Apple ibook problem

[Hitokiri]

A year or two ago my ibook LCD started cutting out. I decided to open it up to see what was going on. I found the cords connecting the screen to the computer where being pinched. Also note this thing is a very old version and has been out of warranty for a long long time.

Anyways, after hours of trying to pry the thing open, unpinching the cords, and putting back halfway togeather, it works. But, every so often if I give it a good bump on the bottom, the screen cuts out again.

So, I was thinking about taking the whole darn computer from it's overheating laptop case, and making a new roomy home for it. Since I am quite the woodworker, I would like to make a wooden desktop case. The only thing, I don't know what to do with the LCD, would it still be usable? How would I go about arranging laptop components into a desktop "like" case?

Although old, a little slow, and pretty much worthless, it still works pretty good for internet surfing and watching dvds. I don't know if it is worth messing around with, but seems like a fun project.

I don't know much about Mac components, although I have lived with them for a long @$$ time. I don't know if you guys know anything about them either...

Should I just go find a Mac forum?

[Dark Nova]

ok first for your lap top id go see a technicien to re-arrange to wireing. if you want to mess around with it, go for it. besides, lap tops dont have the same components as a desktop (hardware)

i dont think that a wooden case is a great idea, easyer to get a fire in there, but if your going to go on with this project send us a pic at the end

[Hitokiri]

Fire would definalty be a concern here, this thing gets really hot! I will make sure to put some fire-proof material in there, like sheet aluminum or steel.

Since the layout of the laptop is much different than a standard desktop, the case will need to be at least 4 inches wide, 10 inches tall, and 12 inches deep. This would make it just a bit bigger than the original case, allowing for some cooling fans. I would make it so the motherboard ports shoot out the back, while the cd-rom faces the front placed vertically. I see it looking like the vertical ps2 or something...

If it is possible to remove the HDD and CD-ROM from the motherboard, I was thinking of just mounting them upright. This would make the case wider, resembling a PC case. The only thing though, there are no IDE cables, so I may have to attach them directly to the motherboard...

Searching on the web, I have found I am not the only one to think of modding an ibook into a desktop. Yet, nobody has posted a project with the computer parts in a permanent fixture, just in a cardboard box with ducktape...lol. People have gotten creative with the LCD though, even placing it within a picture frame, completely separated from the rest of the computer. That, and I have also seen the stock ibook case used, but attached and related a different way to the LCD screen.

I will have to complete this project in the cold of winter during Christmas break, so this is a very early start on my idea.

I will be sure to post pics of my creation once started and finished. But, I do have a tendancy to put off projects and never finish them...

[Mac Medic]

It's a know issue with the white ibook and is covered by a recall from Apple.

If yours is in the serial # range UV117XXXXXX to UV342XXXXXX you should contact Apple. The deadline for repair was March 2005 but they may still try to help you.

[Stuey]

There are forums at bit-tech.net which may or may not give you ideas about how to tackle some of the steps and possible problems you may encounter in your project.


Anyways, there's nothing wrong with a wood exterior, but I would definitely consider lining the interior with some kind of a metal film or sheet to reduce electrical interference. You would need to do this to shield external components and devices from the noise created from the laptop's parts, and to sheild the laptop's parts from noise and interference created from external components or appliances.

As far as your laptop starting a fire if placed in a wooden case... that sounds a bit far-fetched to me. Think about it. There are wooden trivets onto which you place your hot pots and pans. If a wooden slab can stand the heat from a pot that has just been on the stove, it can handle the heat output of a computer. Of course you would need some ventillation, but such is true for cases made from any relatively non-porous materials.

[David M]

Whats the temp at which paper (wood) ignites? 451F? (Remember the book?) Nothing gets to that temperature in a computer.

[Hitokiri]

You are right. And yes, I read that book, good book too.

I found a bunch of ideas, I think I will start out simple and possibly make a really nice case for my main computer someday.