Mod Squad

PC Modding has been around for a long time. From the classic beige boxes of the eighties, to the newest generation of gaming consoles, mods allow anyone with the know-how to create swag that's one-of-a-kind.

I joined the long-standing mod community last semester, when I modified an old iBook G3 and an ancient 486 Toshiba laptop. I used different varieties of spray paint and some various metal accessories to give the laptops a visual overhaul.

I can't tell you how much fun it was taking those old systems apart and I would highly-recommend this hobby to anyone looking for an outlet for their artistic/mechanical creativity.

Here are some website collections that will give you a good idea of just how far you can push a successful mod.

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2007/06/cool-computer-case-mods.html
http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/07/cool-computer-case-mods-part-2.html

Also, check out this guy's site: http://www.benheck.com/ My friend Tyler led me to this website. Mr. Heck is kind of a modification god. He's made laptops out of just about every vintage console/computer you can think of. He created the ATARI 2600 portable, featured as the beginning of this entry. The man is incredibly talented.

Keep in mind, you don't have to go all-out to have a successful mod. I've found some sites that offer simple tools that really help personalize PC and Apple computers. Since most New Media students use Apple laptops, here are some sites that sell easy mods for Mac portables.

http://www.icolours.ca/ - icolours are gel inserts that change the color of the apple logo, on the back of your ibook, powerbook, macbook, or macbook pro. I've used several in my mods and they are pretty nifty. Of course, you could use any colored gel to get the job done. This little activity does void your computer's warranty, if anyone was wondering.

http://www.macstyles.com/ -This website has vinyl decals that allow users to personalize their apple laptops with a variety of skins. Some of them are pretty hokey, but the solid colors are decent looking (especially the macpads).

So, take a crack at modding, if you're interested. If not, at least take a look a some of the ingenious mods in the websites above. Someday, I'd love to offer a mod-based undergrad course. We'll have to wait and see...