The screen on my netbook broke so I started using it with an external monitor. Then the power cord started giving me problems, so I cut out the bad section near the connector, took apart the computer and soldered the cord to the motherboard. I was using it with the motherboard loose for a while but I found a sheet metal case for photographic slides at the goodwill for 2.99 and made some cutouts with a dremel for some of the ports.
As you can see my dremel skills are a bit scrappy but what can you do. I also added some rubber feet that were from an electric organ I think. You have to open up the case to press the power button which is sort of a bitch because the monitor is usually sitting on top, but I usually just leave it on all the time since it barely uses any power with the monitor off. For more details see http://crapocalypse.blogspot.com/2011/03/homebrewn-1960s-style-nettop.html