Click image for super-sized, suitable for framing version.

A few months ago I announced that I would be building a few more Xbox 360 portables, and well, here’s one now! While it looks similar to the previous model it’s once again a from-scratch redesign and has the following features:

• Built-in Ethernet port, finally.
• Built-in WiFi adapter, as usual.
• Digital pushbutton volume control rather than a clunky knob. I used a different audio amp as well, and it sounds a lot better.
• Flush-mount DVD door and side panels (such as the memory card slots)
• IR sensor for the remote control.
• Two user USB ports.
• More air holes!
• Jasper motherboard.

For more pictures, info and a demo video, click below. Both of these new units are spoken for (commission) but later this summer, after I take a break, I will probably be taking on new work so stay tuned!

Here’s the unit open. The internal layout is almost identical to the previous model, though now there’s a better bracket to hold the fans, the hard drive connector is aligned via the case, and the DVD door is thick like the side of the case but sits flush inside it. Again the heat sink are supplemented with copper - the wonder metal that works wonders.

Testing the unit using Street Fighter 4. This is a good game for that because you can set the computer to just fight itself, over and over, so the system is doing something without any input.

The fabled Ethernet port. Strangely Menards is the best place to find Ethernet ports, they have a wall-jack unit you can get for like 5 bucks. A regular cable plugs into the Xbox motherboard, then is wired to this plug. Some plugs and jacks have internal circuitry, which we don’t want, so this is the simplest solution.

DVD drive open with the flush-mount door. Actually my friend Dave Campbell saw this while I was working on it and said “Why not make the DVD door flush?” and I said “Say, that’s a good idea!” and so it was. I guess I owe him a can of pop or something now.

Side view of unit. The memory card ports and vent are similar to the last model, though now this plate is flush with the side of the unit.

Unit with lid closed. The screws to hold the lid together are now on the inside and countersunk, much like a normal laptop.

LCD controls. Once again I’ve used the Gateway 1775W widescreen 17″ monitor. It has DVI in, which is pin compatible with the 360’s HDMI, and the resolution is exactly 1280×720, unlike most computer monitors.

Come to think of it, this is the only white-colored Xbox 360 laptop I’ve built since the original.

A short video of the unit in action.

Fun bonus: For your modding/experimentation/design pleasure, here are the mechanical layouts for some of my older Xbox 360 portable projects. Rquires AI version 10 or newer, enjoy.

Revision 1 (Original)

Revision 2 (Second, obviously)

Revision 3 (Halo inspired)

]]> http://benheck.com/07-01-2009/new-xbox-360-portable-revision-3/feed http://benheck.com/06-30-2009/commodore-64-original-hardware-laptop-revision-2-for-charity http://benheck.com/06-30-2009/commodore-64-original-hardware-laptop-revision-2-for-charity#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:32:56 +0000 benheck http://benheck.com/?p=561

Here is the latest Commodore 64 original hardware laptop, “Revision 2″. Thanks to the generosity of the person requesting this build, this particular unit will be up for auction with proceeds benefiting charity.

The current plan is to have a “silent auction” where people send us their bids, and then the proceeds go to Child’s Play. We will start this auction on Monday July 6th after the holiday week. Bids should start at $1000 US.

It is very similar to the first C64 laptop I built, with the key difference being it uses the newer 1541-III Ultimate SD-card based storage solution / disk emulator. USB and Ethernet ports for this device are open and available on the front of the unit.

Additionally, we’d like to thank Reed at oldsoftware.com for finding us the refurbished keyboard and special RevE 64C motherboards - you can check out his site by clicking here.

More details on the auction as they become available - in the meantime click below to see more pictures and video. Enoy…

Inside of the unit. It was kind of a pain wiring the expansion slot to plug into the 1541 board, mostly because there are so many pins and folding the ribbon cable that closely was tricky. As before there are dual speakers, it’s mono output but it gives a “fuller” sound. All the IC’s have been heat sinked just in case.

Unit running the 1541 menu. It’s a lot easier now to browse images and load them up, and you can return to this menu at any time by clicking the 1541 menu buttons (just below the function keys).

The USB, SD card and Ethernet ports of the 1541.

Physical layout is almost identical to the previous model, the function keys are different, there’s no small LCD screen and the 1541 menu buttons have been added.

Top down view.

C64 loading Power Drift, which is a fairly decent conversion of the arcade game.

Unit closed, with traitor Atari joystick plugged in. Unit is the same thickness as the previous model.

Finally, a video showing the amazing C64 rev 2 being rotated around on my desk - amazing!

Again we’ll have more information on the auction once we nail down the details but yes, it’ll be a chance for some lucky C64 fan to own this unit and help a good cause in the process. Stay tuned!

As usual, it’s designed to fit in a specific room. For more pics and a rundown of the features (a piece of wood with features, that’s right, only on Benheck.com) click below.

One kind of superflous feature is a rotating work surface. I’m sure 9 times out of 10 this will be useless, but since it might be handy someday (get to the other side of a fragile project without lifting it, for example) I put it in.

