Xbox 360 Laptop mk2

Behold, the Xbox 360 Laptop mk2! It may look a bit like its first generation sibling, but don't be fooled. This Xbox laptop is a bit thinner, significantly lighter, and has some essential upgrades if you're gonna build one yourself. You are going to build one, aren't you? Because that's the best part about it -- we're going to show you how to make one of your own in the coming weeks with a three part How-To series. We'll describe, in detail, the steps necessary to fab an Xbox laptop, and if you're extra nice we'll even provide some original technical files and drawings. But play before work -- check out the photos (below) and videos (after the break) of the Xbox 360 Laptop mk2!

Gallery: Xbox 360 Laptop mk2

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Wondering why there's no pictures of the insides of this thing? Well that's because we're saving them for the three part How-To making-of, naturally. You'll get a behind-the-scenes tour of the construction of this device, along with diagrams, tech specs, and even the original design and art files. We'll also cover LCD screen hacking as well and many of the finer details about this project that aren't readily apparent by the glamor shots we took. Stay tuned!

Demo videos of this unit for your viewing pleasure (PS3 fanboys be warned):

[MP4] Download in QVGA
[MP4] Download in VGA
[MPG] Download in VGA (MPEG-2)

[RyanTV @ Apr 17th 2007 1:30PM]

looks great! now hopefully it wont overheat and brick like my 360 :)

[Yahhoun23 @ Apr 17th 2007 1:36PM]

Would that be the mk2 Elite?

[Steve @ Apr 17th 2007 1:36PM]

B-E-A-utiful.

[js @ Apr 17th 2007 1:42PM]

Can this be called a "laptop" when it has no batteries to power the system?

[KineticOnline @ Apr 17th 2007 2:09PM]

Technically it should be a called a notebook, but really anything that you can fit on your lap (mains or battery powered) can be called a laptop.

Man i'm really really considering attempting to build myself one of them. It just looks so cool. Maybe MS could start releasing ones as the xbox 360 ultimate

[Simon P @ Apr 17th 2007 1:59PM]

Dude never ceases to amaze me. Guess my "PSP in a PSP case" is fairly pointless now.....

[Andy O. @ Apr 17th 2007 2:00PM]

While I'm sure Ben is now making tons of money off cosignment projects, but why isn't Sony/MS/Nin throwing money at this guy as a consultant? He really seems to have his finger on the pulse of gadgets.

Beautiful work, and if I could afford it, I most certainly would get one of those beautiful Atari laptops.

Keep up the good work Ben.
-Andy

[Crono @ Apr 17th 2007 2:00PM]

Can we call something a "driveway" when you don't drive on it, or a "parkway" when you're not allowed to park there?

Its a laptop. It fits (uncomfortably) on TOP of your LAP, and is useful/playable.

Arguing semantics is pointless. Its awesome. Hows that?

[Macha88 @ Apr 17th 2007 2:00PM]

wii laptop, xbox laptop, why not a ps3 laptop? it'd be oh so powerful :)

[HEADsoldier07 @ Apr 17th 2007 5:17PM]

if you tried to make a ps3 laptop it would be about the size of a desktop. I mean seriously, the ps3 is huge.

[brutha-man @ Apr 17th 2007 2:00PM]

SAWEEEEEEEEETTT!!!!!!!

[brutha-man @ Apr 17th 2007 2:00PM]

SAWEEEEEEEEETTT!!!!!!!

[kingofwale @ Apr 17th 2007 2:09PM]

with the overheating problem 360 has, is it really wise to call it a 'lap'-top??

[CRASHLOCK @ Apr 17th 2007 2:18PM]

T a c k y.

[w00fd06 @ Apr 17th 2007 2:18PM]

Ben is officially the coolest person, who makes mods.

Now I want t2 see him make a Wii60 Laptop w/ built-in Blu-Ray. thta wood b3 t3h uber frag mach1ne.

