Modding an EEE pc to have a swivel screen

[turbolover]

Just wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to do this.

I was thinking of doing that so the screen could turn around and fold over like a tablet pc, and have the controls built into the left over space on the panel.

that way you could have a nice umpc that works well as an emulator handheld.

[Ben Cebhrem]

I know the hinges are at the sides of the screen, and the battery pokes up from below, helping to 'flesh out' the hinge area. Without extensive modding, it doesn't seem like it'd be easy- it might be easier to simply take the LCD off in the first place, and flip it around, before putting it back together (though that wouldn't work without extension cables).

If you need pictures to see how the Eee is laid out, I recommend going to www.eeeuser.com . This will give you an idea of where the LCD cables are in relation to the board, etc. As far as an idea to swivel the LCD, all I can think is- look for broken portable DVD players on Ebay or some such site. Some of them have swivel screens (I know there's a Zenith model that does for sure). You could use the parts and mod that into the case of the Eee.

[turbolover]

the way it is laid out, it almost seems as if I would be better off making an entirely new enclosure.

It would be practically the same except there would be only one hinge in the center of a plastic "bar" that would be pretty much the same shape and dimensions as the area formed from the battery/old hinges. The actual battery would sit below all this, no longer flush with the system, but sitting lower, with plastic on both sides so it would snap in just like how it would with an unmodded unit.

The upshot of this is you accomplish the swivel goal, and also add extra case realestate to stuff mods into (such as a bluetooth receiver), and rather than sitting flat on a table, it would sit with the rear a tad bit elevated, like how a keyboard is elevated with the stands in the front.

The only problem with this is I have no experience making cases whatsoever.

[turbolover]

If not sitting lower than the unit making it elevated, the battery snap in area could just be pushed further past the end of the unit, which would just make it look a little less pretty but no less functional.

actually i favor the previous setup, that center hinge shouldnt take up much space, so it shouldnt push the battery enclosure down too far.

[Ben Cebhrem]

Aye, I was thinking if you extended the hinge area (for functional and visual purposes) with the dual swivel in the center only, you could take the battery, mod or make a new casing for it in which the cells lay flat, and achieve this with minimal case modding. You would definitely need an extension cable for the screen no matter how you look at it, but that's probably the most minor part of such a mod as this.

The only problem with how I see it working, is how to reinforce the single swivel to 'open' the LCD for viewing; it's likely to be a weak spot, but it may be possible to use the old hinge anchoring areas by using some sort of extension to the one hinge.

Try modding some old cases/boxes if you need some experience first, for sure- I'm sure you know by now of the section of the forums dedicated to case modding. If you can get your hands on an old and beaten laptop, even better if you ask me.

[bacteria]

I think the newer version of the Eee (with the bigger screen) has the tablet look as standard with a rotating screen.

[Ben Cebhrem]

Just a guick Google for Eee 900 turned this link upamong others;
http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/04/19 ... e_pc_900/1

Seems it's set up nearly identically; I'm still curious if the previous models can use the same screen as the 900, as well as what model LCDs the Eee use, though that's another thread in the end.

[tom61]

Seems it's set up nearly identically; I'm still curious if the previous models can use the same screen as the 900, as well as what model LCDs the Eee use, though that's another thread in the end.

http://jkkmobile.blogspot.com/2008/05/a ... n-701.html

[Ben Cebhrem]

Seems it's set up nearly identically; I'm still curious if the previous models can use the same screen as the 900, as well as what model LCDs the Eee use, though that's another thread in the end.

http://jkkmobile.blogspot.com/2008/05/a ... n-701.html

Sorry to hijack a bit here, but thank you tom, I love you for finding that. Been looking a while, just couldn't find anything amongst all the ads, reviews, etc. that Google turns up.