The surface is an 18″ diameter circle (big enough to fit an Xbox 360 laptop coincidentally) and it is suspended by ball bearings inside the assembly. Openings and toothed edges allow you to rotate from the bottom, under the table. Now I can reinact the “the deal was for the diamond” scene from Temple of Doom whenever I want!

“You call him Doctor Jones, doll!”

Here’s the desk before I piled crap on it. My new apartment has those dumb baseboard heater things, so the legs of the desk actually have openings to fit over those, allowing it to go right up to the wall.

The three tools I admire most: soldering iron, desoldering iron and hot glue gun.

This is probably my favorite part. I found a 3 circuit switch at Ace and wired it to some power sockets under the desk. This allows me to turn on my tools easily, instead of manually unplugging them which was obviously a major inconvenience. I wouldn’t call it “going green” (soldering irons are fairly low-power in the grand scheme of things) but it’s very handy. Dremel and drill, already having switches, are plugged into a standard power strip.

I have had this damn Radio Shack project box sitting around for years and I finally found a use for it - bench power supply. A couple months ago, while working on the new C64 laptop, I bought an old computer case just for the ATX power switch. Ridiculous, I know. But now I have a use for that extra PC PSU as well. I get +12, +5, -5, -12 and +3.3 out of this thing - enough to power anything! There’s a couple of LED’s, one a really bright white one, so I won’t forget it’s on. You know, in case I can’t hear the fan.

Some shelves to stack projects on. The white thing is one of my new Xbox 360 laptops that I should have on the site soon.

Well that’s about it. Stay tuned to Benheck.com for more exciting projects and a cool new section of the site as well!

Who knows when, if ever, this all custom pinball machine will ever be finished. The backglass art makes a great wall decoration, but hopefully someday we see it lit up like a Christmas tree.

We also talk about some new games coming down the pike and my trip to the Games for Health conference two weeks ago.

Enjoy!

Listen to Benheck.com Podcast Episode 60

www.benheckpodcast.com

Last week was the Games for Health conference in Boston and I’d like to thank Ben Sawyer and his crew for making it such a wonderful event.

As part of the show I did an interview with Dave Graveline, who has a great radio voice. We discusses some of the things I do and how they relate to Games for Health. For more information, clink on the link above or right here to visit the page.

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Got a promotional heads-up from one of my old advertisers about a Guitar Hero 5 contest that is going on from now until June 22nd. Basically you can test your GH5 trivia knowledge and win concert tickets for you and your friends! Click here to visit their site.

Good luck, and I hope you do better than my friends and I at Quaker Steak & Lube trivia nights ;) (Thought we rocked some 1 VS 100 the other night on the Xbox 360)

In this episode we discuss why the Castlevania movie probably got deep-sixed, impressions of the stuff shown at E3 and finally we talk about the life cycle of the Xbox 360.

Enjoy!

Listen to Benheck.com Podcast Episode 59

www.benheckpodcast.com

Behold SUPER DESK! Routed from 1.5 sheets of 3/4″ birch veneer plywood, it is the pinnacle of 21st century desk engineering. It easily comes apart into pieces making moving a snap! For more pics and info click below.

While building this I wondered “Would anyone buy Benheck-designed furniture?” The parts could be routed, shipped to the customer with the plans, and they could sand, stain and assemble in the comfort of their own homes.Something like this would probably be around $300+shipping. Crazy idea? Good idea? Let me know!

Want the plans? Here they are, go nuts!

In other news, I realize there has been a lack of updates lately. This is because I am moving across town, getting ready for Games for Health in Boston, building 2 new Xbox 360 laptops, a new C64 laptop using the 1541-III Ultimate, and finally a new Pelican case Xbox 360 as well. We’re planning to record new podcasts this weekend so keep your shorts on, OK?

Super Desk in pieces, with a pile of 3″ long 1/2″ bolts/nuts for assembly. Parts include main desk surface, two side pieces, rear brace and 2 side “wings” to hold the PC, printer, trash can etc. Unlike IKEA crap this desk was made from quality American plywood (the sawdust from which becomes IKEA furniture).

The side pieces being slotted into the main surface. The idea here was to make assembly simple, so the desk could be broken down into pieces for easy transporting. Could be handy for college kids who move every summer! Being a Benheck design, the desk is filled with circles and curves and follows a theme of fractal geometry.

Slotting the rear brace into the sides. There are holes everywhere on this thing (all symmetrically placed of course) so you can easily thread cords all over the place. As you can tell, I only stained the parts I knew people would see, a lazy habit that recently bit me in the ass when I moved my custom TV stand.

Here you can see the parts of the desk bolted together. There are (5) total flanges requiring 10 bolts/nuts/lock washers. They were actually pretty cheap, I went to Farm & Fleet, don’t tell the folks at Ace.

Here you can see the bolts holding the flanges together - I thought about using wing nuts but they were quite a bit more expensive than plain nuts. Note the power strip mounted at a 45 degree angle - pretty swank, eh?

Finished desk with computer. Obviously this was designed for my dual-monitor setup, but other designs are possible. (Evangeline Lilly wallpaper not included)

Coming Soon: SUPER WORK BENCH 2009!!!

Click here to watch the full episode - enjoy!