[Feba]

I posting this on WP's Misc. RD, but I figured some people here might have some suggestions, or at least be interested in it too, so i'm crossposting it (I know, I know, spmr etc.)

--Everything below this line is shamelessly copied and pasted from wikipedia--

Well, I'm upgrading my computer, and debating on what I should do with the old one. I'm thinking that a stepmania arcade machine could be a lot of fun, so I figured I'd ask for suggestions. I figure the basic plan would be to :

1. Make DDR hard pads, using online tutorials (plenty of them out there).
:* Question: Should I use PS2 pads to make the hard pads, or ones designed for PC?
2. Format the PC, install a light distro, download and install stepmania and songs for it.
:* Question: When I ran stepmania under XP, there was occasionally some frame rate problems or hiccups, I figure using a light distro would be best for this, would Xu/Flexbuntu be light enough, or should I look more into something like DSL?
:* Question: Which distro would run best on a TV? (See below)
3. Get PC working on a TV. I figure a TV set would be cheaper than a monitor large enough for an arcade
:* Question: What would be the best way to get TV output from a VGA card? (nVidia GeForce MX440)
:* Question: What distro would run best on a TV? (see above)
:* Question: How would I set up the PC to run at TV resolutions?
4. Get PC, TV, and speakers working with dancepad. this would be the guts of the cabinet
5. Build arcade cabinet:
#Make sides in the shape of the cabinet
#Make base
#Make back. Leave a hole in the back to run a power cable through
#Make TV stand (with room for TV/speaker power wires and speaker/video cables
#Make keyboard drawer, place it under TV stand. Easy way to use the PC, while being discrete. Run wires for the keyboard and mouse through a hole, out the back.
#Make case door on the front. make it easy enough to open/close so the PC is hidden away, but easy to get to. Leave a small hole in the front (about half a quarter should be enough) to allow dancepad cables through without being too noticible
#Make a top, to rest over the TV- keep the TV controls out of reach and only show the monitor, like an arcade cabinet. A simple door on a hinge with an angled top screwed on would probably be fine.
6. Paint arcade cabinet. Get help from friends (who run art store)
:* Question: Not really a question, but anyone have suggestions on the design? I figure making a DDR/ITG-like design with plenty of arrows and silhouettes but with a StepMania logo would be fine.
7. Finish cabinet assembly
8. Place items in arcade cabinet
#Put powerstrip/surgeprotector in.
#Put in PC
#Put in keyboard/mice
#Put in TV
#Put in speakers
#Plug in everything, including dance pads
8. Enjoy

Does anyone have any suggestions or answers to my questions? I realize most of my questions are more suited for the computer RD, but there's also a fair bit of construction and art going into this, so I figured posting it to misc. would get the best replies, especially since I could use tips on what it would take to support a TV, and how best to build the pads and assembly. Most of the ones i've seen are machined out of metal, which is something i'm not very comfortable with. it would be much easier for me to work on at least the cabinet in wood, especially since I could get help from family then (Have an uncle who's hobby is fixing up his house, and my grandpa has been working in construction for decades)

I figure the cost would be:
*Dance Pads: Depends on materials and choices. Likely 50-150$ for the pads and the materials to assemble them into hard pads.
*PC: Free, already have it
*TV: Free? Have one that should be fine, could probably use it
*Speakers: 50-100$ Could easily get something like the logitech speakers I have now (got them for 50$)- plenty loud enough. Remember, I'm planning on running this in a suburban garage, not the mall your average dance machine is in. Can't use my existing speakers, as they will be used on my new PC
*Keyboard/Mouse: Free, I have a trusty old Microsoft mouse (that came with a mac, ironically enough), or an old Logitech mouse, and an old nameless PS/2 keyboard
*Power strip: 15-20$. nothing special.
*Materials: 80-150$? I could really use some guidance on this, i'm not familiar with how much the wood, nails/screws, hinges, drawer brackets etc. would cost for this. Someone familiar with something like this give me some guidance? It's basically a hybrid between a kitchen cabinet, a TV stand, and a PC desk. Most of the effort in this section should come from painting it.
*Wifi card:20-40$ if I put this in my garage, i'll need this to connect the PC to download more songs.

Am I missing anything here? With this, the cost seems to be around 400$ max, which is really damn cheap for a home arcade cabinet. Anyone have any ideas for quick and easy addons that would add to the unit? I was thinking some easy to press buttons in front of the keyboard tray would give it a more professional look, but I have no idea how the heck I would make those or make them work, so keeping the controls on the dance pads is probably best. What would be the easiest way to add a volume control? Obviously opening the case up every time you want to raise/lower the volume would be a PITA, but you can't just cut out a hole for the volume like you can power buttons. I figure the TV and PC would be easy enough to just drill holes for for power buttons to turn the TV on and off and power buttons to turn the PC on. speakers would be somewhat of another issue though.

--end shameless copy/paste--