Modified computational devices

Much as I love my darling little macbook, I do sometimes wish I could escape the somewhat sterile lines and forms of today’s technology and instead live amongst the curlicues and gilding of ages past. I guess that’s a big part of why trends like loli and steampunk appeal to me so much. So naturally, I’m completely in love with steampunk modded computers. I love how adding on all sorts of superfluous cogs and whirligigs reminds you just how much work is going on inside these machines. Somehow, when you make it look older, it reminds you how almost magical it is that we have these machines that can do so much for us. After all, I may want to live in a Victorian doll house sometimes, but I’d die without google and the wiki. So, here are some of my favorites. And yes, all of these are fully functional.

First, the machine that started it all (for me, anyways). You gotta love the claw feet. And all the shiny bits on top. That key is how you turn it on. This, and the machine after it, are from Datamancer, at http://www.datamancer.net/





I’ve yet to see any other steampunk computer mod go as far as this one. And yes, once again, everything is functional. Those keys really work the computer, the speaker makes noise- even the phone works. Oh, and see that big book-like thing on the right there? That’s the “opti-transcripticon”- the flatbed scanner, reworked to look like a big, mysterious old book.



And here we have a lovely work by the infamous Jake Von Slot. To me, it looks like a tiny stage, on which you can watch the infinite drama of the Internet unfold for your viewing pleasure. The telescope-thing is the mouse. You can even watch how he accomplished this over on http://steampunkworkshop.com/victorian-all-one-pc



And here is something a bit grungier, for all you airship mechanics out there. Unfortunately, I have no link for this one. I believe it was made by monkeyfarm, but being as their site isn’t in English and has trouble loading, I can’t be sure.