Starting my ultra-portable PC project (PCp?) update Nov 26th

soundwave · Post by **soundwave** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 11:51 pm

Nice to hear some news, I hope there arent many more set backs.

tom61 · Post by **tom61** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 9:34 pm

Oh, yeah, I believe someone on here asked about the USB touchscreen I was considering. I found the site back:
http://ezscreen.com/index.html?target=f ... lang=en-us

tom61 · Post by **tom61** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 7:35 pm

The project is still progressing, slowly but surely.

Still haven't finished the power supply. I found the MAX787s, but they don't fit too well in the proto board I got from RS. I could solder directly to the leads, I suppose. I still need to find a replacement for the 10Watt resistor.

Good news is that battery power is less of an issue than I thought, as power (and ethernet) jacks are fairly plentiful at the college I'll be attending in the fall. I'll probably get it fully working on AC power first, then move on to making the DC-DC PS.

I'll have the VGA to PSOne adapter finished later tonight, so that'll be out of the way.

Installing an OS is becoming a bit of a pain. I need to find a suitable host system to install Linux to the HD I'll be using. Most of my spare systems are either dead now or don't run Linux kernel 2.4 or higher for some reason. I'd use my main system to install, but I'm having power issues with where it's currently plugged in. Old wiring + new large window A/C unit + refridgerator on the same circuit (never mind it's in the kitchen and the computer and A/C is upstairs) + lights to see with = at absolute limit of a 30Amp fuse. Add in my computer, and it all goes out. Wouldn't be so bad, if my brother could just leave the A/C off when it's not so hot.

tom61 · Post by **tom61** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 2:08 pm

Slowly progressing on this project.

Ubuntu is now downloaded and installed to the 20GB laptop drive using my main rig and a 40 to 44 pin IDE adapter that I got for $5 shipped. Hopefully Ubuntu is as flexible as Mandrake is/was and can move from system to system with only minor trouble, and not like Suse which crashes when too much hardware is changed.

I can't find the PDF file for my board, which means I can't wire up the USB ports properly. I've retrieved a USB 2.0 card from a friend, and I'll be using it to connect stuff like my spiffy new USB folding keyboard:

Size of folding keyboard open compared to uPC's case:
http://tom61.arcadecontrols.com/pics/fktocase.jpg

Size of folding keyboard closed compared to uPC's case:
http://tom61.arcadecontrols.com/pics/fkclosedoncase.jpg

Most likely I'll put the USB 2.0 card in a flexible PCI riser, as it's too tall to fit in the case vertically.

Lucretius · Post by **Lucretius** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 2:47 pm

I'm thinking of using that very keyboaed for this project:
http://natrium42.com/projects/serial.html

tom61 · Post by **tom61** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 4:43 pm

Keep in mind that circuit is for connecting the Pass Me to a PC, not for connecting devices to the Pass Me. USB is not a peer protocol, devices (such as that serial to USB converter) use USB client, what they hook to are USB host.

IMO, they need to make it more clear that the circuit their showing is client and not host.

Lucretius · Post by **Lucretius** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 8:24 pm

Well, there would be a certain amount of prgraming involved, but nat explains that..nothing's impossible...

soundwave · Post by **soundwave** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 8:25 pm

I dont feel like reading that page. Whats this port thing do?

Lucretius · Post by **Lucretius** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 8:29 pm

Let's you attatch a serial port to the DS passme...

soundwave · Post by **soundwave** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 8:32 pm

What service does this provide?

Lucretius · Post by **Lucretius** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 8:34 pm

For me? Can attatch a keyboard to the DS...

tom61 · Post by **tom61** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 11:33 pm

Nearly up and going, except the OS didn't like being moved to different system. I think that the IDE channel I have it plugged into may not be the same as the PC I installed on, and Grub passes the wrong options to the kernel.

Pictures:
Installing to HD on main rig:
http://tom61.arcadecontrols.com/pics/up ... lltohd.jpg

All setup for first full test (sans PSOne display):
http://tom61.arcadecontrols.com/pics/upc/setup.jpg

Kernel panic

:
http://tom61.arcadecontrols.com/pics/upc/panic.jpg

soundwave · Post by **soundwave** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 11:37 pm

Looks like fun. That case looks pretty small, I like.

Niku-Sama · Post by **Niku-Sama** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:55 am

you might need this

Conn · Post by **Conn** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 3:14 am

Wow, this looks awesome. Looking at the newest picture, there's a bit of empty space, expessially at the top. are you going to add speakers or something there? Or a CD drive in the space or something? I'm not meaning to nag, just wondering.

Also, resizing the pictures would be appreciated.