PCp Plans

daleighan · Post by **daleighan** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 8:09 pm

Well, I will start to build my PCp over christmas break. The specs will be:

-Pentium-class processor at 166mhz
-128mb of ram
-4Gb Microdrive (through CF-to-IDE adaptor) or 10 gig 1.8" hard drive
from an iPod (can somebody help me figure out how to do this?)
-PSone Screen with the LED mod
-7.2v 3300mah battery
-A total power usage of 1.5a for 2 hours of battery life
-A built-in trackball
-Usb ports
-Ubutu Linux Breezy Badger
-Usb Wifi Adaptor
-A nice vacum-formed or franken case that is very basic and boxy so
that I can make a nice leather case for it easily
This may sound great, but I have a few problems that I need to solve. First of all, The motherboard that I'm using doesn't support a cd drive. This means that It will be hard to install Ubuntu on it. Does anybody know how I could accomplish this? The second problem is that I don't know how I would set up the PSone screen to work within Ubuntu. Is it easier to do this in Linux then Windows? The third and last problem (as mentioned above) is that I don't know how to use an iPod hard drive with IDE. Is it possible? If so, How would I do this? Also, What usb wifi cards work with Ubuntu?

When I finish this project, I will probably sell it because I don't really have a use for it. The only use that I can think of (for me) is as a video player. I don't think it will be powerful enough to emulate very many systems. What systems are emulatable on such a slow processor? I wouldn't use it as a laptop because I have a lovely powerbook. Does anybody have any ideas about what I could use this awesome little machine for?

The motherboard is PC/104, meaning that it is about 3.5" x 3.5" and it only uses 5 volts at 1A. This helps to make the whole thing very small. I think I need some guidance on how to shrink the psone screen so that I don't have a whole lot of plastic on my case that isn't covered by screen.

One last thing: can I run command and conquer on Linux in any way without emulation? This is my favorite game ever and it would be very nice to be able to have it portable (Actually it's coming out on PSP, but that's a whiles away) and I believe that the processor is fast enough for both the original command and conquer and my favorite, Red Alert. I promise, only one last question: Is this mame-capable at all?

HA: Eat this OQO I have so been imagining something like this since I was about five years old.

Harshboy · Post by **Harshboy** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 8:14 pm

cool...i have said multiple times how to use a Ipod hard drive on as a hard drive( for you on a cf connector ) Anyway what mothorboard are you using? PM me or email me to learn how to use the ipod hard drive. EDIT: Nevermind, i already know what your using....

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 8:32 pm

PCP is also a drug that makes you go insane and unable to feel pain. perhaps you should rethink the name... unless you think that that is cool (it kind of is)

daleighan · Post by **daleighan** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 8:36 pm

How bout NOQO. Not. Anybody wanna rename it? How bout the Homebrew Handtop? Just kidding, those names suck. I'm not very imaginative. I have an idea. How bout a contest. Whoever comes up with the best name gets... A cookie?
Edit: also not its PCp not PCP

Harshboy · Post by **Harshboy** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 8:37 pm

You should call it cybertoast

or maybe computation.......or maybe even processer-in-a-box........

I think Cybertoast would be sweet! You have to put Homer Simpson on the back and make him say " MMMMMmmmmmm.....toast"

daleighan · Post by **daleighan** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 8:38 pm

thats not bad, i'll consider it!

Harshboy · Post by **Harshboy** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 8:39 pm

OK

I don't think i will think of the best name tho....i too am not very creative

teraflop122 · Post by **teraflop122** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 9:13 pm

We would be better equiped to help you out if we had a link to the specific motherboard you have chosen.

The motherboard that I'm using doesn't support a cd drive.

If it has an IDE port, than surely it supports a Cd-Rom drive. Once again, a link would be helpful on this point.

how to use an iPod hard drive with IDE

One of these should help you with that: http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-iPod-1-8-Hard- ... dZViewItem

The second problem is that I don't know how I would set up the PSone screen to work within Ubuntu...What usb wifi cards work with Ubuntu...can I run command and conquer on Linux in any way without emulation?

Ok...I have a bit of advice that will make all of these problems vanish into thin air: get Windows. I know, it is hard for some people to understand, but if you just accept Windows for what it is (compatable with virtually everything) then it will help you out quite a bit. You can get Powerstrip to work the LCD, get any old USB wifi card you want, and run any game you want without slow PC emulation. Just download a copy of Windows 98, install it, and close your eyes everytime the screen says "Windows 98"

Having a Windows OS will also get you a better price for the device on eBay.

daleighan · Post by **daleighan** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 9:22 pm

The board is almost exactly the same as: http://www.capax.se/products/product.as ... X86-166-01 except it's smaller. I think that with that little amount of power, ubuntu would run faster than windows 98.