Space Ace Sub-Mini bartop?

[ark_ader]

Spring has come and brought good weather to my neck of the woods.  Time to get the tools out for another attempt to make this sub-mini cabinet.

I download Jackobud's cabinet designs and tried scaling the guy down 45% and basically chop its legs off to make it a bartop.  Why?  Well I thought I had room for another piece of furniture (cleverly hidden as a arcade cabinet), but my plan got scuppered and I have room on top of a dresser.

Anyhow I modified the plans to make it different and started cutting.



I'm going to be using a laptop with this venture, but I also want it to be more functional, so the top part of the cabinet will open to reveal a docking station for my XDA Orbit and Ipod, and when not playing games, keep on being a media player and PSP Server.

I got the back glued and mounted one side.



I had real problems figuring the width of the cabinet, as the laptop has a PC Card for Wifi and USB/Keyboard cables sprouting off the sides, but after several revisions it all now just fits.  I mounted the other side and the base for the computer part of the laptop.



Next is the speaker placement in the middle and the original design for the marquee.  Not sure of button placement as SA is just joystick and single button.  Is it me or does it look too fat?   I had a hell of a time getting the screen placed properly, but the original was designed to be viewed whilst standing and the marquee got in the way while playing on the mock up......

Nothing is ever easy the third time around. 

[IG-88]

Looking good so far. Can you give some more specs on the hardware and software part of it?

[ark_ader]

Hardware - IBM Thinkpad 240 300mhz Celeron 128 Ram 6gb HDD with 8gb CF (for Daphne) and linked to NAS. Keywiz Eco. 1 4 way and 3 buttons.  Everything is USB powered, except the marquee light which is battery powered.

Windows 2000 SP4, MameWah, Daphne and looking for a decent Mame build..  .84?

Everything works fine and the full set of Daphne works a treat.  Mame currently runs all the classics, but I'm finding it hard to get full frame rate on Neogeo titles.

I have Media Monkey installed for the juke, and I use it as a content server for all my multimedia devices.

I would prefer a 240x for the extra speed, but they are hard to find.   Turning up dead or password locked on Ebay.  I can always upgrade it later.

[IG-88]

Cool. About this PSP Server thing, what is that exactly? And also kinda off topic, how do you like that orbit? I'd like one but the price....

[gonzo90017]

300mhz? Is that right? Does Daphne run on such old hardware?
What mame version are you currently using?

[retrofuture]

Very nice indeed. Can't wait for some updates. 

What res does the ThinkPad 240 screen run at?

[IG-88]

Hows this coming along ark_ader?