I have a Question about bens Atari XEGS laptop

[ValiantVenality]

I am going to make bens laptop but I had a question. How am I suppose to make the case/keyboard? Where would I get that cool wood color on it? I really want to make it because ive done some research on the history of the games and stuff. But when I get to the point to where ill have to copy the files and stuff you guys will have to help me!

[Hale]

I don't know........That portable is kinda hard.....

[HomicidalBarber]

I imagine he did what he does for most of his portables, drew a rough design, made it on the computer, and used a CNC to cut it out. If you have a friend (Or a dad) that owns a machine shop it helps. If not good luck anyways.

[NES_fanatic]

Haha! I have a friend a block away who'll let me use his CNC machine as much as I please! I must have it much easier than many of you.

[Sparkfist]

I am going to make bens laptop but I had a question. How am I suppose to make the case/keyboard? Where would I get that cool wood color on it? I really want to make it because ive done some research on the history of the games and stuff. But when I get to the point to where ill have to copy the files and stuff you guys will have to help me!

Well for the keyboard I'd say do it like Ben did, use over 80 tact switches, one for each key. Ben uses stickers for the wood grain, I don't know if he makes them himself or if he buys them from a store.

As for the files, be sure you have the MyIDE accessory and just connect that to a Compactflash > IDE adapter. As for how the files go on there, as I doubt the Atari could read hyeratical file systems, just dump the files on the Compactflash card, without any files.

One last thing is if you're planning to make it just like Ben's, contact Mr. Atari. You'll need a reworked version of the Atari XEGS rom to get it to work with the MyIDE.

[benheck]

Good luck! That XEGS was far and away the most difficult thing I'd ever built.

The woodgrain was engraving plastic actually.

You'll also need an SIO2PC cable to get files from a PC (such as Mr Atari's disk formator) and such.

[ValiantVenality]

I have one more question. How is bens flah card thing is thick? I checked on ebay iand it looked the same on the front but it was really thin. So what gives?

[ValiantVenality]

I just thought of an idea for the keys. I could get one of those woodburning kits and burn some good looking signs on some scrabble peices.It will look cool and feel like scrabble.

[Sparkfist]

Good luck! That XEGS was far and away the most difficult thing I'd ever built.

The woodgrain was engraving plastic actually.

You'll also need an SIO2PC cable to get files from a PC (such as Mr Atari's disk formator) and such.

Harder then the PS2p? And thanks for filling in the empty spots on what you had in that thing.

I have one more question. How is bens flah card thing is thick? I checked on ebay iand it looked the same on the front but it was really thin. So what gives?

The Compactflash > IDE adapters are about a mm or two thicker then the card. But if you think about the fact that the Compactflash card is only about 1/8th of an inch thick that's rather thin for a storage device.

I just thought of an idea for the keys. I could get one of those woodburning kits and burn some good looking signs on some scrabble peices.It will look cool and feel like scrabble.

Try placing the tites out and see how you like the feel before you engage the plan.

[G-force]

You need a case? I might have just the thing you're looking for. I got it from a friends garage a week ago. It has a complete keyboard, flip up screen. Basically just like a real laptop except it's a toy. I already ripped out the cheap LCD games and it's a very nice case with lots of room. It was some kiddie toy made by radioshack called Agent Bravo. My camera is broken right now, but I can take pics of it when I get a new one.