Video: the PS3 Laptop in action
by Ryan Block 
posted Apr 11th 2008 at 3:26PM
P.S. -Don't forget, next week we'll be putting this one of a kind console up for charity auction. Save your pennies, a Friday night beer only lasts a few minutes, but a Ben Heck PS3 Laptop will last forevah.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Shadowise @ Apr 11th 2008 3:32PM
Once again, I am amazed by his work.
TomFox @ Apr 11th 2008 3:46PM
Agreed
Chris Macdonald @ Apr 11th 2008 6:50PM
This isn't really a reply to your comment, I just want this read. He could have made it a lot smaller if he'd used an external power transformer (brick), instead of the internal one (even though the regular ps3 has an internal one).
[note when he plugs the cord in it says AC 120V(not DC) on the back]
The 360 laptop had an external one (like the actual 360 does) so thats why it doesn't have such a fat ass on the back..
Dualboot @ Apr 11th 2008 7:48PM
@chris
Shoulda, coulda, woulda...
When can we expect your version with the brick to be available for demo on Engadget?
Great job Ben, hats off for your ingenuity and your skills.
Chris Macdonald @ Apr 11th 2008 8:31PM
@Dualboot
Um, buddy, I'm just offering ways it can be improved.
Main Entry: constructive criticism
Part of Speech: n
Definition: criticism or advice that is useful and intended to help or improve something, often with an offer of possible solutions
Gus @ Apr 11th 2008 11:22PM
I'm sure that the man who spent 14 months on this console and many years of his life making countless other portable consoles would have put an internal power transformer in this machine if he damn well felt like it.
J Ozer @ Apr 12th 2008 1:59AM
@Chris MacDonald
You just answered your own question. The 360 Laptop had an external power brick because the 360 has an external power brick. The PS3 has an internal PS because thats what the Playstation 3 has. If the power supply circuit is integrated onto the mainboard, it would be pretty hard to route around it and use an external one. Plus the PS3 is a real power hog and pulls like 300W under load. I can't think of any laptop power bricks that can handle that kind of current.
Chris Macdonald @ Apr 12th 2008 2:44PM
why is everyone here such a dick!!!
Chris Macdonald @ Apr 12th 2008 2:49PM
I'm just here trying to explain something and offering something that might improve the next one!! I'm not trying to diss it or something I think it's great work and all, I'm just saying ways he might want to improve it!
Chris Macdonald @ Apr 12th 2008 2:58PM
And the power supply is not integrated to the mainboard. I didn't say he should use a laptop power supply either, I said he should give the system's power supply a case, and put it outside of the system.
And you know what? You fuckbags can low rank the shit out of all my comments. I don't care. I'm only trying to help.
ChodalBerryWagon @ Apr 13th 2008 6:35PM
lolz
I laughed so hard when he goes 'Oh, thats ALL very interesting!!'
TezzRexx @ Apr 13th 2008 8:32PM
He probably used an internal power transformer because it might not be so easy to remove the PS3's current one.
The Xbox360 already has a external transformer, so it probably made it a lot easier sticking to the way the console was already designed.
Paul @ Apr 11th 2008 3:48PM
Wow... This is so impressive... I cannot believe that Sony did not think of making something similar...
Mark @ Apr 11th 2008 3:32PM
that thing is a tank.
might as well just buy an lcd screen.
waste of money
JAmerican @ Apr 11th 2008 3:41PM
Negative comments only attract negative attention/rank.
Mark @ Apr 11th 2008 4:11PM
it's truth and honesty.
not negativity.
Smart People Play Tuba @ Apr 11th 2008 4:13PM
So, Mark thinks buying something at an auction for charity is a waste of money?
Magallanes @ Apr 11th 2008 4:13PM
So, kissing asses will attract positives/good ranks?.
O_o
Jonathan Keim @ Apr 11th 2008 4:28PM
@ Magallanes
Actually yes.... yes it will
mike @ Apr 11th 2008 4:28PM
I think its a waste too. You still need to plug it in and he put the drive in upside down.
Matt @ Apr 11th 2008 4:43PM
C'mon! The point is hardly if this thing is WORTH the money. Of course it's more cost effective to buy a screen. He did it because he can and because he loves the experience. And people might be willing to spend a bunch because it's for charity and because Ben's creations are pretty cool.
And if we're simply going for cost effectiveness, then I'll buy a PS2. Way cheaper and way more great games.
No one is asking you to buy it, so calm down.
jason51873 @ Apr 11th 2008 5:34PM
You know I have to agree with you - that thing is BEEFY!
I love mods - PC mods, console mods, etc but sometimes you just have to say "common now"
That thing is great work no doubt, but its FAR to huge...
FTY @ Apr 11th 2008 5:37PM
Matt;
It's nice for him to find pleasure in doing all this stuff, yet the public might have different opinions. For me this looks like a total waste of time as it is virtually just a repacked PS3, Xbox360 or Wii with the addition of a screen.
I will admit it sounds nice to take with you on a vacation, but then again, I'm usually doing everything else but gaming there, a laptop is enough to not completely abandon the daily routine.
And not to mention, if you are going to drag consoles with you, I think your better of just taking the original designs and hook them up on TVs in Hotels or wherever you are vacating, as this thing and other mods he did are pretty huge to say the least.
But yes, as an mod it looks very nice, yet useless to me.
