Xbox 360 portablized, ruggedized and Ben Heckified into Pelican case

It seems that our man Benjamin Heckendorn has elevated the laptop Xbox mod into something of an art form. Remember the boxy white model that looked like a way outclassed Toshiba Portege (ca. 1995)? Or how about the sci-fi stylings of the Xbox 360 Elite laptop? If you're looking for something a little more rugged, the newest addition to the menagerie sees the console mounted in a Pelican case. The rest is the usual Ben Heck artistry: 17-inch widescreen LCD, speakers, top loading DVD-ROM, removable hard drive, USB and ethernet ports -- all set in brushed aluminum. And the best part? This isn't a consignment job, so if you're going to be working on an Alaskan pipeline or find yourself shipping out with the military, you might want to consider making an offer. Video after the break.

[Thanks, Stagueve]

[STINK @ Dec 24th 2008 2:07PM]

hehehe try to take that on an airplane, Ben, I dare ya!

[Jason @ Dec 24th 2008 2:23PM]

Yeah, but will it run ardupilot??

[Jason @ Dec 24th 2008 2:55PM]

But now that I think about it, if he gifted to some deserving troops for Christmas, I bet it could be on a plane in no time.

[Flashpoint @ Dec 24th 2008 3:27PM]

President Obama...the football.

[blore40 @ Dec 26th 2008 11:52AM]

Fine, but where are the handcuffs?

[Victoid @ Dec 24th 2008 2:11PM]

right... i'm confused as to why these 360 mods continue to be news.

[glenn s @ Dec 24th 2008 2:19PM]

Because they are cool. Not every article interests every reader. If you don't like them, then just don't click the link.

[Jason @ Dec 24th 2008 2:24PM]

Yeah, you almost get the impression that they just post whatever they like--as though it were some kind of blog.

[hamza @ Dec 24th 2008 2:12PM]

Seriously this guy just needs to start his own business doing custom mods for people, I bet he would make a fortune.
If I was as talented as this guy, I would probably be a millionaire right now.

[hamza @ Dec 24th 2008 3:17PM]

What the fuck guys?? Not cool, not cool at all.

[zioncat @ Dec 24th 2008 3:30PM]

Nice job Ben but can it play Crysis? :-)

[Massmass @ Dec 24th 2008 3:44PM]

I disagree.

His mods are hardly elegant enough to solicit a full scale business. Sure, they're neat but when it comes down to it, they're not worth the money it takes to commission them. Unless of course he doesn't mind working for $1.50 an hour, perhaps.

I don't know if he still does, but he used to offer making some of the simpler mods if you provided the console/parts and then his fee. I imagine that didn't take off or again, his workload wasn't worth the money/time.

[Chase @ Dec 24th 2008 3:55PM]

your mom says i have enough ram to play crysis if you know what i mean.

[Jason @ Dec 24th 2008 6:00PM]

dude, if people will pay top $ for a frickin' dragon phone, then I'm sure someone will buy this modtastic bit of loveliness.

[Rainier @ Dec 24th 2008 2:16PM]

The way he was plugging in the power chord had me a bit nervous.

[Nathan @ Dec 24th 2008 9:53PM]

LOL, "power chord".

I'm sitting at work, reading Engadget, listening to some old school metal filled with them power chords!

[Rainier @ Dec 24th 2008 2:18PM]

*cord...sorry
(bah, more coffee, less eggnog!)

[ohforfucksake @ Dec 24th 2008 2:30PM]

First

[ANTCEP @ Dec 24th 2008 2:37PM]

to fail

[Dr Zoidberg @ Dec 24th 2008 3:07PM]

Your name makes sense now...

[aph3x @ Dec 24th 2008 2:34PM]

2 things:

What happens at 0:58-1:02 - gateway logo and language selection on screen. I guess this could be the OSD for the panel but it seems a little interesting.

The 360 clearly shows him signing into live but there is no ethernet connection to the 360. OTOH he could have the Wifi adapter installed but he made no mention of that.

Just wondering...

[Jason @ Dec 24th 2008 2:45PM]

Except right up there where he put all of that article content stuff that says:
"17-inch widescreen LCD, speakers, top loading DVD-ROM, removable hard drive, USB and ethernet ports"

[Jacob McBrian @ Dec 24th 2008 2:46PM]

Ah, but he didn't sign into live. Just into an Xbox profile, as you could see that the channels for the marketplace and such weren't loaded.

