14 DAY TRIAL // No, I'm not announcing a new Microsoft scheme to target the console and PC market at the same time, but addressing the latest success of a rather ingenious moder who released the Xbox 360 from its chains and set it free to roam the world in the shape it desperately craved for. According to master moder Ben Heckendorn himself, all you need is a sponsor, the Xbox 360 with full accessories and skill, the secret ingredient few possess. And voila, after three months of had work, the deed is done. Here's how it all started:
"A friend of mine asked back in May "Can you build an Xbox 360 laptop?" And I responded "Sure, can you pay for it?" He agreed, and thus I set forth on what was surely to be my most complex and insanely ridiculous videogame project yet. (I say videogame project as I highly doubt I'll ever manage anything as complex as Port Washington again, though at times this project sucked my will to live about as much)"
When it comes to great works of science, the less said is better, as no amount of ink shed on the altar of media news can do them justice. None the less, Ben posted a full step by step review complete with pictures on his website, for anyone to see and judge the effort, should they want to reiterate it. The Xbox 360 is not as much moded as completely rebuilt. Everything has been taken apart and reassembled, with keyboard and LCD screen addition, neatly refitted in a custom case.
It seems it's the second time around that Ben engages in such an amazing feat since a few years back he shocked the world with a portable Atari 2600! The only question remaining is what's next?
"All in all, this project took me just over 3 months to complete. That is a record, even the very first Atari 2600 portable I built, back when I was a nOOb, only took two months. But you know, what's the point of doing things if you don't keep challenging yourself? Resting on your laurels leads to... well, smashed laurels I guess", concluded the author.
Here are the complete specs:
- Uses a 17" wide (diagonal) 1280x720 progressive-scan LCD VGA monitor (for HD-level resolutions) Thus you can actually read the text in Dead Rising. - Water-cooled with custom-built radiator. Allows for a slimmer main body versus the mammoth heat sinks in a stock 360. - Built-in keyboard and Wi-Fi. - USB hub allows original number of 3 USB ports for user. - All-aluminum case, except for plastic keyboard / ring of light / screen control area. - Uses single customized "expanded" power supply brick for both screen and Xbox 360. - Breakout ports on back allow hookup to component TV, VGA monitor, sound system (analog or TOSlink) and even crummy composite video. - Size: 16.75" x 10.75" x 2.8" Weight: 14 pounds (with water loaded)
