PS2 laptop - my idea

zygmoont · Post by **zygmoont** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:42 am

Hello everyone, this is my first post.
I've been thinking of making PS2 laptop for a few weeks.
Now something about this project - it will be a PS2 slim in normal, laptop cover. I think that maybe 12" or 13" monitor would be ok. I want it to be really small, this is the main purpose. Also, I want it to be fully functional computer, so I'll install Linux on it. The HDD would be 40 or 60GB, 2,5". I heard that there is the possibility to use PS2 Slim with a normal IDE drive. Do you know how much this would cost in some console or computer service? I don't want it to be connected via USB, because of its speed. I'll also use a USB keyboard and some touchpad. I want to have at least 2 USB ports outside, so that I would be able to connect some pendrive or something. I'll have to use some USB splitter inside the laptop cover. I won't be using any voltage-consuming devices to the USB port. What is more, I'd like my laptop to have an EyeToy on the top of the screen

I also wanted to have a D-Sub (or DVI) output on the back, but I don't know if it is possible. I will use multitap inside to have 4 or more pad ports. I also have a good idea about the pad. In case of not having the pad at the moment, there will be a fully functional pad on the laptop cover. I'm thinking of something like this - http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/14/ps2wl5.jpg
I want to use PSP buttons, cause they are very stylish and would compose very good with my black-coloured laptop. Analog sticks would also be form the PSP, because they are quite flat. And stylish

Console of course will be modchipped to use a lot of homebrew and to play the backups of games that I own.
So, this is my vision. But I still don't know few things. Firstly, what screen to use? I have really no idea. I wanted to use some laptop screen, but it won't be able to show the PAL resolution, unless it is converted to some "normal" res, will it? And I also have no idea how to convert the laptops screen to some normal D-Sub, DVI or something. The another big problem is what to do with the DVD drive?

Sorry for my English

Electric Rain · Post by **Electric Rain** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:35 am

Sorry, but this is a pretty hardcore project, and I don't think you're up for it based on the questions you asked. I'm telling you this for your own good. Not to mention this will end up costing you around $1000. Do you have that kind of money, and are you SURE you have the skill required to pull it off?

zygmoont · Post by **zygmoont** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:33 am

Hmm... The $1000 would not be a big problem, but I'm sure I don't have the required skill

Well, this would be my first project like this. I really wanted to do this, but if you think that it is very difficult, I will have to give it up.
But only to know it, what screen should I use for a project like this? Maybe I'll try something easier...

Electric Rain · Post by **Electric Rain** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:05 am

Sorry to kill your dreams like that.

It's just that we get a lot of people like you around here that ask how they might go about building hardcore portables, and we always have to shut them down because we can tell they're not up to the task. We don't want them frying their 360 mobos, and coming back here blaming us for giving bad advice, when the real problem was that they were trying to solder 14 AWG wire to an SMD on carpet with a soldering gun.

(Exaggeration, but still...)

As far as the screen is concerned, I would use an Intec 9.2" Xbox 360 LCD. They're a little expensive (~ $200), but they're nice screens, and they have component input. 9.2" is plenty of screen space; even for a PS2. Trust me, I've tested it myself, and it's friggin' beautiful.

Anything bigger than that, and the size of the screen itself will make your laptop larger. But this screen is about the size of a slim PS2 anyway, so it works out. PS2's do not natively output anything better than component video, so most computer LCDs won't work. I have a very detailed thread on this screen here.

I don't know if you want to build this just to have it, or if you want to build it for the thrill of making it, but if you have that kind of cash, I'm sure you can get someone here to build this for you.

zygmoont · Post by **zygmoont** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:21 am

Thanks for your advices.

Why do I want to build it? Because I think that it would be great to have console and computer in small laptop cover. But I don't want anybody to do this for me. I just think that hobby like this is nice

and I'd like to start doing it. But if it is so difficult I will have to find some other console.

jperryss · Post by **jperryss** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 11:20 am

Maybe start with something easier, like a NES or SNES portable? I've never tackled either, just wanted to throw that out there before someone else does.