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    A New Chapter for MagicMirror: The Community Takes the Lead
    Read the statement by Michael Teeuw here.

    Vanity Mirror, thy name is woman. (using laptop)

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    • Mykle1M Offline
      Mykle1 Project Sponsor Module Developer
      last edited by Mykle1

      I know, Shakespeare didn’t say that, but I did.
      The story:

      I wanted to do something a little bit different. I mean, how many Magic Mirrors can you
      hang around the house before it gets a little absurd? Bigger seems to be a popular option
      but I wanted something unique, something that Magic Mirror hasn’t been used for, yet.

      My wife and I attended a wedding recently, and like every other time that we prepare to
      go to an event, I waited for her to be nearly ready before I even began getting dressed.
      Why? Do you really need to ask that question? Well, in case you are unfamiliar with women, she
      takes hours to get ready and I take a few short minutes. Sound familiar?

      After waiting an interminable amount of time, I went to check her status. I found her
      putting on her makeup. She was sitting in front of a round, vanity mirror, about 8 inches
      in diameter. Cha-ching! The bells went off in my head. Fast Forward.

      I spent the entire wedding thinking about how to go about doing this. I like to repurpose
      things, especially computer parts. I have a collection of CPU’s, monitors, laptops, parts.
      I didn’t want the mirror to be too big, based on the size of common, standalone vanity
      mirrors. The smallest spare monitor I have is 19 inches. I felt that was too big. I didn’t
      necessarily want to purchase another Pi either, because I have several CPU’s. The problem
      there is the size of the power supply, not to mention the heat and the fan noise.

      That left me with the laptops. Well, why not? Everything is included. They have a relatively
      small form factor, display, RAM, CPU, ports, power supply, sound, Wifi, Bluetooth. Sacrificing
      one, even if it didn’t turn out the way I wanted, was fine with me. There was some concern
      about the LCD not being bright enough and the amount of blue light emitted but I was willing
      to chance that. The upside to the equation is that even this old laptop will outperform any
      Pi. And it won’t cost me anything.

      I had 3 laptops to choose from.
      (1) A White MacBook, MacOS 10.6.8, 2Ghz Intel Core Duo, 2GB of RAM
      (2) A Compaq Presario CQ57, Windows 7, Dual Core, 4GB of RAM
      (3) A Dell E1505 Inspiron, Windows 7, Intel Core Duo, 2GB of RAM

      I’m not very familiar with Macs. From the start, I couldn’t install GIT on it because of
      the OS it is running. I’d like to learn how to use it for MM but I didn’t want to learn that
      now. So, I’m not using that, for now.

      The Compaq Presario CQ57 seems like the better of the 3 laptops. It already has MM running on
      it, but as I was experimenting, I thought I would use the laptop I was least worried about
      destroying. So, I’m not using that, for now.

      I settled on the Dell E1505 Inspiron:

      Intel Core Duo Processor T2500 at 2.0 GHz per core.
      15.4″ Ultrasharp SXGA+ display with TrueLife. Native Resolution = 1680 x 1050
      2GB DDR2 533MHz RAM in dual channel mode
      Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
      100GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
      8X DVD +/- dual layer recorder (I left this in. You never know)
      Wifi and Bluetooth
      Dell laptop power supply

      It’s a dog, a dinosaur, almost useless in today’s terms, but it runs MM like a champ!

      Here’s the display removed from the base and from the bezel. That’s the wifi antenna laying
      across the display. I removed the keyboard for venting. I removed the RAM cover and the
      battery from the back. The battery no longer holds a charge. I thought of getting a new one
      but I wanted this build to be virtually cost free.
      0_1506298940493_1.JPG

      The “box” built to hold everything and mitering the frame.
      0_1506298978684_2.JPG 0_1506298986223_3.JPG 0_1506298994413_4.JPG

      Fitting the display. The base will “flip” into the box and rest on chocks 1 1/4" above the
      display. This space allows for maximum ventilation in and out of the box through the vent
      holes I drilled around the entire box. As an added benefit, inside the box, the back of the
      display emits a soft, white light, which shines through the vent holes. It looks pretty damn
      cool in the dark.
      0_1506299021303_5.JPG

      The base flipped into the box. Chocks not in yet, just fitting. Wifi antenna pinned to the top
      of the box. I notched access to vents, USB ports and power port through the box. Seeing as the
      base is open in the back, and this won’t be against a wall, there’s no problem with heat being
      trapped. The power button is still accessible, bottom center. I did not notch access to the
      DVD (yet).
      0_1506299048355_6.JPG

