Ben's Wii laptop

sammy · Post by **sammy** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:31 am

I just saw the Wii laptop and I have to say that I was suprised. Not only by the very sturdy design but also because it was finished so quickly.

I'm really looking forward to the making of and to find out how Ben made the 'short range sensor bar'.

The design is indeed rather mechanical but that might be handy cause it makes it really portable and shock proof (so you could take it everywhere).

What do you guys think about the Wii laptop?

Post by **benheck** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:55 am

There's nothing magical about the short-range sensor bar, you just put the LED's closer together and it approximates the Wii-mote being further away, even when it's closer.

It's actually possible to get the V alignment almost dead-on (like the H is) but it requires the LED's to be on either side of the screen, which I didn't have room for. Plus with them farther apart you have to be further away again.

-Ben

x24 · Post by **x24** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:10 pm

just saw it ben, looks great

Post by **bicostp** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:11 pm

But... But I thought the sensor bar worked on pure Majikâ„¢!

Seriously, isn't it 2 infrared LEDs or something? At least they had the brains to make it one long bar, instead of the oh-so-similar Power Glove's 3 "pods".

The case design is surprising, Ben. I thought it would be more smooth, but the "iNdustrial" look suits it well. ("iNdustrial because it looks like a sci-fi Apple factory. Not that that's a bad thing...

)

What's the slider on the side of the screen for? Brightness?

If you're getting tired of the clean, white electronics you could always build a "VCSp Classic"...

ganonbanned · Post by **ganonbanned** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:15 pm

its nice...

thumbs up ben

Rekarp · Post by **Rekarp** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:23 pm

Awsome design. One question tho. Whats the battery life like?

Post by **benheck** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:29 pm

The Wii sensor bar actually uses 5 T1 (3mm) IR led's on each side. To replicate a sensor bar, 2 5mm led's per side is enough.

This unit is wall-power only, but it has, what I believe to be, a very convienent power cord system.

-Ben

ATOMICMAN · Post by **ATOMICMAN** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:38 pm

whats the link for this?

looked around the forum didnt see it or on the main site? i could just be blind though...

Sir Games-A-Lot · Post by **Sir Games-A-Lot** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:44 pm

It's on the main page, try clearing out your browser's cache.

Retromaster · Post by **Retromaster** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:53 pm

JESUS CHRIST THATS AMAZING!!!!
that looks just like a portable dvd player!!!!
( in the voice of heman) YOU HAVE THE POWER BEN!!

SHEER AMAZEMENT!!! SHEER AMAZEMENT!!!
PURE GENIOUS!!!

Rototiller · Post by **Rototiller** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:57 pm

WOW!

I'd hit that.

x24 · Post by **x24** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:59 pm

is there gonna be a production story this time? im at work for 4 more hours and need some good readin....

ATOMICMAN · Post by **ATOMICMAN** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 1:26 pm

Sir Games-A-Lot wrote:It's on the main page, try clearing out your browser's cache.

haha took forever but it finally came up.

freaking awesome

Post by **Sparkfist** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:10 pm

Looks nice, in fact it looks in a style similar to my Toshiba laptop, though that's likely a result of something like the batteries or power adapter being back there. I'd remark that it's offley plain-jane, but really you can't add something like a keyboard to that like you could the 360 laptop.

Also why, really I have to beg the question, why does the Wii use IR for the controllers? First you're not even able to get much data transfer out of it and secondly it's strictly a line of sight means of transmission. Unless there's an RF signal that can be activated or tapped into what's wrong with Nintendo?

Rekarp · Post by **Rekarp** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:15 pm

Sparkfist wrote:Looks nice, in fact it looks in a style similar to my Toshiba laptop, though that's likely a result of something like the batteries or power adapter being back there. I'd remark that it's offley plain-jane, but really you can't add something like a keyboard to that like you could the 360 laptop.

Also why, really I have to beg the question, why does the Wii use IR for the controllers? First you're not even able to get much data transfer out of it and secondly it's strictly a line of sight means of transmission. Unless there's an RF signal that can be activated or tapped into what's wrong with Nintendo?

It doesn't use IR for data transmission. The IR leds enable the Wiimote to figure out where it is in relationship to the TV. The remote uses bluetooth to transmit info to the Wii.