No laser? Get your laptop etched for free!

Posted Mar 17th 2008 9:50PM by Will O'Brien
Filed under: contests

Want to get your laptop custom etched... for free? During the next couple of months, I'll be giving away some free etching sessions. How do you get one? Just submit a fresh new hack via the tips line. If it makes the cut and gets published, you've got a chance to get your laptop or gadget etched in this 45 watt epilog laser cutter. Here are a few guidelines to help you win:

Make sure it's fresh. Use google for 10 seconds to make sure it hasn't been published on a major blog already.
Make sure it's got a picture - everybody likes a good visual aid.
You'll be more likely to win if you're submitting your own work.

Good luck!

Reader Comments

(Page 1)

1. what would you get etched into it? and yay 1st comment

Posted at 11:00PM on Mar 17th 2008 by drew

2. Can you etch plastic? I want to get my eeepc done.

Posted at 11:33PM on Mar 17th 2008 by McCheese

3. Can we see results of your etchings as you produce them?

Posted at 12:06AM on Mar 18th 2008 by dualdflipflop

4. I'll be putting up examples as I have them to show off. Right now I'm waiting for someone to pick the image for that powerbook...

Posted at 12:19AM on Mar 18th 2008 by Will O'Brien

5. Remember Kids.
Etchings are for life!

Posted at 1:20AM on Mar 18th 2008 by DarkAxi0m

6. or at least for the life of the laptop, which usually is only a few years anyways.

Posted at 2:07AM on Mar 18th 2008 by Sean

7. Yeah, etching a laptop is more like a piercing... You are stuck with it for a while, and if it is unusual/different, get used to people doing a doubletake.

But if it is what you want, it is all worth it, right?

Posted at 7:16AM on Mar 18th 2008 by joey y

8. #5 and #6 - For AL and Ti PowerBooks, replacement (used) shells are a dime a dozen, and the outer surface is paint. Can anybody say "niche business model?"

Posted at 11:35AM on Mar 18th 2008 by Marty

9. so let me get this straight, if i submit a hack and it makes front page. i get my laptop etched for free? or is this a raffle type thing where a front page hack is a ticket...

Posted at 11:42AM on Mar 18th 2008 by elliott

10. "If it makes the cut and gets published, you've got a chance to get your laptop or gadget etched in this 45 watt epilog laser cutter."

If it gets put up, you've got a shot. We'll pick a recipient every week or two. - every 7 to 14 days. If it gets put up, you've got at least a 1 in 14 chance.

Posted at 11:47AM on Mar 18th 2008 by Will O\\\'Brien

11. ah, thank you.

Posted at 12:11PM on Mar 18th 2008 by elliott

12. Damn, I would love my laptop to get etched.

Posted at 1:27PM on Mar 18th 2008 by EvilD

13. Is it possible to purchase some time on the table, and what are the maximum dimensions of the piece

Posted at 2:01PM on Mar 18th 2008 by noaccount

14. Hmm, i got a couple hacks ive been meaning to post. I dont know how the Navy would take it, if i got my laptop etched lol.

Would definitly be badass lol *submitting later tonight*

Posted at 2:59PM on Mar 18th 2008 by AnthonyG

15. yo i made a nifty pic that would look sweet on the back of that mac lappy if you only engraved the black lines and scaled it to center up with the logo already on the case... link below! (link is to a coppermine gallery in the backend of my website.)

http://ohiopctech.com/cpg/displayimage.php?album=6&pos=0

--chr0n1c

Posted at 6:08PM on Mar 18th 2008 by chr0n1c

16. Oh man, I'm am sooooo getting etched. I just need a few more days to put together the video...

Posted at 6:21PM on Mar 18th 2008 by a random John

17. being as though its a MAC in the machine couldn't you set it to cut

Posted at 7:57PM on Mar 18th 2008 by Chaoss

18. hey everyone....
i got a use for a laser
that is both what i need etched
AND my submission to the contest to etch
heres a photoshop of my idea...
http://img296.imageshack.us/my.php?image=moonfaceob9.jpg

Posted at 10:07PM on Mar 18th 2008 by Frogz

19. What would it cost to etch. I don't have any hacks at the moment but would like to get my MBP done to distinguish it from all the other ones at school.

Posted at 6:36PM on Mar 19th 2008 by DJax

20. While we are on the topic, where is a good place to get measurements or a template for preparing an image to be sent to an Epilog? I know a guy locally who has one and has done some tests on old Acer lids.

And for those asking... most place I have found are charging $30-40 to do it.

Posted at 2:01AM on Mar 20th 2008 by tek

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