the most cool Mac modification ever

[G4scott]

Actually, If it were to look like it was really from the matrix, you could have wires running all over the outside, since all of the computers in the matrix were pretty messy and tangled up...

Of course, that takes away from the Apple style... How about glow in the dark paint, or a glow in the dark sheet behind the keyboard? sure, it would only work for a while, and it wouldn't be noticeable when the computer was on, but still... then again, nah... stick with neon if at all possible

 

[cb911]

yeah, i'll try the model paint. i've got a heap of that stuff i'm not using...
i'll order a few keys from pbparts.com, or whatever that site is, just to practice on and in case i mess anything up.

 

[mmmdreg]

so what else are you going to do to make this uber-mod of yours?

 

[cb911]

well mmmdreg, so far the main thing i want to get done is the 'matrix code' on the keys instead of the regular letter. i only want to do this to the alphabet keys. once i get that done i might think seriously about putting some neon under the keys. i checked yesterday to see if i could get smaller batteries than AAA and there are lithium ion batteries that are about 18mm diameter and about 2mm thick, and they're 3 volt. i could stick two of them under the keyboard- thats 6 volts, the neon should be fairly bright with that.

the plug coming out of the locking slot is a good idea, i'll keep that in mind.

if i do manage to put the batteries inside the TiBook, does anyone know if they will cause any interference, or if they will affect anything if they touch something. should i put the batteries in some kind of insulation to protect the rest of the components?

 

[AlphaTech]

Originally posted by cb911
if i do manage to put the batteries inside the TiBook, does anyone know if they will cause any interference, or if they will affect anything if they touch something. should i put the batteries in some kind of insulation to protect the rest of the components?

I would suggest making some kind of insulated housing for the batteries. That way, you could also wire them together and allow you to use only one set of connections to the neon, or whatever you end up using for illumination.

 

[cb911]

you reckon a plastic housing should do the trick?

i got The Matrix on DVD yesterday (i just rented it) and thought i'd watch it on my TiBook and take a few screen shots of the 'code'. so i took a heap of screenshots, about 170MB all up. then i went to look at one. there was nothing there!!

i opened the file and all i got was a black space where the picture was supposed to be!! should've known the DVD would have some sort of protection.
anyone know a way around that? any programs that let you take screen shots from DVDs? if i can't get the pics i will just have to buy it on DVD...

 

[cb911]

check it out!!! i've got a face!

street fighter is cool!!

 

[cb911]

i'm not having any luck getting screenshots of the 'code' so i've got to leave the DVD viewer open while i look for katakana sites on the net. i've got to hurry up and get all the character because i only rented The Matrix and it has to go back on Tuesday.

so, does anyone know some good katakana sites? or any sites that have clear pictures of the matrix 'code'?

 

[cb911]

exellent news!!

after a whole day of trying to figure out all the DVD ripping stuff i've finally got the screenshots i need. now i can do a mock up picture of the new keys on the keyboard!!
sorry about the quality of the pic, i had to do that so it was small enough to post. i'll put all the other full quality pics up on my iDisk, if anyones interested...
oh yeah, here's one of the screenshots i've got:

 

[cb911]

the mod has reached 'mock up stage'.

i've started to do a mock up of the keyboard with the new keys. i can't find a Katakana font that is chunky enough to just print out and use as a stencil, and the katakana in The Matrix is different from what i can find on the net anyway, so i'll probably end up tracing the Matrix katakana to use for a stencil.

anyway, here's the semi-completed mock up: