It's the Wii laptop! We spent the last few weeks (including much time spent over the holidays evading relatives) slaving over this bad boy and finally it's complete. Check out the features:
- 16:9 widescreen LCD, 7-inch diagonal.
- Stereo sound
- Gamecube controller port
- Built-in short range Sensor Bar
- Ports for using original Sensor Bar and A/V output jacks (for use on external display)
- Built-in power supply and compartment for power cord
- Dimensions: 8.5 x 7.7 x 2-inches
Starting next Tuesday we'll be doing a multi-part How-To with detailed instructions for building your own Wii laptop, as well as loads of photos of the construction process. But for now check out
the gallery for more detailed photos of the unit, and click on to see some video of the Wii laptop in action.
[Big ups to our man
Ben Heckendorn! -
Ed.]
Download videoMP4 (H.264) -
VGA,
QVGA 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
JC @ Jan 19th 2007 12:11PM
Holy. I think I just peed my pants a little.
Richard Lai @ Jan 19th 2007 1:14PM
Don't you mean you "Wii"ed your pants a little? ;)
Devil Man @ Jan 22nd 2007 4:02PM
When i buy one its brill
gamerdood93 @ Feb 10th 2007 9:58AM
Just a little???????
Adam @ Jan 19th 2007 12:16PM
Needs a new name The WiiTop
alex @ Jan 19th 2007 12:21PM
om FING g you guys
that's insane!
Graham @ Jan 19th 2007 12:31PM
AHH!!! EVERYONE RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!! Hes not wearing the wrist strap!!!
Richard Lai @ Jan 19th 2007 12:53PM
Just imagine all the fun you can get with this thing on a 13-hour flight to Hong Kong!
But damn those harsh radio regulations.
TexRob @ Jan 19th 2007 12:54PM
Ben, you're a madman.
dukerayburn @ Jan 19th 2007 1:05PM
I didn't even know Heck was working with Engadget! Nice!
And as always, great build quality. Your work always reminds me of arcade cabinetry. It feels homegrown while still being incredibly impressive.
Frank @ Jan 19th 2007 1:14PM
STUPID!!!
It's a killer mod. His craftmanship is amazing.
But if i have to stand 3-6 feet away from the screen...how the hell am I gonna see what's happening?
What BEN needs to do is mate a projector with his Wii.
BHSPitMonkey @ Jan 22nd 2007 11:09AM
Wow, you managed to make a stern argument attacking a point you didn't even bother to observe. Re-listen to the part about the sensor bar, smart stuff.
Way to embarrass yourself.
Jonathan Keim @ Jan 19th 2007 1:14PM
You guys must love your jobs
Tung @ Jan 19th 2007 1:14PM
lol badass, but he doesnt even use the Wii strap.. no wonder so many people break stuff..
James @ Jan 19th 2007 1:15PM
Gotta say, it looks cool, but until a) he adds a battery, and b) Nintendo gets off their asses and adds pointer-less support to the Channel interface (using +-pad navigation), it's not going to be good for much. You could still play e.g. Excite Truck or VC games quite well, if you didn't have to stand half a room away and squint really hard to select them. Or, y'know, maybe not. Anyway, it *looks* great ;-)
captainobvious @ Jan 20th 2007 2:16AM
James, there is pointerless support in the channel selection screen.
Plug in the nunchuck and make sure the wiimote cant see the sensor bars and you'll find the analog on the nunchuck will move the pointer around the screen.
Smeagol @ Jan 19th 2007 1:15PM
They could have integrated the wiibar leds into the LCD bezel.
MikeN @ Jan 19th 2007 12:25PM
From the looks of it, there are LED's in the bezel. Look on the top.
Alex Jacobs @ Jan 21st 2007 12:46PM
they did. read it on hackaday for more info
Taylor @ Feb 2nd 2007 8:55PM
Someone's been seeing too many MacBook Pros.
wtf @ Jan 19th 2007 1:15PM
Awesome. But will the how-to include a few paragraphs about how to buy the damn thing? Grumble. :)
LittleOneTwo @ Jan 19th 2007 1:15PM
its cool and all that you made this but the i dont really like the overall design, idk what it is but all those black lines all over the thing make it look horrible, otherwise great idea, and great execution.
Joyrex @ Jan 19th 2007 1:44PM
I think the black lines are due to the laminate he's using for the case - I don't think he can do curved edges.
TeddyN @ Jan 19th 2007 1:15PM
We can call it 'the Wiivolution'.
Andy @ Jan 19th 2007 1:15PM
i want it!
and some new underwear!
Andy Rubino @ Feb 16th 2007 12:01AM
Andy my name is Andy as well and i really want it as well. What do you think that it costs
Vic @ Jan 19th 2007 1:15PM
Cool!
Does it have a port for component video?
theyer @ Jan 19th 2007 1:15PM
Wow, that's fantastic! Nice job, guys!
Scott @ Jan 19th 2007 1:15PM
But... wouldn't that thing fall off your lap the moment you started swinging the wireless remote around? :D
LittleJoe @ Jan 19th 2007 1:16PM
Ben... if you can build a PS3 in this form factor... you can have my first born. :P
richard @ Jan 19th 2007 1:16PM
Wiibook anyone?
DS @ Jan 19th 2007 1:16PM
Now to make it battery-powered!
tom @ Jan 19th 2007 1:17PM
surely the first incorporation of a "compartment" in a portable device
ryan @ Jan 19th 2007 1:24PM
I still haven't been able to find one, and it's already been Hecked.
airpolgas @ Jan 19th 2007 1:25PM
Same comment as dukerayburn... I didn't know Ben worked for Engadget, but he's sure a welcome addition.
Ryan, nice one... In addition to "Will it blend?" we will now have, "You've been Hecked!"
Derrick @ Jan 19th 2007 1:25PM
Mad props on the creation. However I'm sure I'm not the only one to wonder how in the crap are you supposed to see anything on that? I had my Wii on a 56" DLP over the break and moving back to my 27" almost killed me.
Andir3.0 @ Jan 19th 2007 1:29PM
did someone mention using this on a plane? I can see it now: "Man bludgeoned to death by an over-anxious kid on flight."
Adam @ Jan 19th 2007 1:34PM
Umm ... where do GC memory cards go?
Mazzani @ Jan 19th 2007 1:41PM
It looks pretty good, I can't see anything wro..ZOMG! There's no component video out! Oh noes!
Fortyseven @ Jan 19th 2007 1:53PM
I'm going to steal that C64 reference guide on his desk. Beware!
Ben Heckendorn Actual @ Jan 19th 2007 1:53PM
I had a battery pack that ran a Gamecube and I tried it with this thing and it didn't work (so yes, the Wii sucks more power than a Cube)
This project was done very quickly (literally was doing sketches of the case last Tuesday night, finalized the CNC files that Thursday) so I didn't have time to experiment with batteries in excess.
It could probably be rigged to run off a cigarette lighter in a car...
This was done on commission for a person and Engadget wanted to cover the story... As for building more I probably won't have time because I am moving onto, ahem, ANOTHER system and also finishing several other things that've been on the burner. What I really need are some interns...
justin @ Jan 19th 2007 2:18PM
very nice work. For the time and money you spent on this you could have purchased a few wii's and sold them on ebay for a 200% profit.. but noo you had to blow your wad on this.
http://www.wiiuser.org
Merkidemis @ Jan 19th 2007 2:20PM
7" screen? That's it? Good grief.
Frankenstein Black @ Jan 19th 2007 2:27PM
Ben, you Sir are a sick, sick man ;^)...
Soooo what, a PS3 Lapie Next?
Oh! My back hurts just think about that one...
----------
FB (a.k.a LDM)
Water-bending Master
http://www.eternal-champions.com/images/ldm_master_builder!.jpg
Directive0 @ Jan 19th 2007 2:46PM
Fucking awesome.
Ryan Block @ Jan 19th 2007 2:53PM
Ben has been doing stuff with us for a while now! http://www.engadget.com/bloggers/benjamin-heckendorn
Best, Ryan
Cowboy Bob @ Jan 19th 2007 3:07PM
AWW HELL NO! BEN HECKENDORN IS GOD!
I WILL SO BE BUILDING MYSELF ONE OF THESE!
lookn for Wii @ Jan 19th 2007 3:17PM
??? He tore apart a Wii???? There is not enough of them to go around to be modding them.... :(
Wait til I get one before doing this :P
Cool Mod.
nintendude559 @ Jan 19th 2007 3:28PM
how do you use 2 player?
nintendude559 @ Jan 19th 2007 3:29PM
SWEET!it's awsome but will you put it in stock market?and try to fix the nun-chuck thingy cause people are geting mad with there TV's