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Planning Before the Build
Woodshop Flunky:
When I'm at work, we often do collaborative development... this is why.
You guys have had some really good comments. I have an old P4 laptop running XP that I use to play MAME on years ago. I like the idea of shaving $400+ right off the top of the budget. I have my own laptop, and my wife uses the desktop, so I'm starting to think my son can get his homework done just fine without building a new computer.
--- Quote from: Donkbaca on February 04, 2011, 05:03:20 pm ---No need to get a mag stik, I have never used them, but from reading on the forums, it seems that they feel really different. I would just get a happs super or competition. A kid is going to use it, you want something tough and rugged, and those things are solid and around 10 bucks. If you want it for the switchable 4- 8 way, well, do you think it matters that much to the kid? Another option is a U-360, since it has built in support for 8 buttons, and you wouldn't have to buy an ipac, and you can map it 4 or 8 way.
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This is really useful. Thanks!
--- Quote from: Donkbaca on February 04, 2011, 05:03:20 pm ---Boom, I just saved you like 300 bucks buddy!
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You may have saved me more than that! Look for your commission in the mail. :)
dfmaverick:
I would agree about ditching the 2nd workstation idea unless you make the cab full size.
I made a 4 foot cabinet for my nephews years ago. It's fine to play sitting on a stool/bench, but couldn't imagine trying to do anything else on it.
I cut many corners since it was a gift.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=44246.0
Woodshop Flunky:
Again… really good comments everyone. Here are some changes I made based on everyone’s comments. The geek in me “wants” to build a computer, but the husband/father in me likes the savings I see from using my old P4 laptop. It isn't easy to ignore $400! ;D
I still haven’t added the plexi… I’ll have to get that priced. Or, does anyone know off the top of their head what 18” square plexi for the bezel, and whatever amount I need for the CP should set me back. Is there a particular material that would be best for this?
Donkbaca:
OOOH! I just had a cool idea!
Set up the laptop with two users. The kid can have his own login and stuff for his homework, and then you give yourself an admin password that has access to a frontend or Mame or whatever you want. Build your cab, where the keyboard drawer is put a laptop dock. You see where I am going with this?
The kid does his homework, you dock the laptop and he gets to play games!
OR, you buy a cam lock and put it on the keyboard drawer and have the monitor, and a usb hub hooked up to the dock, have all the roms on an external hard drive connected to the dock. That way the kid could get into MAME, but have no roms to play with....
I would do this with my kid, methinks....
dfmaverick:
Don't recall how muchh the plexi was. Don't think it was more than $20 for the square I used, but could be wrong. If you look at mine, I only used the plexi in front of the monitor.
For the CP, I had Kinko's print off my CP on some sort of poly then had them laminate it. Affixed it to the CP with 3M spray adhesive. It's a cheap option if your CP art won't have copyright images that are easy to get past the prudes at Kinko's.
Just sayin' what I did. It just gives you more options depending on your preferences for detail/quality//expense/etc.