This little slice on Audioholics is going to be my cove for the laptop modification I am currently working on.
Needless to say, this laptop has been a trooper.
It survived it's first owner (or possibly more), with a lot of wear and tear on the plastic.
The push latch hasn't ever worked right (have to push the button with one hand and use the other hand to lift the lid; not correct on the V2000).
The card reader is FUBARED and probably never work again (internal pins bent and the reader is part of the motherboard, so no seperate part).
PCMCIA slot is ok, but the release lever only works correctly when the laptop is upside down (otherwise the lever will just stay sticking out).
AC adaptor is crap (needs the HP OE one).
Battery is crap (easy fix, buy a new one).
Mouse button rubber is GONE and the trackpad is almost white instead of silver...
and...
The keyboard is full of animal hair.
But, no worries my friends. You see, I am a qualified crack mechanic of sorts, and I venture on the somewhat, overzealous side of flamboyancy when it comes to repairing machines. A normal person would change the keyboard (or try to compress air it out which I have done and there is STILL HAIR), replace the battery, and get a normal AC adapter.
While I go out, with my precision screwdriver set, ESD strap, and a cup of root beer, sit on a folding metal chair near my bed, and proceed to tear the entire thing apart ON my bed.
(Mind you, I have enough static bags to cover a full size mattress.. probably more.)
The goal?
Instead of that crappy two tone silver the V2000 is known for.... it's getting some paint.
It will be completely different when I'm done with it. I won't give away any surprises yet (except Seth knows.... shut up and don't tell!
)
I've seen a few articles floating around on the web about painting a V2000 to various degrees, but I think this is going to be on a rung of it's own.
It will be a two tone scheme. That's all I will let you guys know for the moment.
Now is the time where I usually post a lot of pictures below and explain them with snappy remarks about how much of a piece of **** it is
But, it's 2:00 am, I'm on someone elses laptop because mine is in pieces, and my camera has no batteries. Tomorrow will be the day you see the carnage.
Until then.... topic for discussion:
Since painting this will remove all traces of silkscreen (identification) of ports on the sides.... should I just paint over it, or put on new designs?
I'm leaning twords the hard way right now.... but, I may just forego all of the markings, just because I'm not dumb. I know what all the connectors are for. I can look at a DE-15 port and go "monitor". I don't need a picture of a monitor displaying a picture of an old guy throwing up a hotdog
