Portacomputer Q&A

FDSMAN · Post by **FDSMAN** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:16 pm

well, this is really for someone who wants to build one and has a question, they can post it here and get an answer from someone on the forum

my question is, can you use one of those fold up Palm keyboards to save space? i mean you would have to change the port and all but could it be done?

Post by **gannon** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:20 pm

as long as it's ps/2 or usb compatible

FDSMAN · Post by **FDSMAN** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:22 pm

thanks, i really don't wanna use a mini PlayS2 keyboard

soundwave · Post by **soundwave** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:23 pm

Dont those PDA keyboard connect through infrared?

shmagoogin77 · Post by **shmagoogin77** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:27 pm

they can put some hook up on the bottom

FDSMAN · Post by **FDSMAN** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:29 pm

huh? i wanna make a portacomputer not make the keyboard wireless

soundwave · Post by **soundwave** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:43 pm

I'm saying dont those types of keyboards connect through infrared, instead of PS/2 or USB. Unless your portacomputer can take infrared, its not going to work.

FDSMAN · Post by **FDSMAN** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:45 pm

yes, but the keyboard i'm using uses a male connector and i'm changing the port on the keyboard to usb or ps2

soundwave · Post by **soundwave** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:46 pm

Oh, okay.

tom61 · Post by **tom61** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 2:23 pm

Most PDA keyboards that have a physical connection (versus using IR or bluetooth) use a serial protocol. To use one on a PC you'd need a circuit to convert the serial voltage levels to RS-232 (standard serial port) levels, and a driver to utilise them. Adapters exist for certian palm keyboards to PS/2, but are very hard to find.

There is at least one fold-up keyboard that uses USB (intended for newer PPCs that have built-in USB host), however. If you find one of them that'd be your best bet.

Trv · Post by **Trv** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 2:25 pm

how would the portable power supply work on a mini- itx

Post by **bicostp** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 2:39 pm

The cheapest portacomputer ever:

Apparently the black thing is a UPS device.

the most expensive
www.oqo.com it's 2 grand! But with a machine as slick as that, you'd expect high price.

cennar · Post by **cennar** » Sun May 01, 2005 3:21 pm

looks like the xbox concept i made last year...

*o* · Post by ***o*** » Sun May 01, 2005 3:26 pm

lol "wow look at my cool new xbox *turns around kills friend*......oh

"

Niku-Sama · Post by **Niku-Sama** » Sun May 01, 2005 5:03 pm

FDSMAN wrote:thanks, i really don't wanna use a mini PlayS2 keyboard

oooook before you should even think of buliding a computer you should fimilarize your self with some terms and history to fully understand what your doing..

PS/2 is not a game console its an interface for mice and keyboards and has been used a lot longer than usb for these items, before PS/2 there was AT keyboards (i bigger round connector) and if you computer used something that wasnt dos it used Serial for the mouse..