The Gumstix Portable PC Thread That Won't Die

Harshboy · Post by **Harshboy** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 9:07 am

KANDYMAN-IAC:
Yes you can hook a IDE Hard Drive into the CF port on the Gumstix( CF to IDE adaptor required )

teraflop122 · Post by **teraflop122** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 9:33 am

Daleighan, I'm going to have to beat you senseless with a slightly ripe fresh-water fish if you don't tell us where you have found that deal! Well...at least AFTER you get yours ~_~

If 72 dollars is the standard price for that module, it could prove perfect for my needs! Image it with 5 inch LCD, 10GB hard drive, simple controls. Battery life wouldn't be half bad (1.1 amp + 0.5 amp + ~0.5 amp, all at 5 volt).

Yesssssssss, I think I have found my unique commercial product!...ok, so YOU have found it, but still

KANDYMAN-IAC · Post by **KANDYMAN-IAC** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 9:40 am

Been thinking about it. I would like to see a portable with a screen size of about 5 inches, and a hopefully a resolution of 640x480, and definitely TFT.

Touchscreen compatability is not necessary, nice, maybe.

I would instead prefer a custom detachable keyboard. And thumb stick. The thumb stick arangement on a toshiba libretto T50 was AWESOME. Plus that thing was the size of a VHS cassette.

From the reading I've been doing on the intel website, the PXA255 chipset is designed for multimedia playback. So the gumstix could well make a reasonable PMP prolly more likely on a lower resolution like 320x240.

Harshboy : Are you sure that the CF to IDE convertor would be compatible with the Bios?

I'm very keen to know what the requirements for attaching screens is? Does it need a controller board for the LCD panel? What is the benefit of the gumstix having digital output? And are small but decent spec LCD's available?

Anyone know of any gumstix handhelds?

if the IntelPXA processor set proves trouble becuase you wish to run true unported PC software, there is this option.
http://bochs.sourceforge.net/
works wonders for PSP
http://www.hacker.co.il/psp/bochs/

(i think an all black case would be ver sexy, black and shiny)

teraflop122 · Post by **teraflop122** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 10:02 am

I actually bought a Libretto 70 recently, but I just can't get the things thumb-stick to work. No matter what I try, nothing!

The advantage of having digital LCD output is that you don't need a controller board, so long as you can find a compatable LCD. 640x480 LCD's can by found at sizes as small as 4 inches, but I can't find any reasonably priced in that range.

KANDYMAN-IAC · Post by **KANDYMAN-IAC** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 10:20 am

well if its just panels then this surplus site may well be of help. And might bring the price down too.

http://lcd-panels-lcds.shopeio.com/inve ... d%20Panels

now as afar as power cableing and connectors go i think they aren't included. But there are stacks of small TFT lcds here very cheap.

teraflop122 · Post by **teraflop122** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 10:36 am

Oh my god....That website is amazing...

There MUST be a catch- there MUST be!

KANDYMAN-IAC · Post by **KANDYMAN-IAC** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 10:51 am

as far as i can tell reasons being, are they are either refurbished, and surplus items. And as i said before thay may not have the necessary connector cables, but for a custom job like this it may not be necessary.

There is also this website, that i believe has the preference of doing things in bulk, they share some of the same panels (although they do state that some of their lots are as is). http://www.surplustraders.net/a/0371.shtml

Ben massproducing somthing like this would be amazing, and may be better than nes on a chip portables, a portable for emulating old consoles and playing old computer games. If it could also double as a PMP, and small handtop/PDA. That would be awesome... truly awesome. Especially if it was black sleek and shiny.

Post by **benheck** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 11:26 am

Well then "Show me the money!"

Although I haven't been following this thread TOO closely in the last few days it's basically a pocket PC running Linux? With a touch screen?

Lately I've done several pay projects by request. Why not?

-Ben

loup · Post by **loup** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 11:38 am

KANDYMAN-IAC wrote:Harshboy : Are you sure that the CF to IDE convertor would be compatible with the Bios?

I'm not harshboy but I think I can answer this, CF and IDE are actually pretty much the same thing, the only two things would how much space the gumstix would be able to recognise and how to provide the apropriate power to the hard drive,

teraflop122 · Post by **teraflop122** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 11:57 am

Ben massproducing somthing like this would be amazing

You know, any one of us could create and market such a product, right? I'm sure at least a FEW of you have skill nearly comparable to Ben! (no offense, Ben

)

how to provide the apropriate power to the hard drive

-and luckily you can feed the same 5 volts to both the Gumstix (or the iVC3) and the hard drive. If you find a 5 volt LCD panel, you're all set!...besides figuring out how to get 5 volts from a battery.

Mr. Cool · Post by **Mr. Cool** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 11:57 am

benheckc wrote:Well then "Show me the money!"

Although I haven't been following this thread TOO closely in the last few days it's basically a pocket PC running Linux? With a touch screen?

Yes its basically the original project. It has morphed off into other projects though. Some want the origiinal project with the 5-7" screen, but some like me are going with the gumstix in an altoids (or similar) case. I dont think gumstix would be a good choice for the larger version, because theres more space to work with, and more stuff that is required of the computer.

Turbo Tax 1.0 · Post by **Turbo Tax 1.0** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 11:59 am

why not just use a sony camcorder battery or rc car battery with a psone screen and get the 5volts of the 7805 on the back of the screen(you may not get enough amps though)

teraflop122 · Post by **teraflop122** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 12:04 pm

You cannot take a product made and sold by another company and incorporate it into your own marketed product, that is why

But I see your point. What I dislike most is the inefficiency of linear regulators.

If I figure this correctly, a 7.2v 5000mah battery would be dropped to 5v at 5000mah if you use a linear regulator. All of the excess voltage is dissipated as heat. But in a ...normal regulator (ala PC) 7.2v at 5000mah would become 5v at 7200mah. My math and reasoning may be off on that.

So, I would rather use a battery to its fullest potential.

daleighan · Post by **daleighan** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 12:08 pm

I can't tell you where I found my deal because they only have one in stock, and I don't have enough money to buy it yet. Hint: Its at one of my local computer stores.

Mr. Cool · Post by **Mr. Cool** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 1:10 pm

An article on the gumstix as well as another potentially useful computer:
http://www.epiacenter.com/modules.php?n ... age&pid=61