Dave @ Apr 11th 2008 6:21PM
Mark, it MAY be a tank.......... but it's still alot more portable than lugging around a PS3 and a seperate LCD screen......... By your way of thinking, an iMac has no place in this world; all in one PCs have no place in this world, and desktop-replacement laptops are completely worthless........... It'd be great in the hotel room, for instance, or in the car plugged in via inverter for the kiddies.............
Dave @ Apr 11th 2008 6:24PM
FTY, bear in mind that not all hotel TVs allow consumer devices to easily be hooked up............ And regarding being out of the hotel more than you are in it; bear in mind that someone may be in Eastbumblefreak, Nowhereland and have nothing to do outside the hotel............ A little PS3p gaming fills the time nicely........ JMHO..........
EdgeOne @ Apr 11th 2008 8:16PM
WFT is wrong with some of you?!? If you don't like this stuff the FUCK OFF and quit reading Engadget or at the very least quit posting crap on here. Shit like this is AWESOME even if its not always pretty and/or practical. Its why most of us come to Engadget everyday and why we love gadgets (especially ones that are home-grown or mods).
I'll never understand people that want to tell other people how they should better spend their time, money, resources, talents (when they aren't hurting anyone else). At the very least show me something you've done that come close to anything Ben has come up with.
You waste my time reading your crappy comments and now someone just wasted their time reading this, but damnit man, it had to be said!
Dave @ Apr 12th 2008 8:04AM
He just said he thought it was a waste of time. Kind of a silly thing for everybody to get butt-hurt over. I like the project though and I think Ben Heck's got one of the coolest jobs for a person to have. It's ridiculous to tell someone something along the lines of "If you don't like it, shut up" when all they're doing is giving constructive criticism. All of you have done exactly what you're telling them not to do. Stop being immature about it.
benman2233 @ Apr 14th 2008 11:27AM
@Edgeone
Dude you are so freakin right its not even funny, thank you for coming out and saying it, its so awsome. You are like my hero right now, just because youve said what i would have loved to say if i had only seen this earlier, and you said it in a way thats so kickass. Thank you, and for all you douch bags that thing negativly about this thing, fuck off, burn in hell, go motherfuckin kill yourselves.
eatmoreramen @ Apr 11th 2008 3:33PM
I want...
Anton @ Apr 11th 2008 3:33PM
Sweet!
Motoken @ Apr 11th 2008 3:33PM
if only it was battery powered
Sime @ Apr 11th 2008 4:50PM
yeah...you would only get about 2 seconds of play time anyway...
tha-don @ Apr 12th 2008 11:45PM
but those two seconds would be AMAZING!
Jacob @ Apr 11th 2008 3:37PM
Wait a second... did he take the disc out, keep playing, then take *another* disc out? Or is it just the way the video was edited?
FNG @ Apr 11th 2008 3:38PM
Really? You don't have a PS3 I see.
spyder91 @ Apr 11th 2008 3:50PM
If you look closely, it's the way it's edited. Ignore /\
Tony Rayo @ Apr 16th 2008 9:56PM
I assume FNG only read the first part of your reply (flaming is busy work don't you know). But as an FYI, the game would have kept playing until he got to the next checkpoint/data cache. I'm still ticked that I can't beat the ending of this game.
JAmerican @ Apr 11th 2008 3:38PM
Wow. Nice way to spark some fanboyism with that intro.
Smart People Play Tuba @ Apr 11th 2008 4:16PM
Since Ben's already made more than one Xbox 360 laptop, I'm guessing he's just pandering to the audience for effect. Good effect, of course.
Dave @ Apr 11th 2008 6:27PM
I think the "xbox360" was the case from one of the ones he already modded.............. I don't think it was fanboyism, more symbolic of the fact that this isn't another 360 mod, it's a PS3...........
superaktieboy @ Apr 11th 2008 6:36PM
yh i agree with Dave, i think it was empty, and it didn't sound as heavy an xbox 360 falling...
Alex @ Apr 11th 2008 7:47PM
He does claim that "No Xboxes were harmed in the making of this film".
Thats' good.
Smart People Play Tuba @ Apr 11th 2008 3:41PM
That vid capture makes Ben look like Tom Merritt (from CNET) . . . a little.
Thi mam(kris120890) @ Apr 11th 2008 3:42PM
seriously cool,
seriously big,
I want one.
Does it have an hd screen and can you hook it up to an hd screen thats bigger.
youd make make ton if they could put in to mass production.
can you imagine the price tag.
on second thoughts know.
Kyle N. @ Apr 11th 2008 3:46PM
It's got HDMI-out, I believe.
Josh @ Apr 11th 2008 5:13PM
720p screen.
Zak @ Apr 11th 2008 3:43PM
That's an amazing piece of work, but I'd still rather play my PS3 on my 61" HDTV.
harrijs @ Apr 11th 2008 3:51PM
compensation much?
Zak @ Apr 11th 2008 4:25PM
Er... what? You don't like big screen TVs? I do, and so does Ben Heck apparently, you can see his in the background of these pictures. And most people I've ever met or spoken to like them too.
Except you. I suppose that if I'm compensating for anything by owning a large screen TV, I'm compensating for not having one in the first place.
daaper @ Apr 11th 2008 4:55PM
Don't you know that if you have anything nice you're compensating for a small penis? Says a lot about the guy with the $6mil home theater, doesn't it?