[_V3ndetta_ @ Apr 17th 2007 10:34PM]

7H47 w45 L4M3 L337, |}4n. y0U C4n |}0 83773|2.

[nerdXcore @ Apr 17th 2007 2:37PM]

Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony should all be scrambling to hire this guy. His creations have that rare blend of functionality and beauty. That he does everything by himself is miraculous.

[Andrew H. @ Apr 17th 2007 2:41PM]

cool.. but what's the purpose of the keyboard? (aside from live chat which is coming in may)

[Grizz @ Apr 17th 2007 3:18PM]

You are the greatest craftsman i have never met! Its beautifully crafted to complement the system below.

Not one thing you have created is sub-par.

[quanta67 @ Apr 17th 2007 3:23PM]

I sure wish he would make this in an easy assembly kit form and sell them. (Just add your own 360).

I am pretty sure quite a few people would buy them.

Maybe version 3 could run on battery power though...

[MuShoo @ Apr 17th 2007 3:24PM]

Personally, I don't see the usefulness of this. The keyboard might be nice to have, but there's no joystick on the actual device - you'd have to carry around a controller everywhere (and that hefty power brick). However, I think this would be fantastic _without_ the screen. A slimmer, fully functional Xbox 360, with a form factor that I can stack other things on top of? Sign me up.

[Chronz @ Apr 17th 2007 3:36PM]

Bro needs to build a PS3 laptop, that would be badass. I'd buy one for sure

[Chronz @ Apr 17th 2007 3:40PM]

Bro build a PS3 laptop, that would be badass. I'd buy one for sure

[Frankenstein Black @ Apr 17th 2007 3:45PM]

BEN, YOU MAD, MAD MAN! YES PS3 NEXT PLEASE ;^)...
PS If you don't I will (with water liquid cooling too boot)...

----------
Frank Black a.k.a LDM
Water-bending Master
http://www.eternal-champions.com/images/ldm_master_builder!.jpg

[steve @ Apr 17th 2007 4:13PM]

nice
microsoft should buy the design off of him and get rid of the sceen
then u get a nice tiny system with crazy specs
dont see the use of the keyboard tho...

[2ASquared @ Apr 17th 2007 4:48PM]

From article:
"This Xbox laptop is a bit thinner..."

From photo caption here:
http://www.engadget.com/gallery/xbox-360-laptop-mk2/216041/
"This unit is slightly thicker than the first Xbox 360 laptop by about 1/8th of an inch."

[bruce cox @ Apr 17th 2007 4:57PM]

well as it is a very good idea , how long before he gets a letter from Microsoft,saying he has violated DMCA,or some other patent and they sue him in court if he does not take down all informatin on this, look I LIKE it,but Microsoft likes to crush any real inovation ,(other than ther own)



The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. Instead of altering their views to fit the facts, they alter the facts to fit their views....
-- Doctor Who

[Brian @ Apr 17th 2007 5:22PM]

That is one of the coolest things I have ever seen. I will highly respect you if you end up actually posting tutorials.

[KilgoreTrout XL @ Apr 17th 2007 5:33PM]

Bruce:

Maybe. But MS would have a hell of a time proving damages. Moreover, it's obvious that Ben crafts these devices for the "purely philsophiocal" inquiry into the manner in which the console opereates.

Right Ben? ;)

[Jake @ May 24th 2007 7:41AM]

Plus, he's not making money off of it. Think of it this way, we have to buy the casing, the screen, the keyboard, all the extra parts. PLUS! The XBox 360 for it's internals, and put it all together. It's not like Ben here is buying up 360's, putting them in cases and reselling them for exorbitant amounts. He's well in his rights to do this.

[Ben Heckendorn @ Apr 17th 2007 6:07PM]

Well another thing to consider, I mod consoles to make interesting new versions of them that the fans love. I don't see this as a problem. None of my work is in software because I suck at that stuff. I also account for a good deal of hardware sales, I've probably bought more consoles in the last 3 years than 10 people would in a lifetime.

