MacBook secondary LCD mod instructions available, napkin not included
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Apr 2nd 2009 6:26AM
posted Apr 2nd 2009 6:26AM
posted Apr 2nd 2009 6:26AM
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Novelty
Great how this is so easy to do. I really want to do this now.
MS-computer have had this feature for years, it's called Sideshow.
@argot: this isn't a feature you idiot, this is a hardware mod.
Shut up fanboy.
This is pretty sexy, but I don't want to drop 200 for novelty and the possibility of fuxing something up with my new unibody...
Reminds me of when kids were putting strobe lights in their Civics in the late 90's...
I am surprised to learn that there is that much unused space in the lid.
I think it should become a standard. But to do that, it would be crediting someone else for designing something for Apple... so they'll never do it.
They'd also charge 700$ for it
Standard? Other than for novelty sake and to waste some more battery why would anyone need this?
You mean other than things like Spaces, Expose, the Dock... yeah, Apple doesn't do stuff without shelling out credit.
Napkin for what?
Napkin for the drool, Homer.
USB monitors: Just die already.
Don't judge harshly, folks.
A USB monitor ruthlessly hunted down and killed his family, thus warranting the otherwise unexplainable and wacky seeming hatred towards an otherwise innocent consumer device that no one is being forced to own
Dude. Meds.
Um ....why? Looking for engadget spotlight are we? *rolls eyes* Apparently you do not mod or are fascinated by technology, this type of mod is quite interesting.
Pron on the front of you macbook anyone? lolz
Ha ha Strider. A worthwhile retort.
The point is that USB is not a suitable video interface; it's a crappy serial port with plenty of system overhead.
The alternative is to mod your macbook's motherboard to add an extra PCI-E port and graphics card, then interface this with a small VGA monitor. Which will, of course, require a separate power supply.
Good luck with that...
can we at least know where to get the napkin from? You know, so we can buy one ourselves
Does the napkin have an Apple logo on it? I'll buy anything if it's an Apple branded product. Can the napkin be used with foods other than Apples, or are you locked in? Galas and Braeburns are good, but I want to be able to use my new Apple napkin with meats and fishes as well.
No? hmm... Guess I'll still get it.
I think this is the first mod I've actually asked "why?" and not have an answer. "Because you can" doesn't work either... a LCD partially blocked by an apple logo? I just don't get it.
Looks very nice, too much time hands I suspect LOL
A macbook nano too.
Get back to 4chan you trolls
This is really a great mod, I don't understand where all the criticism is coming from
It took some hardware/software skills to achieve, and its relatively cost effective
The criticism is coming from people who think it's a little mental to spend $200 to turn your apple logo into a useless "secondary display." This mod has absolutely no usefulness and doesn't even look that cool. It's like the minivan I was stuck in traffic this morning that had the "mod" to have its reverse lights on at all times.
And its looks fugly.
I don't understand why it needs to use USB... Shouldn't it work with the second monitor support? Won't a USB interface add a wadging great load on the processor?
"... but if your deftness with a soldering iron is equaled only by your Apple fanaticism then this is the job for you."
Is that anyone? It was my understanding that as Apple fanaticism approaches infinity, deftness with a soldering iron approaches zero.
; P
I don't get it. Total waste of $200....
Running a GPU off a USB bus just sounds like a dumb idea to me....sounds like it really would bog down the machine.
also don't macbooks only have a single (2 input) USB bus? so you would be down to a single input? (ive never taken apart a new macbook, just going based on my old powerbook.
Why use a $200 4.3" LCD the 1.8" LCD from a cellphone can be had for $10, have a controller builting (serial interface) would be much cheaper and easier
How would a usb vga monitor be harder than building a controller for a proprietary screen w/ serial drivers on the OS that treat it like vga screen?
It wouldn't.
Why oh why, this just serves to depleat battery life, all so as other people can tell you don't have a girlfriend
This guy neglects to tell you how to take apart your screen, and ifixit only tells you how to separate it from the body.
hmmmmmmmm.