technabob » cardboard

coffin-shaped mousetrap lets you show respect for the animal whose neck you just broke

lambert v. — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:00:47 +0000

I’m not sure if PETA would approve of Sarah Dery’s mousetrap design. On one hand, it provides captured mice with a decent resting place, and it makes it easy for you to toss them out the window while shrieking give them a proper burial.

On the other hand, the mouse wouldn’t need the coffin if not for the coffin itself. Hmmm.

On the other other hand (the technabob thinking man has three hands), it’s a pretty funny setup.

Some would even say it’s morbidly cute. I know I would. ‘Cause I just did.

[via likecool]

papercraft nes is unplayable due to lack of cardboard controllers

lambert v. — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:30:43 +0000

The folks at Cubeecraft just posted a cardboard NES console template, which you can download here, but they didn’t make templates for cardboard NES controllers. Or cardboard NES games.

Or a cardboard power cord. Or a cardboard RCA jack. Or a cardboard TV. Or a cardboard player. Or a cardboard house. Or a cardboard world. How inconsiderate.

[via Forever Geek]

watch some guy build a gears of war lancer

alisha k. — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:34:07 +0000

Gears of War is notable for a lot of reasons, but the Lancer is certainly among the most memorable. Not convinced? Repeat these two words to yourself: chainsaw bayonet. Do that ten times, and then try to argue against the incredibility of the Lancer. Think what you will about the game, but respect the Lancer. This guy did!

You know you’ve got a truly badass weapon on your hands when it looks amazing despite lens flare (and being made of cardboard). Through a few mutilated limbs in there or something and you’ve got a Saw movie pretty authentic recreation.

But what painstaking re-creation of a gaming weapon would be complete without a YouTube video documenting the process? This one. So here’s your video.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

[via deviantART]

eco-chic: pad your laptop with recycled cardboard

alisha k. — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:59:49 +0000

If you’re looking for something both unique and somewhat green to protect your laptop and you happen to have £180+ (appx. $265 USD) lying around to spend on your little heart’s desire, you might just be interested in Giles Miller’s amazing cardboard laptop case design. If, like me, you aren’t exactly flush with cash for things you don’t need, it might be time to start learning how to shape any leftover corrugated cardboard you have around the house.

It’s not hard to see why these cardboard cases go for so much; the subtle design is understated brilliance. But in my experience, corrugated cardboard isn’t the most resilient material around–and imagine getting it wet–and it would really be a heartbreaking experience to bend or tear your very expensive designer laptop case. Being an artist, and thus able to make these things yourself, must be a real bonus.

A personalized case, by the way, is even more expensive, alas. Guess the best things in life aren’t so free after all.

[Cardcase via LikeCool and Make]

recompute cardboard computer is boxy, but good

technabob — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:41:31 +0000

The Recompute computer has a case made from corrugated cardboard, glued together with non-toxic adhesive. Amazingly, it’s more heat resistant than plastic. Can I get an Xbox 360 made from cardboard?

[Core 77 via Tom's Hardware]

worst casemod ever: ubuntubox cardboard pc

technabob — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:45:34 +0000

This computer has to be the biggest hunk of junk I’ve ever seen. Cobbled together from cardboard, red duct tape and embellished with a Sharpie, the UbuntuBox V1.0 certainly won’t win any awards for build quality.

According to the builder, the guts of the old Pentium 3 tower are being used to power this Ubuntu Linux computer. He claims that the system really does work, and despite its cardboard construction, it has yet to spontaneously burst into flames.

I’d be happy to send him a lighter and some accelerant if that helps him achieve his goal faster.

[via flickr]

speakers not worth the paper they’re printed on

technabob — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 04:34:17 +0000

Now I’ve seen some cheap speakers in my days, but even the chintziest ones I’ve seen were at least made out of plastic. Not these. These ones are fabricated from thick paper stock.

Xenics Music Cube M speakers offer up some truly low-fidelity sound thanks to their flimsy cardboard construction. Heck, they don’t even come assembled. You have to carefully fold the paper boxes and insert all the little tabs to but them together.

Once complete, they’re not likely to crank out much, since they’re not even amplified. You simply plug them in to your MP3 player’s headphone jack, and that’s all the power you’ll get. All that, and a frequency response range that’s probably not much better than your typical cordless phone.

If you’re really dying for the novelty of paper speakers, you’ll need to do a little translation, since it looks they’re only currently available in Korea.

cardboard mini arcade for the psp

technabob — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 21:30:29 +0000

Now you can have your own tiny arcade machine anywhere you take your Sony PSP portable gaming system. These arcade cardboard stands make your PSP look like it’s an arcade game cabinet (in miniature of course).

Two versions of the compact cabinets are in the works, one that’s a racing game called Dirt Track Rally, and some sort of space game named Cosmic Intruders.

cardboard boom box really works

technabob — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 00:11:02 +0000

This boom box has everything you’d expect in a portable stereo: an amplifier, speakers, even an iPod dock. But this one is made out of cardboard.

While most portable stereos aren’t particularly waterproof, this one doesn’t stand a chance in a rainstorm. The Mini Cardboard Boom Box comes folded flat and ready for assembly. It runs on two AA batteries, and connects to any MP3 player with a standard 3.5mm stereo jack. But it looks best with an iPod sitting in its “dock.”

The guys over on 7Gadgets dug this up on the Suck UK website. I wasn’t able to find a price for it, so I’m not sure if it’s even for sale yet.

technorobot: the paper automaton

technabob — Fri, 04 May 2007 03:19:35 +0000

Sure, you could go spend hundreds of dollars on one of those fancy robot kits, or you could be a cheap bastard like me, and pick up one of these.

At just 12 bucks, you can’t expect much. The TechnoRobot kit is a do-it-yourself robot that’s made mostly out of cardboard and held together by scotch tape. A cheapie motor, some plastic gears and some rubber bands help the ‘bot to mosey along.

TechnoRobot certainly isn’t going to win any awards for looks, but it’s really meant as a way for kids to learn a little bit about the basics of robotics.