Where is the mod scene going?

[scopEDog]

Think Computers has an interesting article about the past/current/future state of modding. Check it out: Article (http://www.thinkcomputers.org/beta/home.php?x=articles&id=19)

What are your thoughts?

[GodsUnicorn]

If you can do it and get the results you want then go for it, if you can't (for whatever reason, time, knowhow or just lack of equipment) and you still want a nice looking box made to your own specs then what's wrong with paying someone to do it for you ?
If you end up with a box that you like, whats the harm in it ?
Personaly I like to try it myself, and although I'll never have the skills displayed by a lot of the modders on this forum, I still enjoy doing it.
Weather you enjoy getting your hands dirty in the process of building or just like to sit back and enjoy the fruits of another persons labours as long as you get pleasure from it, thats all that counts in my book.
As for it being an art form, well that is up to the person veiwing it and always has been. Just because someone calls it art does'nt mean it is art.

[dutchcedar]

Meh. I don't even like the word "modding". I'm with GU... ya do what ya can, ya do what ya want, ya end up with what ya want and ya have fun in the process, so what's the complainin' about?

The guy puts forward a negative view of the people in the modding scene and I think that's absolutely undeserved. The companies he's criticizing are largely modders themselves that saw opportunities... a good thing.

I tire of negative naysayers. They bore me.

For me, modding has been an incredibly enjoyable hobby that's allowed me try things I wouldn't have otherwise. Its fun. What else matters?

His article reminds me of similar ones that pop up now and again in the hot rodding community... the ones looking back at the "good old days" when hot rods were built from junkyard parts. I say "balderdash". Access to custom parts does not take away from the opportunities, it just makes it easier and broadens the audience.

[mnpctech]

What makes them a professional? Being in a magazine? Being contracted by a company for a mod? Winning an award? Charging $40 an hour to do a mod? What exactly makes them a professional?

He should have just posted a link to my site :thumb:


His article reminds me of similar ones that pop up now and again in the hot rodding community... the ones looking back at the "good old days" when hot rods were built from junkyard parts. I say "balderdash". Access to custom parts does not take away from the opportunities, it just makes it easier and broadens the audience.

dutch, youre on my wave length...

Builders like Jesse James, Boyd Coddington, Arlen Ness who were once hobbyists, were sick of the crap being produced and took the initiative to produce a product that raised the standard for craftsmanship.

No brainer stuff here people.

[InigoMontoya27]

I wonder if that guy takes his car to a mechanic or does all the work himself? What about home improvement projects. Personally, I would pay the pros to do the work so I could learn from their experience and get something that I like, not something that's going to bother me every time I look at it. When I look at my comp all I see are things that I wish I had done better or different, but I had fun modding it in the meantime. Mnpctech's work is top notch, that's what makes him a professional. You can expect any work from him to look beautiful, that's why people come to him. You think most people could create that harley themed case that Bill made? Should he have to forget the idea just because he can't do it himself? Let the naysayers talk, we'll have fun doing what we love...

[jaguarking11]

Well no matter what he says I think the modding scene going mainstream is good. It takes boredom out of the mases if they want something special. For me its always been about taking something and turning it and suiting it to my taste. Everytime I see people ask for inspiration I always end it with you mod for yourself not others. I dont do it for aceptance. It makes no diference to me if people acept what im doing or not. I only share it. I have been modifying things eversince I was 8 or 9 years old and a 1/2 a dozen years ago I got my hands on plain boring machine. I didnt like the look and didnt like the feeatures and I did something about it.

I say we should all stop whining and build what we can and want. I see no problems in contracting bill to make something for me if I lack the skill or sending out a part I designed or someone else helped me design made.

I think modding is in a good place at the moment and frankly in the years I have seen it evolve it has picked up steam and lost steam through the years but each time it has become more of a trend and it has become stronger and in the proces educated people that the box is not a scary thing. Thats fine by me all it means is that now I can take a part and modify it to my spec and have 1/2 the work done alredy.

All in all mod for whatever reason, I just do it for myself.

[Starbuck3733T]

Author of TFA is an asshole. Nuff said.

[scopEDog]

I enjoy posting stuff like this, makes for interesting threads :-) I understand what he is saying and agree with some of the things hes said (Putting a PC in a statue or something...for some reason people "oohh ahhh" over that crap). I welcome pre-mods, only because they force real modders to be more creative and come up with more interesting/original designs. It elevates this hobby of ours..

I remember a while back when G69T was first starting Dark Blade, how some people were saying "He didn't make that, he had it cnc'ed". I think its what the person envisions that counts(For all the bad mods you see out there, lots of folks just don't have the vision for this stuff). Theres no way he could make all that by hand, if we didn't have cnc's we would never see his awesome case.

I think the writer wants to keep this hobby for the "elite". He feels that if its in the public eye, then its not cool anymore. Just like the old timer watercoolers or linux guys...it makes them feel superior. At least thats how i see it...but i'm not the professional, Nexxo is :-)

:dremel:

[GodsUnicorn]

I welcome pre-mods, only because they force real modders to be more creative and come up with more interesting/original designs.


But that makes it sound competative, It's not supposed to be IMO.
If a guy swaps his power LED from green to blue it can hardly be compared to a full case mod but that does not make it a less valid thing to do, and if you take into account the differing skill levels of different people it could be classed as a similar level of achievment.

[scopEDog]

Not competitive...just original. Everyone starts at the bottom, but in time you learn new things. At least people that are really into the hobby and not just satisfied with what they have. If not then everyone would have the same looking case, and thats no fun :-)

[Duffman]

For me, "modding"(for lack of a better word) is a cheap way for geeks to express thier artistic side. You can buy a case for as little as free, you can pull off a decent mod for next to nothing. Or if you are more privilaged you can blow thousands in a work of art, thats another reason why it intruiges me so much. Ive seen expensive cases look like ass and free ones that look freakin awsome. Its just like cars, except cheaper!

It may be for attention, mabey to make thier room look better so they can get chicks (doubtfull), in the end its thier time, and their money. They can do what they please and to judge people in an article for it is just his job.