Non-Portable-Based Electronic Projects

Post by **bicostp** » Sun May 15, 2005 4:29 pm

Has anyone madea non-portable based electronics project? I'm designing a "power venetian blinds" setup, with x10 modules powering the servos, with an old (1995) Macintosh laptop set up with the controller software and a wireless microphone. So all you have to do is say "Computer, open windows" and the windows would open.

Or if that's too complicated, just a couple servos with switches attatched to them would do the trick. I just don't like the blind control rods hanging down. I actually have hooks in my window frames that hold them up behind the curtain when not in use.

Post by **bicostp** » Sun May 15, 2005 7:10 pm

*bump.

I made the topic into something you all might actually find interesting, instead of a rant about my forum server.

I thought changing it would be better than making another thread.

soundwave · Post by **soundwave** » Sun May 15, 2005 7:12 pm

that'd be pretty cool. 1995 laptop, jeez, you'll probably have to knock down the wall next to the blinds, the laptop must be so big that it can fill in the gap.

madc0w · Post by **madc0w** » Sun May 15, 2005 7:14 pm

i made a boombox inside a backpack once, it really confuses people. it even had noise canceling and a subwoofer

Post by **bicostp** » Sun May 15, 2005 7:18 pm

It's a Powerbook Duo. It's smaller than most modern laptops!

AND it has a TFT active-matrix screen! All at a blinding 132 MHZ!

This si a picture of the same model unit as mine. The thing to the left is the floppy drive.

Appel use to make a dock for it. The machine was inserted, and the dock would pull it in. Kinda cool, not many other machines did that.

madc0w · Post by **madc0w** » Sun May 15, 2005 7:20 pm

sweet, i like the track ball, not many laptops have that

Lucretius · Post by **Lucretius** » Sun May 15, 2005 7:23 pm

madc0w wrote:sweet, i like the track ball, not many laptops have that

Totally!

I love the size. What are the specs? speed, capacity, etc.

Post by **bicostp** » Sun May 15, 2005 7:30 pm

Mine? I have a few of them (big buisness corporation switched to PCs in 1998.) Here's a couple.

Duo 280c- 25mhz 68LC040 processor, 500MB HD, 32 MB RAM
duo 2300c- 180mhz PowerPC 601 processor, 1.5 GB HD, 64 MB RAM.
PowerBook 1400c- 132mhz PowerPC 603e processor, 2 GB HD, 64 MB RAM

What, you were expecting Pentiums, maybe?

I've also got one of these:

Yep, an old Apple Newton 100. circa 1993.

gamer2 · Post by **gamer2** » Sun May 15, 2005 7:31 pm

ive been wanting to build a DOOM 3 machine into a Xbox case but sence Doom 3 came to XBOX i dont see the point

Lucretius · Post by **Lucretius** » Sun May 15, 2005 7:31 pm

bicostp wrote:I've also got one of these:

Yep, an old Apple Newton 100. circa 1993.

I WANT! GIMME! I PAY TWO DOLLA!

madc0w · Post by **madc0w** » Sun May 15, 2005 7:31 pm

wow, thats almost older than me

Foxx373 · Post by **Foxx373** » Sun May 15, 2005 7:37 pm

I have X-10... its OK. There is a little bit of a lag when you turn devices on and off. Also, the X-10 modules need to have On and Off codes sent respectively, there is no mometary system for it. If your laptop has a Printer or Serial port, and you can get the software, you can make a simple system from that and omit X-10.

You have a solid idea, but its going to be harder than you think. I have tried, and I just stuck with a custom IR based system. I was able to hack my universal remote to output the proper signals the reciever needed.

Post by **bicostp** » Sun May 15, 2005 7:39 pm

Lucretius wrote:
bicostp wrote:I've also got one of these:

Yep, an old Apple Newton 100. circa 1993.
I WANT! GIMME! I PAY TWO DOLLA!

Sorry, now for sale. Try eBay. There's MUCH newer versions of it out there (some with sound recording, some with backlighting...) Besides, it's freakin HUGE! (for a PDA.)

madc0w wrote:wow, thats almost older than me

[old man voice] well, sonny, let me show you something that's probably older than you are...

Yes, it's the Macintosh SE/30. Mine has a 9 inch Black and White CRT with 520 by 320 resolution. It is fully loaded with a network card (TokenRing) and it has met its memory limit: 8mb. (8 1mb cards)
Date of manufacture: 1989.
Speed: 16 Mhz 68030.
Hard drive: The optional internal 80MB SCSI drive.
Price as new: $8,000.

Oh, how times have changed.

EDIT: geeze, this thread ia making me feel old.

gamer2 · Post by **gamer2** » Sun May 15, 2005 7:40 pm

and to think a DS is more powerfull than that

Lucretius · Post by **Lucretius** » Sun May 15, 2005 7:43 pm

madc0w wrote:wow, thats almost older than me

He he, you crazy kids...I have an oldish thinkpad...somewhere...If I get time, I'll dig it up.