Medion Akoya Awesomefication?
Is it possible to turn one of the cheapest netbooks in the market into the most awesome netbooks of all time? I'm ready to take on the challenge.

For this project I'll be taking a Lamborghini, the internet, my newly spawned brand and my trusty, busted Medion Akoya and turning it all into "Netbook Awesome'ified".

The Plans:
-Apple Mac style glowing M4 logo on the lid (www.M4aus.com)
-Fix the snapped hinge (power cables are actually disguised trip wires)
-Fix the chipped edges (AAAAAAHHHHH )
-Give it that Lambo look with some paints (This Lambo)

Latest Image:

Oh KNOEZ! My parts are showing!

Parts and Tools:
-Medion Akoya
-Paint-on Primer
-Mandarin Spray Paint (White Knight)
-Clear Coat Spray (White Knight)
-Solder
-Very thin wire
-240-1500 Sandpaper
-Plastic Protection Sheet
-Dremel (Cheap Brand)
-Various Filers

Total Cost so far (incl. all tools): $90.30
(continuously updated)

Obviously if you were to undertake this project yourself, you could do it for well under the cost I have paid, especially if you already have tools such as the Dremel ($39.99)

Skip to the last page to see the latest update

If you have any questions don't hesitate to post em ;D

-Cheers.
-HM

I see you added an extra GB or RAM. That's a good start. I'd suggest putting a SSD in there as well.

What do you have in mind for the glowing logo, in terms of components and materials?

Whats happened so far:
Days represent days actually working on the project (not necessarily entire days by any means).
Day 1:
Heres some pics (Be them shockingly taken, taken on a very average phone camera and without proper lighting);

The underside of the screen back.

Topside

The first of the broken edges. The break is shown with the red line

The second broken edge. The most annoying, easily noticeable and shows wires. Need to work out a way to cover.

The wonders of what you can find in a shoebox.

A computer enhanced picture of the M4 outline. Also notice how the Medion logo is actually not perfectly centered.

A roughly 'to scale' projection of the logo.

Day 2:
Aiiiggghhhttt I gotz a dremel, $39.99 from Bunnings!



And got started right away.

CD cases are BAD!


Getting funky with it, you can clearly see me improving throughout.


All done. Looks slightly off center yer?



THATS BECAUSE IT IS!!
But its ok, cause I will think of something to put to its right. How anoying, must have happened when I flipped the logo on the underside. I really need to start triple-thinking on this one.


Oh joy

Besides this, I am very happy with the outcome of my first time with a dremel (even if it isn't really a 'dremel' XD). I'll try and think of something to fill that gap. Now to go find some sanding tools.

Well the glowing itself will be produced by 8 High intensity white LED's. Right now I'm not sure what material I am going to use to cover the logo cut-out, I'm stuck between 3mm acrylic and some sort of plastic 'paper'/sheet. I'm thinking the acrylic will be much harder to fit not only in the small amount of space I have but also to fit the LED's. The plastic sheet sounds like a good idea so far, especially since it allows me to easily change the colour and repair/replace. Any suggestions?


Thanks I would love to put an SSD inside, but my wallet gets in the way. Being at school atm, building a business and earning an extremely meager wage has a bit of a black hole effect on my back pocket XD

I'm hoping to look for some sponsors soon to see if I can get some help, but its doubtful I will get any responses anyhow.

Eight?! At least you can use it as a lamp if it doesn't work out

Well I've ordered 8 just in case they arent as bright as they should be and because I'll be putting them all in major spots so the lighting is evenly spread.

I had 8 in my easy bake oven. Im sure you could get away with one or two if you just want the thing to glow.

Heh, well it looks like I'm gonna have a few for my next mod then. The LED's have arrived, I'll be testing them in the morning

A big update.

Thanks to some new files obtained, the M4 cutout is done Turned out a lot better than I had hoped for :thumbup: :


The Paints of


I finally picked up the LED's and resistors!


I got a lot more resistors than I bargained for, not realizing they came in packs. I only needed 4! hehe

LED's give a good glow!



I'm really happy with the quality of the LED's and the paints are looking good on the test piece (pics of that soon). The next real challenge will be fixing those chips in the plastic and thanks to my trusty friend the Briffinator, we'll see some odd attempts to fix them. I'm just going to go buy some trusty body filler... (Pics later).

Great work so far. Keep it up!

I'll certainly be on the lookout for updates.

Looks awesome I can't wait to see more.

That does look pretty awesome. The cutout on the lid has gotten really nicely sanded down, looks pretty pro now. What will you be adding to the right to make it more even?

To even up the stuff up, most probably a custom sticker labeled 'M4aus.com'. White, with the letters cut out.

Thanks for the support everyone, unforunately I wont be able to work on this project for the best part of the week :S Soz fellas, gotta catch the last of the snow here in Aus.

ha ha...
Its a fellow Oztrayan!
Where abouts are you? Assumeing on the east side cos you mentioned snow...

I'm near sydney...

Nice work with the dremel...

I Have an idea to fill the hole - but it will be a huge amount of work....

How keen are ya?

Haha good to hear from ya mate! I'm from melb. I'm pretty keen, gimme a shoot with any ideas you've got. One attempt to use fiberglass failed I might add XD

Well...
You'd have to be damn good...
But...
You could fill with plexiglass

First, get the hole(s) all perfectly straight, etc...

Then flip the case inside up, and lay it on top of the plexi - leaving the protective sheet on the plexi...

Then take a random spray can and spray down so you make a stencil of the holes on the glass, and cut around your stencil. Make it too big then ever so slowly file away until it barely fits in...then some kind of cement or epoxy to hold it in.

As i said, hard hard hard to do.
But it will look AWESOME!

How do i know? Seen it IRL