WallMac Is A PowerBook Turned Wall-Mounted Computer

Wow that is an annoying video to watch. It drives me crazy when people sllloooowwwwlllyy ramble, with long pauses filled with "um"s and "uhh"s.

latterman

@Tim Henson Queers Me _GitEmSteveDave:

I don't know about you, but I'd like to keep my shower time free from a computer... I spend enough time in front of one as it is!

Connor Wilkins

Man, I don't have the time to do things like this, but I sure admire them!

qrius

@kirnkorner2001: Well, it would be up against the back wall, if I did do something like this, so water resistant would be acceptable.

@[www.thinkgeek.com]

kirnkorner2001

Hrmmm, If you could add in a waterproof keyboard, this would make a great shower PC.

I love it :)

@phoenix:

So you are saying this thing would be on all the time just for the chance that maybe you need directions on the way out the door?

It just reminds me of Michael Scott's "plasma" on the Office. "Sometimes I will just stand here and watch television for hours. I love it. I love this tv!"

jerkstore99

This is pretty slick - and a great use for an old powerbook, I have to say. :)

@jerkstore99: Name + post? Have you ever seen a kiosk, or ever had need to be in the kitchen while cooking and have a need to check a recipe quickly? Or maybe grab directions on your way out the door without booting up a laptop or heading back into the office? Or maybe use it as a small TV/computer combo?

@Tim Henson Queers Me _GitEmSteveDave: I like the way you think.

@Alex H.: Thanks!

@PhilbertNekromantix: "La Femme d'Argent" by Air

What is the purpose of this? To be able to check your e-mail if you just so happen to be standing next to the wall?

jerkstore99

@[lifehacker.com]

And of course... share the results with us when you pull it off! =)

Is there such thing as a usb device with only a few buttons that you can program for certain functions such as ALT+TAB and CTR+TAB, Shutdown, etc. That way you could open a few programs at boot and quickly go between them without access to a full keyboard.

cisengineer

Good hack, but super boo. The Powerbook G4 is a dying breed and this just killed another!

Uhh, then mute it.

OthelloHalona

Hmm i have a old working P3 900Mhz laptop i might do this for, would work for Pandora/Winamp if i hooked it to some decent speakers. Only problem is i don't have the area or tools to mod a box for it :(

@Connor Wilkins: So do I, but I could accomplish things in there like reading Lifehacker posts while I repeat.

it would be cool to put plex or another multimedia front end on this to simplify the UI.

mrbelv

@Amethysaurus: of couse, that would be jaadu. retard.

Amethysaurus

you definitely need a better trackpad. something like mocha or jaduu.

Amethysaurus

Nicely done! I've got an old-ish MacBook that I was considering selling, but this could be the time-killing summer project I've been in need of!

Since the MacBooks have a webcam installed, that would allow people to use PhotoBooth like an ACTUAL photobooth. It could also make for some killer time-lapse shots of parties.

If anything takes off, I'll report the results. Thanks LH & Dan!

why not just take an iMac and mount it on the wall?

SaradaAlcidice

@latterman: Well aren't you just a pain in the dick.

SiktaGeschpeght

does anybody know that artist of the song? the song title?

PhilbertNekromantix

Not a huge fan of Macs, but using this as a jukebox in a non-office room is definitely neat.

LetaFeardaddy

@mrbelv: Unfortunately Plex is Intel Mac only :(
Anyone know of a Universal Binary media front end?

@rgspb: It's an 8x10 shadowbox from Michael's (chain arts and crafts store). It was about 20 bucks, is an inch deep, and has a front magnetic closure. I removed the original glass that it came with. I thought about a touchscreen too, but...$$$!

@jerkstore99: I guess I'll speak up here. I have it automated to turn on when I wake up, then off when I leave for work, so it's on for the 45 minutes or so in the morning if I need it (weather, traffic, news, music, etc) so I don't have to turn on my iMac.

I usually turn in on when I'm from work to listen to music, but will always cut it off before bed (pretty fast boot/shutdown).

Any details on the frame itself and where you got it? This would be an awesome solution for me to run Indigo for my home automation. Next mod would be a touchscreen, but this setup alone opens up options!

I would love to do this and put something like this in my kitchen. Right now I'm emailing myself recipes and looking at my iPhone as I'm in the kitchen while listening to some music. This would be really useful but the only laptop I have I currently need.

Use Airmouse instead, much better iPhone app.

Vestan_Pance

Nice.

you could make iTunes start up on login, and use the Remote app for the iphone to connect. that would be cool too.. Good work!!

GillianErinyes

brother needs Boxee on that thing

rymalia

true, touchscreen interface would just complete the whole thing. perhaps add a sensor clip to the top?

I have a Powerbook g4 laying around here and i would like to set it up in the kitchen similar to this. Are there any recommendations for software? I am hoping to stay with OS X, and plan to use the built in keybaord and mouse. I would love a "dashboard" or some sort of app to give me quick access to weather, rss, todo, etc. Are there any "Kitchen Mac" apps out there? Plex, XBMC?

I'm a huge geek, and I love gadgets, but I cannot see the point of this thing other than as a curiosity. What would I do with it? It's overpowered for a digital picture frame. I read above about using it as an info kiosk. I have a computer that does that already, and it doesn't come with the handicap of being without a ready keyboard. Don't get me wrong. I'm not unimpressed, just genuinely curious.

@[www.firebox.com]

Bosnod

Big Brothers Dream! (With the simple addition of a webcam and a microphone if not already present)

I dont get it.

Great idea and good job, just can't help but think of Wal-mart when I here the name wallmac. Maybe someone can help you think of a better name. Please don't say iwall....

VencentioEetion

A great app for iphone to control Itunes is "Remote". while siting down and away from the laptop you can have access to all your Itunes media through wireless network.

AntKro

@jerkstore99: We've mostly used it as a remote music player for speakers that we have throughout the house.

Who knows what other functions we'll figure out for it.

amac84

artist : AIR song: La femme d'Argent

HarlanEmu

What's he using for his iTunes to make it black, and what's the rotating box that pops up?

SukeshiZeigler

Oh, and Boxee FTW!

CoHPhasor

Definitely a sweet arrangement.
Design needs refinement though.
opening like a truck's tailgate without the safety cable
that stops it from opening too far is dangerous.
Maybe it should open from the bottom instead?

And what about USB connectivity?
He should add extensions for ports to stick out under the frame.
Having an optical cable go out the back and down in the wall
to a stereo receiver would be even MORE awesome! :-)
(Couple with DVI to HDMI and it's a fair HTPC)

CoHPhasor

@SaradaAlcidice: couldn't agree more...

Jarek James

You should get one of those cheap touch panels that go in front of the LCD screen off eBay and add it to this. It'd be perfect.

I appreciate the awesomeness of whats actually going on here, so don't get me wrong. But isn't this just turning a $2000 computer into a wall mounted MP3 player with internet radio? You could just buy a tiny wireless enabled mp3 device and get the exact same effect for less than 1/4th the cost.

Toribor

@HappyMothersDay_GitEmSteveDave:
"Could people have use for a PC in the shower? We don't know. Frankly, we don't want to know."

RevWaldo

This would be sweet with Boxee!

MadisonHelle

I understand that the XBMC team have developed a PowerPC branch of their software, so you might wanna check out their website.

RoyAntiphates