The $72 DIY Computer
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You may have some of these computer parts gathering dust in your basement or attic (or bedroom; or kitchen). David Prochnow has a do-it-yourself (DIY) project on Popular Science. His cost estimate is seventy two dollars ($72.00), given that you are a good buyer and a good scrounger. The time estimate is four hours. And you will have…
“…No, the $72 PC won’t replace your new dual-core, Vista-shredding laptop. But with its compact size and solid-state components (no hard drive or CD drive), it’s perfect for building into custom enclosures and for specific tasks like Web surfing or playing games.”
Link: The $72 PC
I have not tried this project nor do I know anyone who has tried it. If you do try this, please let me know what happens. Some people who know that I am planning on a new computer for this fall sent me this link. I think it is their subtle way of tormenting me.
Catherine Forsythe
Tags: diy, computer, popular science
3 Comments
anonymous
June 27th, 2007
at 1:44pm
It would put it closer to $100, but the CF-to-IDE adapter would make more sense, there would be no requirement for the machine to boot from a USB drive that way. As far as the computer and software are concerned it’s just an IDE hard drive.
GiM
June 30th, 2007
at 9:49am
You forget to mention performance. I know a PC-on-a-single-chip, and except display and keyboard, is less than $5. But you will be stuck in something like DOS. And it have a Solid State Disk (I joke, but true: 64K PROM and 128k EEPROM like)…
Bill P.
July 2nd, 2007
at 12:15am
Read the article - Pop. Sci. writer way behind the times. My friends and I are continuously trashpicking far superior systems… Spending $72 on components I literally scrap for the gold content is a waste of money. The writer should learn to REALLY scrounge…