To go with my
custom 60% alps keyboard, I've started to sketch, plan and gather stuff to build a computer in the same style.
The inspiration comes from the Xerox Alto, Apple I, classic Macintosh computers and the PLATO V terminal.
It will be based on a 2010 MacBook with the display taken apart and the rest probably left in the top case and built into the wood housing as is, exposing only the ports facing downwards in the back, the vent slots and the power button at the back. The optical drive will be replaced by a 500GB HDD (for backups and downloads) and the main drive will be a 128 GB SSD. Not a speed monster, but the intended use is word processing, so it'll do. The thing that makes this computer special aside from the wood housing will be the vertical (portrait) display. Not very common these days, but there is relevant history reference in the Alto and the Macintosh Portrait Display, and for word processing it's really great. I've started to hack/build the mouse. I have cut down an old Logitech mouse, leaving a bottom plate with the pcb and the scroll wheel to fit in the oak housing. I've modded the pcb so the scroll wheel will be the "left click" button, and removed the micro switches for left and right buttons, making it a one button mouse with scroll function. I always ctrl-click instead of right click, so for me this makes perfect sense
The mouse will also probably get a micro usb jack in the front, making it easier to switch cables as I like.
The computer will look something like this in the end… hopefully
Suggestions are welcome!