[Cody @ Dec 24th 2008 2:56PM]

It didn't sign him into Live, it just signed him into the console.. It said "(Gamertag here) signed in" not "(Gamertag here) signed into Xbox Live."

BTW it doesn't have a wifi unit..."This unit does not have a Wi-Fi module at present." Hit the read link...it's in there.

[Jason @ Dec 24th 2008 2:59PM]

WOW aph3x! Three fails in one post! It's a Christmas miracle!

[Tony C @ Dec 26th 2008 6:51AM]

Shouldn't that be a Festivus miracle? ;o)

[Joe @ Dec 24th 2008 3:10PM]

That thing looks completely freaking miserable... I would be embarrassed to tote that thing anywhere.

[shadow @ Dec 24th 2008 5:00PM]

your mom said that when you came out.

[Cody @ Dec 27th 2008 2:20AM]

I'm pretty sure that the people it was designed for (military and others in harsh conditions) aren't going to be embarrassed about looks. They just care if it will hold up in bad conditions.

[El Taco @ Dec 24th 2008 3:06PM]

Does the new ring of light show the RROD?

[Sananlui @ Dec 24th 2008 3:26PM]

looks like a really cool toilet :o)

[Samboini @ Dec 24th 2008 5:01PM]

What the fuck do toilets look like in your country?

[davelogan77 @ Dec 24th 2008 5:46PM]

this is,....how you say?? ....."B'Dass"

[davelogan77 @ Dec 24th 2008 5:47PM]

oh yeah!f, I almost forgot...

wait for it....here it comes.....



will it blend!?!?!?!?!



hahahahahahahahahahahaa........errr....


pfft what ever, you guys suck!



I'm funny and you know it,....*drunk on eggnogg.

[Jason @ Dec 24th 2008 6:02PM]

Hmm...well, it's 5 o'clock somewhere.

[rob @ Dec 24th 2008 5:56PM]

cool, but how does it go from the new xbox experience interface to the old xbox game tabs interface (1:15 to 1:25)?

[Phour ZwanZig @ Dec 24th 2008 7:26PM]

why does anyone question Ben.. Look closer and you will see it is the menu of a XBLA game disc.. You think they would put out an update to change the games interface to match.. I doubt it..

So many 1D 10-T problems..

Gesh..!!

[rob @ Dec 24th 2008 8:29PM]

i'm sorry, but aren't XBLA games only downloadable? how can they be on disk?

[Phour ZwanZig @ Dec 24th 2008 9:35PM]

At first they were, but then when there were enuf released the put together this...

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/arcadeunpluggedvol1/index.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssimilargames&tag=similargames;img;1

and..

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/puzzle/xboxlivearcadecompilationdisc/index.html

If you look closely at the top of the "dashboard" style menu you can see that it says "Xbox Live Arcade Compilation Disc".. Also b4 you see this he launches the disk from the NXE and loading Gpx show on the screen b4 he gets to the "dashboard".. Then you seen the same loading screen b4 he gets the the Pac Man: Championship Edition...


:o

[rob @ Dec 24th 2008 9:53PM]

alright, i take back my original post. i tried figuring out how the old dashboard got on there instead of reading the title on that screen. ID-10-T error indeed!

[XBOX 360 @ Dec 24th 2008 7:22PM]

Much better looking that his last few

[Aaron @ Dec 25th 2008 1:54AM]

Interesting design.

In a pinch, it could serve as a suitcase bomb in the event of the 360 overheating.

[AgonS @ Dec 25th 2008 9:19AM]

I'd imagine plugging an ethernet cable into that port would hinder your view of the screen... :/

[Crazy Larry @ Dec 26th 2008 9:21AM]

Great laptop mod...one question though:

Where do you put the controllers?

[Will @ Dec 27th 2008 3:07AM]

Look nice n rugged to me.... definitely not the sleekest Ben Heck build

[J-money @ Jan 2nd 2009 9:42PM]

yea it's insanely cool, but it needs to be battery powered, other wise I would just prefer to keep my xbox the way it is, unless your able to plug it into a larger t.v. when your not carrying it around. Are you?