      I used 3mm acrylic glass. Why? Because this mirror is designed only to be used at close range,
      where distortion (if any) is at a minimum or unnoticeable. My first mirror used the same 3mm
      acrylic. Distortion is only noticeable at a distance. Standing directly in front of it, it
      exhibits none. That, and the cost factor. I am into this project for less than $50. :^)

      Close-up of acrylic. Distortion?
      0_1506299117458_7.JPG

      On stand, tilted back to facilitate its use as a vanity mirror. You can just see the power
      cord underneath. I should have routed it through the stand before taking this picture. Once I
      do, it will hardly be noticeable.
      0_1506299154176_8.JPG

      The back of the mirror box. You can clearly see where I notched the box to access ports and
      vents. The wifi antenna is pinned to the top of the box until I can think of a neater way to
      affix it. A single piece of the frame molding across the back holds the entire thing in place.
      Only 2 screws to disassemble the entire thing. Track pad and buttons still useable but it’s
      just easier to plug in a keyboard and mouse.
      0_1506299177559_9.JPG

      Two views from the front while still in the “shop”. It’s on the dining room table now, waiting
      for my wife to come home and see it. I only added two pictures of our grandchildren, a simple
      edit to compliments and MMM-EARTH, because it rotates flawlessly on this machine.
      0_1506299207812_11.JPG 0_1506299215109_12.JPG 0_1506299222671_10.JPG

      Short “mirror shop” video.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdSR-0PHbR0

      Create a working config
      How to add modules

      pjkoelemanP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
      • pjkoelemanP Offline
        pjkoeleman @Mykle1
        last edited by

        @Mykle1
        Now you need to make a timer module !
        _ Leaving at hh:mm to wedding of … (or other event)
        _ You still have hh:mm:ss before leaving (time leaving -/- actual time)

        How about that !!!

        cowboysdudeC Mykle1M 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 3
        • cowboysdudeC Offline
          cowboysdude Module Developer @pjkoeleman
          last edited by

          @pjkoeleman said in Vanity Mirror, thy name is woman.:

          @Mykle1
          Now you need to make a timer module !
          _ Leaving at hh:mm to wedding of … (or other event)
          _ You still have hh:mm:ss before leaving (time leaving -/- actual time)

          How about that !!!

          THAT would be an excellent idea!!! hahahhahahaha BUT I’m sure the wife would STILL be late LOL

          pjkoelemanP Mykle1M 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • pjkoelemanP Offline
            pjkoeleman @cowboysdude
            last edited by

            @cowboysdude
            There is no excuse in being late !

            Mykle1M 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • Mykle1M Offline
              Mykle1 Project Sponsor Module Developer @pjkoeleman
              last edited by

              @pjkoeleman said in Vanity Mirror, thy name is woman.:

              Now you need to make a timer module !
              _ Leaving at hh:mm to wedding of … (or other event)
              _ You still have hh:mm:ss before leaving (time leaving -/- actual time)
              How about that !!!

              I really like this idea, but seeing as it was your idea, I’ll let you have first crack at it. ;^)

              Create a working config
              How to add modules

              cowboysdudeC D 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • Mykle1M Offline
                Mykle1 Project Sponsor Module Developer @cowboysdude
                last edited by

                @cowboysdude said in Vanity Mirror, thy name is woman.:

                THAT would be an excellent idea!!! hahahhahahaha BUT I’m sure the wife would STILL be late LOL

                There’s not a timer on (MMM) EARTH that could make my wife be ready on time.

                Create a working config
                How to add modules

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • Mykle1M Offline
                  Mykle1 Project Sponsor Module Developer @pjkoeleman
                  last edited by

                  @pjkoeleman said in Vanity Mirror, thy name is woman.:

                  There is no excuse in being late !

                  Oh really? My wife has a million of them.

                  Create a working config
                  How to add modules

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                  • cowboysdudeC Offline
                    cowboysdude Module Developer @Mykle1
                    last edited by

                    @Mykle1 I can’t wanna LOL

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • Mykle1M Offline
                      Mykle1 Project Sponsor Module Developer
                      last edited by

                      She likes old school screensaver.

                      https://youtu.be/CeP1clZDRgI

                      Create a working config
                      How to add modules

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • Mykle1M Offline
                        Mykle1 Project Sponsor Module Developer
                        last edited by

                        Time for an update to the vanity mirror. This is probably gonna be it.

                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU1sDPC1Qpw

                        Create a working config
                        How to add modules

                        Mykle1M 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
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