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Resolved Question

Novelty case

May 3, 2015 12:50AM PDT

Does anybody have experience using "novelty cases?" And by novelty cases I mean household objects like large Rubbermade plastic bins, cardboard boxes, or just laying out all the parts on the floor and hoping the dogs don't step on them. So does anybody have experience using these as computer cases?

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Not much new to report.
May 3, 2015 12:55AM PDT

Before we start, all spam links will get heavy censure.

-> I've used briefcases, storage boxes and more over the years and there is one recurring issue worth noting.

FIRE.

Most of these alternative cases don't contain a small fire, board failure and could cause great harm or death.
Be sure your alternative is as inflammable as the usual metal case.
Bob

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Answer
In your head...
May 4, 2015 4:36AM PDT

This has been numerous times and usually reflects what a user has on-hand or laying around. For awhile there was contest or sorts and/or bragging rights of what some uers had considered a PC. They've become re-used older computers like DEC or IBM mainframes, furniture, old appliance(radios), toys, even machine shop laser cut boxes. It's only the imagination that allows anything that re-uses some cast-off that gets a nod from a user to build upon. As stated to you, one big reason, most PC cases are "metal" as they ****** or allow fire protection as a side benefit. Another is that its yet another product sold when "customizing" is part of the setup. I actually haven't seen or touched that many novelty PCs, but if placing one on cardboard or kitchen table is one, then I've done this many times, then mount in PC case. The most useful or older PC was prior to laptops and generally you may think along the lines of Compaq "luggable" which wasn't even around. We build a test bed to load diags into mainframes using a 8in floppies and tape in order to have low-level operation to zero-in on damaged portion of a mainframes, that was in the early '80s. Only 1-ever made and once the word got out, everyone wanted one. That's was out of hands expect for the engineer that made drafting schematics and provided it to other depts., what became of it I don't know. But a small company called Irwin introduced a product based on a 1/4in. tape device that lead to others and then Iomega brought them out. (from fuzzy memory, maybe we shouldn't had written it down)

tada -----Willy Happy

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Answer
Check with your local fire dept
May 4, 2015 5:44AM PDT

They can probably tell you about some interesting cases.