Man attempts to turn MacBook Air into keyboard PC
By Donald Melanson 
posted August 16th 2010 3:47PM
posted August 16th 2010 3:47PM
The attempted revival of keyboard PCs may not have exactly caught on in a big way, but it looks like modder Bart Reardon is certainly a fan -- so much so that he ripped apart a perfectly functional MacBook Air in an attempt to make his own. While he's not quite finished yet, he has managed to get all the main components to fit under an Apple keyboard and Magic Trackpad, and he's apparently almost ready to replace all the tape holding it together with something more permanent. Hit up the source link below for a look at the complete build process.
hmm.... wonder if he still has his warranty :P
He's screwed if he doesn't.
@Hell Angel
Hmm, I wonder if he still has his sanity :P
@Hell Angel If someone at Apple see's this post expect this to launch next year for a ridiculous price...
@Hell Angel
what I wonder is: is he planing to power it with 2xAA batteries O.O
@Hell Angel
yes, he does. If he sends in this, he will get a real keyboard back.
some one finally found a use for the magic track pad.
@Hell Angel - aren't macbooks notoriously bad at getting very hot? can't see how this is a viable solution unless he has some fans or something built in otherwise he's going to have some sweaty hands.
@Hell Angel
Your holding it the wrong way stupid!
@Hell Angel : if he took that back to Apple, they would beat him with it... *How many times do we have to tell you!...don't invent your own magical shit!*
@Hell Angel NVM the warranty! Hello Carpal Tunnel!
@liftedngifted1
Then sue him for copyright infringement and IP theft.
Here's what I know, I wish I had that much free time.
@One Love
I've actually done that before, I took my own project in when I had to order a new dvd drive and lcd.
http://www.enigma-penguin.net/?page_id=250
They were actually fascinated, they sat there messing with it for like 30 minutes.
Obviously not, or at least common sense. He should've built it into a full-sized keyboard, so he'd have a real Delete key. Maybe there's a freeware app to turn the dumb trackpad into one giant Delete key.
@tikigawd . we have a modern day Thomas Edison here, jackass. what have YOU done? not much? LOL!!!! rotff!!!! lmfao!!!!
@Dahrken
I bow to your expertise. You, sir, are a badass
Does it play flash?
@Cainhunpi Keyboards can go on the internet now?
@NuklearPanda Keyboard PCs can.
@d0mth0ma5 oh....
Epic!
this is why they made the mac mini
This is a really cool idea.
1000x better then a macbook air
@Lord Humongous
better, or just cooler? I doubt it's better.
@TomSawyer different, but very cool.
@TomSawyer
For my desires, this would be significantly better. Not everyone wants or needs the same thing, and what you might think is better does not apply to everyone else.
@TomSawyer It couldn't be worse!!
@TomSawyer the fact that its cool at all makes it better then the macbook air. he took an underpowered laptop and made an overpowered keyboard
How about you just remove the screen from the MacBook Air and tape it to the back of your monitor!
Though I have to admit this is a pretty neat mod, maybe not totally practical but should keep your fingers warm and limber as you type your novel throughout the night.
Dude, here's your Dr.Peppsssssppppppplllllllaaaaaassshhh!
Oh, to have that kind of money to blow...
I never thought about this.
This is pretty cool actually.
Fun project, though weird execution. I understand the use of a bluetooth keyboard and trackpad (so you can detach them, as the latest blog post says) - but at that point why not just stick the internals into a small box rather than have the keyboard and trackpad function as the cover for this monstrosity? It would be boatloads easier, could look cooler, and would just be more functional.
Great enthusiasm, but should probably think the project through a bit more based on what I'm seeing here.
@awesomerobot What would be the difference between that and a Mac Mini then? He wants to make a computer contained within a keyboard, sort of like the keyboard computer ASUS had earlier this year.
Bah left handed =(
@SNip3D
Don't worry, when you build yours you can put the track pad on the left or just build it with a full keyboard and have a mouse.
Lol
This is WAYYYY cooler than stuffing all the components in the display. Seriously, I have to appreciate the willingness to destroy a perfectly fine MacBook Air but if its a small footprint he was after, he could have just bought an iMac.
@PowderSF
The source link says it was a busted one, although I agree, it doesn't really "add" much to the mac range that isn't already there.
Isn't that duct tape? What could possibly be more permanent?
@BigD145 it just proves that ductape can fix anything :D
@BigD145 That black tape isn't duct tape at all.
@LordThree
Yes it is. His blog says it is.
Did Engadget read this blog? The thing wasn't perfectly functional. The ribbon between the motherboard and LCD panel had been damaged and the LCD no longer functioned.
Finally some real use to heavy weight Macbook Air
this dude is keepin it hood
Coming to a home near you. All the sucky parts of the MBA stuffed into a perfectly good keyboard thus creating "THE ASSBOARD"!!!!!