Creating Your Own Steampunk Laptop
You’re on a vacation with your family at a distant relative’s place in the country when you come across an old antique looking wooden box displayed in one of the tables in their living room. Curious as to why such a box would be present in the seemingly ultra modern home of a family member, you decided to open it and see its contents. You were totally surprised to see that it contained a laptop. Your distant cousin who was observing you from afar further added to your amazement when he turned it on and showed you that it totally worked in spite of the collection of gears, knobs and dials that looked as if they belong to a grandfather clock. He mentioned that it was a steampunk laptop that he had designed and assembled himself. Steampunk basically refers to a genre wherein the look of the Victorian era is combined with that which is modern to create an item or a look that is both modern and old. If you are thinking of creating your own steampunk laptop, here a few tips worth remembering.
Choose your laptop
The first step in creating a steampunk laptop is picking one to convert. An old but functional unit would be most appropriate since what makes a steampunk item attractive is that it looks deceptively busted but it actually works. Aside from being far cheaper and easier to part with, the “antiquated” design of an old laptop will contribute positively to your project. Of course, if you want not only looks, but also decent productivity from your steampunk laptop, you shall make it from a brand new notebook.
Create your design
It would be best to put the design of your first ever steampunk laptop on paper as it would then be easier for you to visualize it and the things needed for its assembly. Furthermore, you can keep the design both as proof and a souvenir of your initial participation in the steampunk culture. You can even use the said schematic when you post your work on your blog or on your social network account.
Search for parts
Now that you know the things that you will need to assemble and jazz up your steampunk laptop, you can now start looking for the various gears, knobs, dials, clockwork pieces and even the wooden casing to be used to enclose your laptop. A raid of your attic or garage would be a good place to start. Ebay is also a great place to look for the parts you need as numerous steampunk enthusiasts are also doing their trade there.
A steampunk laptop is appreciated not only for its beauty but because it is another expression of how man values the lessons of the past and applies them to their present. There are many steampunk culture followers on the Internet, and if you feel it’s going to be too difficult to create your own laptop, there’s a company called Datamancer, that builds and sells various computer components, from steampunk keyboards to laptops. Although it’s going to cost you a hefty price (the one displayed in this post sells for whopping $6,850.00), this is one of the rare cases when you CAN buy style for money. This will be certainly the piece of hardware that looks freaking gorgeous!
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This is definitely for creative people
Although I prefer my laptop clean.