[iLabmAn]

My class in I, in preparation for our annual school pumpkin decorating contest had an idea: what if we take an ordinary pumpkin and transform it into a fully functioning, first ever organic (sort of) computer? Well, it didn't take them long to rip apart a defunct LC 475 and gut the unsuspecting pumpkin. We had so much fun that the kids developed a marketing campaign, company name (Organitech) FLASH graphics, brochures and a video commercial. Here are some pics of the finished product -> the pMac. What a fun day!

Note: we apologize for the crude port hack job. We actually ended up fashioning a nice bezel out of old plastics and left-over pumpkin. In case of shock we covered the logic board and any volatile parts with a static bag in the final version.

 

[Chealion]

Tell your kids they did a very nice job. School must be fun at your school.

 

[spinz]

Pretty cool!

I just saw an old mac at Value Village for $8. Maybe I'll run down and grab it and make something out of it.

 

[Rob]

In a few years it will be the perfect use for an old "Sawtooth" G4.

 

[capitalK]

I saw a website today that was having a pumpkin-modding contest. Can't find it though.

I'll let you know if I find it.

 

[capitalK]

That was quick!

http://bjorn3d.com/_preview.php?articleID=353

Submit it! Good luck.

 

[Podboy]

don't talk about my sawtooth that way

at least let me have my dignity

cheers,
podboy

 

[iLabmAn]

Thanks for the replies!

The team is planning on cleaning up the design a little by hiding the seam as well as offered some "mods". The kids felt that the "pMac" could have more of a market impact if they offered different "skins" or add-ons like clothing, colours, cd-rom drives and floppy drives. We're working to get an ethernet card installed so as to put this machine on our network...

...which, might I add, is totally PC-based.

One of my colleagues came by and said that our pMac most likely could run better than the Tandex machines we have littered around our campus.

 

[iLabmAn]

Here's our company logo:

 

[SINC]

Very well done indeed. My hat is off to the students!

 

[twitchy]

here's the spec sheet(I'm in his class)

P-Mac 575

Codename: Organitech 1

CPU: Motorola MC68LC040

CPU Speed: 33 Mhz

Data Path: 32 bit

ROM: 1 MB

RAM Type: 72 pin SIMM

Minimum RAM Speed: 80 ns

Onboard Ram: 32 MB

RAM Slots: 1

Maximum RAM: 36 MB

Level 1 Cache: 8 KB

Monitor: 14” CRT

VRAM: 512 KB-1 MB

Maximum Resolution: 640x460

Slots: 1 LC PDS, comm.

Floppy Drive: Optional

Optical Drive: Optional

Hard Disk: 160 MB-1 GB

ADB: 1

Serial: 2

SCSI: DB-25

Audio Out: stereo 8 bit mini

Audio in: mono 8 bit mini

Speaker(s): mono

Microphone: mono

Gestalt ID: 92

Power: 40 Watts

Weight:

Dimensions: 20 cm H x 28 cm W x 25 cm D

Minimum OS: 7.1

Maximum OS: 8.1

Introduced: October 2003

Terminated: N/A

Released on October 31 2003 the P-Mac 575 was created by a 7/8 split enhanced class. It was the first organic computer made. They made it for a pumpkin-decorating contest.

 

[Kosh]

Hey, great job. I like the logo too.

Sounds like they are having lots of fun with this project and alot of great ideas to improve upon the pMac.

You may have some future Apple engineers there ...

 

[MasterBlaster]

.

 

[Chealion]

When will they have a OS X capable model?

 

[iLabmAn]

The problem rests in the cooling of the processor really.

However, our tech team found that there is a relationship between the pumpkin skin thickness and the amount of space inside the pumpkin above and below the logic board/power supply. By carving out the top half of the "case", it allowed for more air flow and, subsequently, cooling of the internals. (not to mention a good excuse to save the seeds for roasting later). Also, we ensured that there were thicker parts of the husk nearest parts of the electronic interior that would generate more heat.

Tomorrow we add the final touches and designs. We will post them here.

Any buyers?

 

[Chealion]

Prices? And will it ship before the pumpkin caves in on itself, and begins to turn into soil?

 

[iLabmAn]

A local entrepreneur wishes to use our logo and slogan for his own company. Seriously. He stated that he wishes to license the slogan as it fits well with his own company direction.

Any ideas? Suggestions?

More pics of the pMac coming soon.

 

[Chealion]

Wow. Someone knows something good when they see it.

How would you deal with liscensing though? There are the students, and yourself and possibly also the school board and school. Care to enlighten me?