topic

Tweet

Preview

Moderator:  Acumowchek 
Print Topic
Switch to Threaded Mode
Publications, Articles and Industry Discussion
   »MacTech/MacNews Article Discussions
   »Apple World
Marketplace
   »Deals and Special Offers
      »Expired Offers
   »Trading Warehouse
Mac
   »Hardware
   »Software
   »Servers, Security, and Networking
   »Programming, Web Dev & Scripting
   »Windows and Virtualization
   »Cloud and Online Services
Mobile Technologies
   »iPhone Apps, AppStore, and iTunes
   »iPad, iPhone, iPod and Apple TV Hardware
Mods and Hacks
   »General Mods
      »Techniques
      »Miscellaneous
      »Mod Logs
   »Laptop Mods
      »Case Mods
      »Hardware Mods
      »Misc. Mods
   »Desktop Mods
      »Case Mods
      »Hardware Mods
      »Misc. Mods
   »Peripheral Mods
      »iPod Mods
      »Misc Mods
   »Software Hacks & Mods
General Discussion
   »Site Feedback & Issues
   »Stan's Lounge
   »Soapbox
Now Software Support
   »Announcements
   »Now X
      »FAQs
      »Discussion
   »Now Up-to-Date & Contact
      »Community Help
      »Tips and tricks
View profile
Send a PM
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
View profile
Send a PM
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
View profile
Send a PM
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
View profile
Send a PM
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
View profile
Send a PM
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
View profile
Send a PM
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
View profile
Send a PM
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
View profile
Send a PM
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
View profile
Send a PM
Add to your Watched Users
View posts
Board Rules · Mark all read
Contact Us · AppleCentral · Top

MacTech Only Search:
Community Search:

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
  • SPREAD THE WORD:
  • Slashdot
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • Reddit
  • Newsvine
  • Generate a short URL for this page:



AppleCentral. www.applecentral.com
Main office: 805-494-9797
Xplain's use of MacNews, AppleCentral and AppleExpo are not affiliated with Apple, Inc. MacTech is a registered trademark of Xplain Corporation. AppleCentral, MacNews, Xplain, "The journal of Apple technology", Apple Expo, Explain It, MacDev, MacDev-1, THINK Reference, NetProfessional, MacTech Central, MacTech Domains, MacForge, and the MacTutorMan are trademarks or service marks of Xplain Corp. Sprocket is a registered trademark of eSprocket Corp. Other trademarks and copyrights appearing in this printing or software remain the property of their respective holders.
All contents are Copyright 1984-2010 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.
Generated in 0.046 seconds in which 0.030 seconds were spent on a total of 13 queries. Zlib compression enabled.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.5.8