Homemade Tablet PC Progress Thread. ***UPDATED***

[vskid]

What exactly are you expecting to use it for? Its not gonna be very small, probably not very pretty, and its not gonna be very fast with your current parts list. And like I said before, you still need ram.

[HotDog-Cart]

I can get ram for pretty CHEAP at the computer store I work at. Thats why I didnt put it down on the part list.

I plan on using it for school and work.

[tom61]

If you have a Staples nearby, they have a 4GB CF for a little over $30 out the door.

You could grab a 2G Surf and have a lot more power for less price. Just flip it's screen around (still a hefty mod in itself) and install a touchscreen. Celeron M beats the pants off a C3, and does a fair job against a 1Ghz Eden, even at the speed it is underclocked to by default. The integrated Intel graphics also does better than any Via chipset I've seen. $299+Ship for the 2G and $350+ship for an even beefier 4G model. Some thoughts already bouncing around for this on another forum: http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=12513

If you still want to go down the path of completely from-scratch build, re-read these threads:
http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?t=3024
http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?t=4142
http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?t=6329
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=892708

Good luck and have fun either way.

[vskid]

You could grab a 2G Surf and have a lot more power for less price. Just flip it's screen around (still a hefty mod in itself) and install a touchscreen. Celeron M beats the pants off a C3, and does a fair job against a 1Ghz Eden, even at the speed it is underclocked to by default. The integrated Intel graphics also does better than any Via chipset I've seen. $299+Ship for the 2G and $350+ship for an even beefier 4G model. Some thoughts already bouncing around for this on another forum: http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=12513

I think a 4G Surf would be better, the 2G Surf is clocked even slower (not saying the EEE is slow, but they're all underclocked stock) and the ram isn't upgradeable. For $50 more than the 2G Surf, a 4G Surf has twice the storage, faster CPU, and upgradeable ram.

[teraflop122]

I agree with vskid. Tiny laptops at under 400 dollars sort of make the whole PCp crusade pointless. God, all those wasted weeks back in 2005....

If anyone rereads those old threads tom61 posted, make sure to marvel at how far prices have dropped since then! Also, the unatainable Nano-ITX's have been replaced with sub-$300 Pico-ITX's since then.

[HotDog-Cart]

If you have a Staples nearby, they have a 4GB CF for a little over $30 out the door.

You could grab a 2G Surf and have a lot more power for less price. Just flip it's screen around (still a hefty mod in itself) and install a touchscreen. Celeron M beats the pants off a C3, and does a fair job against a 1Ghz Eden, even at the speed it is underclocked to by default. The integrated Intel graphics also does better than any Via chipset I've seen. $299+Ship for the 2G and $350+ship for an even beefier 4G model. Some thoughts already bouncing around for this on another forum: http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=12513

If you still want to go down the path of completely from-scratch build, re-read these threads:
http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?t=3024
http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?t=4142
http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?t=6329
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=892708

Good luck and have fun either way.

Hey, is the CF card at staples on salefor $30, or that its everyday price?

[vskid]

Hey, is the CF card at staples on salefor $30, or that its everyday price?

I got a 4GB CF card for less than $40 from Newegg, and that was about a year ago. $30 from Staples seems fairly possible.
I still think you should consider getting an EEE, instead of building your own.

[tom61]

Hey, is the CF card at staples on salefor $30, or that its everyday price?

Sale, goes until Sunday. Though, it may be on sale again next week. Office supply stores are odd that way...

[shmagoogin77]

i think you should definitely use an EEE pc but if you decide to not go with the EEE pc you should definitely invest in a
pico ITX mobo

[HotDog-Cart]

You didnt read any of my original post did you? Im using a Mini ITX. Its a 1ghz and its like $50, not $230 like your websites.

[Edutainment]

i think you should definitely use an EEE pc but if you decide to not go with the EEE pc you should definitely invest in a
pico ITX mobo

There's a touch screen mod for the Eee PC. I don't know if that was mentioned before.

[vskid]

You didnt read any of my original post did you? Im using a Mini ITX. Its a 1ghz and its like $50, not $230 like your websites.

Ever see a size and power usage comparison between Mini and Pico ITX? If you want to make something you can really use, Pico ITX or an EEE are the way to go.

[tom61]

Curious, how many of the parts do you currently have that are listed on the first post? The list seems rather specific (with exception of the C3 vs. Eden Mini-ITX), and a fair bit old school.

Can you get more specific on how you indeed to use it? What size are you shooting for?

[bicostp]

You didnt read any of my original post did you? Im using a Mini ITX. Its a 1ghz and its like $50, not $230 like your websites.

They're also heat producing machines that use a relatively large amnount of power. Tablet PC = handheld = small. High capacity batteries, last I checked, != small. You're better off with an even smaller motherboard, or a unit that was designed to run off batteries in the first place.

[HotDog-Cart]

I know Bic, Yet. I cant get funding to dish out $230 just for a motherboard. And, I can just use a CarPC Powersupply for the battery issue.

$50 is a lot cheaper than $230.