Now that’s a good looking Streampunk mod right there. Dave Veloz made a Mac Mini into a Victorian-style computer system (just like the computers they had back then) as a gift for his wife on their wedding day. It includes such intricate details as a brass-looking flat panel monitor mounted to a granite base. Unbelievable and very cool. Photos from steampunkworkshop.com Steampunk Remake: Dave Veloz’s Keyboard and Monitor [steampunkworkshop.com] via Gizmodo → Read More
We like Steampunk. For those not familiar with the term, it’s the name given to a modding movement that aims to recapture the warmth and style of the H.G. Wells and Jules Verne era, but with modern electronics. Computers and cellphones and other personal gadgets have all been modded with wood and iron and gears and valves to attain a Victorian-era look, while retaining all of their usefulness. That affection for fake antiques might be big business for computer manufacturers, according to a straw poll by Sneaky Business. Off the record, PC industry executives see “retro” computing as a potential market, and rightly so: Steampunk is popular, and the success of Apple’s personal computers shows that since everyone’s going to have a computer, they’re going to also want it to look good. We’re for that. Don’t expect to rush out and get a gaslight Dell quite yet, it’s still in the incubatory stages. But even as a concept, it’s interesting. Look for at least niche manufacturers for Xmas this year, and if it’s popular, for the big boys to follow suit soon. teampunk niche to drive PC industry growth [Sneaky Business] → Read More
http://services.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/452319854 A video to start the day. It’s a quick look at the life of a steampunk designer who mods laptops and other consumer electronics to look like they came from an earlier era. The star of the video is a Victorian-esque laptop, which is nothing more than an off-the-shelf HP. After some time in his basement workshop—just like Santa—the designer is more than happy to show it off. Why the Victorian era? Because that’s the last time devices were built to last and not built to fall apart as soon as you open the box. Peak Into a Steampunk Workshop [Wall Street Journal] → Read More
Ye shall hack thy Gibson, doth Spotted over on BoingBong today, someone with a lot of free time and a keen sense of humor re-did the entire script of Hackers in steampunk speak. It’s called “Clockers” and here’s a sample that will make those familiar with “Hackers” laugh: → Read More
Forget traditional newsreaders like NetNewsWire and FeedBurner. Real men go for the gusto when it comes to tech and this Steampunk-inspired RSS telegraph machine is no exception. This beautifully designed machine will actually click out your RSS feeds Samuel Morse style. That’s right, it’s not just for show and tell, this damn thing will actually grab your RSS feeds via a controller board. Oh, yeah. Don’t even think about trying to find one in stores! Steampunk Telegraph Sounder for RSS [Boing Boing] → Read More
Here’s a great keyboard mod involving glass and nickel keys on a polished brass frame. The build images are incredible and when he ran out of keys — old typewriters didn’t have a “help” key — he simply bought a few brass trimmed buttons and made his own. Project Page via Make → Read More
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