Geeky Accessories… so hot right now.

Keyboard Cufflinks via Etsy (use your initials for extra fun)

True, we can’t all bring our macbooks with us into the office (sad), to the bar, church, or other venues that only allow for small mobile devices… but who’s to say that you can’t bring a piece of your bff with you anyway?

Thankfully, boys and girls, miss techyness (as PP calls me), is coming to your rescue with a few hot accessories to add some binary fun to the everyday.

Perhaps your computer has moved onto a second life (blue screen of death orother incurable illness) and you want to keep a piece of him/her with you… perhaps a ring or a pair of cufflinks could serve as a longstanding reminder to that wonderful relationship (a little dark right?)

Mac Ring via Etsy (where are the diamonds!?)

If you’re interested in transforming some of your old keyboards into lovely items, read this article from DIY network that gives you the low-down. This forum post shows how one user turns an old laptop into a bracelet (spell something out for extra effect).

Another article from DIY network shows you how to turn a USB port into a necklace. humm.

It’s been over a year since I wrote this post on extending your personality onto your personal device, and showcasing my love for gelaskins.

However, since then, more options have been popping up all over the ‘net, even at urban outfitters.

The artist series of laptop skins, now available at UO, also includes iPod skins, like this cool boombox one.

Or, if you’re looking for something more tile-ish (get it, stylish), check out these cool designs.

Those looking to go “Green” can choose from these tree laptop covers.

However, my favorites include the frozen light, vintage wallpaper, paisley, and typography.

Since all of these skins can only be used once, some may want another option- a reusable skin. The only reusable skin I’ve found are from Skyn, but they are also $40-50.

If you’re not interested in the skin variety, my other favorite new find is customizable headphones from iFrogz (weird name, cool designs). You can choose the main color, accent color, and, of course, the pattern.

Or… if you LIKE headphones but aren’t interested in wearing them on your ears, you can always buy these headphone speakers from Urban Outfitters ($40).

They’re almost as good as this mix tape usb flash drive. old school.

As I wrote in a previous post, my research on technology modifications inspired me to do the same- take my own advice and make my stuff really “mine.” So, I checked out Adafruit’s wiki and did a little searching… eventually I found Tech-Tattoos. I noticed in the Adafruit forum, someone from my hometown who was starting up a new laser etching business. Excited but a little nervous, I immediately fired off an e-mail to Jen Horvath, the co-founder of Tech-Tattoos, where they will “zap your crap.” Immediately, she emailed me back, a little surprised and impressed that I found her- as she didn’t have a website yet. The whole process was amazing, and painless (no needles- i don’t like people tattoos).

She even let me press the button- as you can see from this image, I watched the laser etching machine take my clean, untouched MacBook Pro and turn it into my guardian angel :-)

The guardian angels of life fly so high as to be beyond our sight, but they are always looking down upon us. ~Jean Paul Richter

Check out my blog at: http://techyness.com

While studying abroad in Italy over the course of a semester, I was able to see some pretty cool stuff, to say the least. Taken near the Pantheon in Rome, these wings were featured in the window and I fell in love with them. I don’t even want to know how much they cost. I’ve always loved the complexities of angel wings in art- and my time in Rome increased this fascination.

Raphael’s angels. Need I say more? The wings on this angel are beautiful and exactly what I wanted to put on my untouched macbook pro. It just seemed so perfect- the macbook needed something, something that didn’t hide the glowing apple, something timeless, something very “Alana.”

It reminds me of a book a friend purchased for me as a 21st birthday gift. Unfortunately Italian customs didn’t want me to receive this book, so I waited until my return to the United States.

It’s called “Quintessence, the Quality of Having “IT” and I love it. I’ll write a post about it later and scan one of the photos in. It was the nicest birthday present I’ve received in a long time- mainly because the gifter said that I, like the book “transcend form and function.”

So, the wings on the macbook mean more to me than something cliche.. it’s a reminder that no matter where I go (since the macbook goes with me nearly everywhere) that there is always someone looking out for me. Not to be corny or anything.

It is not known precisely where angels dwell – whether in the air, the void, or the planets. It has not been God’s pleasure that we should be informed of their abode. ~Voltaire

Check out my blog at: http://techyness.com

In August, I bought a MacBook pro.

I know what you’re thinking.

“Alana, you’re a PC-girl.” Well, hey now— don’t jump to conclusions or categorize/stereotype me just yet, I like to keep people guessing.

Actually, one of the biggest reasons I bought my new baby because of my earlier post on laser etching. I was fascinated and wanted something (or many things) laser etched.

I know that this post is sortof backwards- as in I shouldn’t be posting the finished product first. So my next post will explain how I found the company and how I was inspired to create wings on my new, 2k+ baby. Who needs a boyfriend when you have something this pretty? That’s what I’m thinking.

Angels have no philosophy but love. ~Adeline Cullen Ray

Check out my blog at: http://techyness.com

Add together one $20,000 laser etching machine and a $2,000 MacBook Pro and what do you get? A lot more than $22k: A license for creativity.

Options for laser etching today is far beyond the text-only option on your ipod at Apple.com. Don’t believe me? Make magazine has a great how-to article. But, if your credit line isn’t capable of financing this little project quite yet, check out a few of my favorites: the macbook “poe”, the “son of man” book, a tribute to silicon valley, the web 2.0 cloud, a crazy looking tarsier, a celtic knot, and even an iphone.

Interested? Luckily, there is a wiki page available that lists where you can transform your machine into workable art. Adafruit, the company that created the wiki page, offers an “open source” business plan filled with advice on how to startup your own company. The company has crafted some amazing pieces, but unless you’ll be in New York City, you’re a bit out of luck- they operate on an appointment basis only. Talk about sharing the wealth.

Another option is to sell the space on your computer like Leah Culver. A young college student, Leah couldn’t afford a new computer- until she realized that she could sell space on her mac to advertisers such as pbwiki, technorati, firefox, dig, ask.com, and even good ‘ol reliable mom & dad. It worked- check out the finished product.

If you’re looking for a more non-destructive way to modify your precious gadgets, check out icolours, which sells pieces of translucent film to change the color of the lit apple.
To be platform-friendly, there is ColorwarePc, where you can buy aftermarket “body kits” for your computer. Or, the least expensive option is Gelaskins, where you can buy covers for both ipods and laptops.

Check out my blog at: http://techyness.com