Whereas you have a lot of other people doing mods and hacks with the sole purpose of allowing people to play ripped copies of DVD's. Seems to me that's a lot worse.

[Andrew Christensen @ Apr 17th 2007 6:07PM]

Is the reason this one is so lighter is because the power brick is no longer built in? The original had it built in, right? Maybe that was the one that Ben made originally? The picture above has the brick on the table next to the laptop.

[sheitmar @ Apr 17th 2007 6:52PM]

In one of the pictures it says this model is 1/8th of an inch thicker than the original, but here it says its thinner?

[Benjamin Heckendorn @ Apr 17th 2007 6:59PM]

Yes, sorry about that error. This unit is 1/8" thicker than the original 2006 model. The changes in the design will be explained in Part 2 of the making of in detail.

[joebob @ Apr 17th 2007 7:13PM]

Very Nice! Where are the construction photo's?

[Jechotas @ Apr 17th 2007 7:13PM]

Holy crap!!!!! Wow!!! Now i have a reason to buy a Xbox 360. Please oh please teach me how to mod stuff like that. ok i am done sucking up.

[agoodfella @ Apr 17th 2007 8:17PM]

Coulda done without the Incredible Hulk Green trim...

[Krono6 @ Apr 17th 2007 6:53PM]

You know when you spend too much time in IRC chatrooms when you understood what was said without error... >.>

[Kazuya @ Apr 18th 2007 12:49AM]

You know whats really amazing about this unit? I don't want a 360 (as yet), there are no games on the 360 that compels me towards it that are currently released.

But this piece of art makes me want a 360! I salute you Ben!

[Ramon @ Apr 18th 2007 12:50AM]

My god! That's awesome! And there's even going to be a How-To! Woohoo!

[Logic Bus @ Apr 18th 2007 12:50AM]

According to the gallery, this unit is thicker, not thinner, than the original mod.

http://www.engadget.com/gallery/xbox-360-laptop-mk2/216041/

[Brockman11 @ Apr 18th 2007 11:44AM]

A PS3 laptop would be cool as well. Portable blu-ray player, wireless internet, 60 gig HD, linux, bluetooth accessories.

[Danilko1 @ Apr 18th 2007 12:48PM]

Sorry I found the link... Thanks!

[Danilko1 @ Apr 18th 2007 12:53PM]

I can not find links to the first laptop attempt. This is great but I am also interested in the whole history, which includes the first laptop.

Thanks

[Philip Colling @ Apr 18th 2007 2:29PM]

This is awesome, now if you could stick vista or xp in there we'd be in business

[Austiclees @ Apr 18th 2007 7:13PM]

I think it's fantastic, but...
- Battery power is a must, at least 3-4 hours.
Is this one water cooled like the previous. I would really like to make one my self, but the production cost is probably too high for my wallet. But... if you were to produce this "kit" "add you own 360", it would most likely be cheaper. Also, left for primer, not to knock your color selection, but the green is not very attractive.

Also, what is the stability of the unit like? Does it over heat quickly? How loud is it? Will it burn your thighs after playing for 20 min? I also didn't notice a head phone jack. Maybe an integrated wireless headphone jack..?

I'm just thinking for long car rides, being able to enjoy playing my 360 laptop without disturbing others. I suppose you could just buy an adapter at radio shack for 3 dollars to hook up your headphones via the rca connection in the back of the unit.

[C Singh @ Apr 19th 2007 12:20AM]

you know this reminds me of the new xbox 360 elite coming out(the black xbox)

[mitch @ Apr 19th 2007 1:28AM]

Ben Heck is God.

[Ja @ Apr 19th 2007 7:11AM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-pUvsdpdU4

[Mike D @ Apr 19th 2007 10:45AM]

absolutely amazing. suggestion, put a treo or something in it too to run windows mobile and skype