Mike Schropp of Total Geekdom found, as so many of us do, that his work area was looking a little too techy and lacked any touches of nature. So he did what most of us would never think of: he built a computer case with an integrated garden. The top of the computer case is a planter that holds live, growing wheatgrass.

The heat from the computer (an older model known for running hot) helps to support the wheatgrass’ growth, while the wheatgrass helps to offset the carbon dioxide created by the operation of the computer. Plus, every once in a while the wheatgrass can be harvested and eaten!

Schropp made the computer parts and case into a learning tool for his five-year-old child. It not only turned into a functional machine for practicing computer skills – it also became a beautiful touch of nature in the home. Schropp wants to experiment with different types of plants in the future to see what is possible and what grows best in this unique environment.

The post Grass-Sprouting Computer Offsets its Own Carbon Output first appeared on Gajitz.

If the Soviets had invented this sexy computer way back when, maybe the space race would have turned out a little differently. But the world had to wait a few decades before Swedish art student Love Hulten created the Sputnik 0667 and made all of the shiny new plastic and metal computers very, very jealous.

Hulten’s gorgeous PC mod was inspired by the hi-fis of the 20th century; the wood cabinet looks like it belongs in a 1940s living room. Under the rich wood case sits a Gigabyte GA-H55N-USB3 Mini-ITX motherboard with a 3.2GHz Core i3 500 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB HDD and a GeForce GTX 460 GPU.

The front of the case folds up to hide the screen and keyboard, displaying a retro model of the solar system under a glass dome. Even the sides and back of the computer look delightfully retro.

And because making a totally beautiful gadget wasn’t enough for him, Hulten also created these unforgettable retro faux-advertisements for the Sputnik 0667.

The post Time Machine: Ultra-Cool Retro Outer Space PC Case Mod first appeared on Gajitz.

We hear you complaining: these modern cell phones are just too easy to use, too modern, too packed with features. And you wish you could find one that was too bulky to put into a pocket and so baffling to use that you almost can’t figure it out. Polish inventor J. Redmer heard you too, and that’s why he created this totally rad Steampunk cell phone that kind of looks like it could easily bludgeon someone to death (don’t try that at home).

The guts of the phone used to be a Sagem X-5M, but once Redmer got hold of it he built it into a custom wooden case with beautiful brass buttons. The one-of-a-kind phone is for sale on Etsy, but this kind of creativity doesn’t come cheap: it’ll run you $350. Unfortunately, the phone will only work in Europe – sorry, rest of the world.

As the creator of this gorgeous gadget says, it’s not a high-tech toy with tons of functions. But it will easily show up any of the new-fangled shiny phones people are all carrying around these days.

The post Calling History: Totally Gorgeous Steampunk Cell Phone Mod first appeared on Gajitz.

Asus, in a reported attempt to cut down on shipping waste, is set to start shipping computer components in cardboard boxes that can actually be used as cases – temporarily, at least. The cardboard cases will feature compartments for adding CD/DVD and hard drives and will have enough room for just about everything else you want to stuff into your weirdly low-tech case. Air holes are provided to ventilate the computer so your case doesn’t unexpectedly burst into flames on your desk.

According to Asus, the cardboard case is ideal for hobbyists who are just waiting to build the perfect custom case. Given that the temporary case only has a one-year lifespan, it might be great motivation for procrastinating DIYers to get that long-planned case mod project underway and finished.

The post Asus’ Cardboard Shipping Boxes are Temporary PC Cases first appeared on Gajitz.

There are plenty of portable computer options out there already – laptops, netbooks, tablets and mobile phones spring to mind – but those weren’t good enough for Stephen Popa of Portland, Oregon. He wanted to take the full computing power of his desktop computer along with him, so he created the Scooterputer: the world’s first ride-on computer.

The crazy case mod includes a water-cooled computer with all of the gaming power you need to take your games on the road, mashed up with a 24V rechargeable scooter that can be ridden just like any other scooter.

Components of the Scooterputer’s body came from several different scooters and have been modified to all work together. LED ground effects make the ride look totally sweet and even counteract the geekiness of riding around on a scooter made of a computer.

The post World’s First Scooterputer Puts Gaming Power on Wheels first appeared on Gajitz.