Hey, anyone thought about building their own UMPC?
This would be kind of cool. It would take me back to my early days of computing: building Z80s from scratch and assembling my first “real” computer, an S100-based 8080 system.
The main board I’m assuming could be based off of a VIA system. I’m asking my EE friends about the display/digitizer. I’m not sure about getting single-unit quantities of something like this. Maybe from salvaged units? (Hey, why not? This would be a homebrew project after all!) The harddrive and miscellaneous connectors shouldn’t be a problem. Neither should the batteries. Oh, WiFi…hmmm. Actually, forget WiFi. EVDO would be a cool way to go though I’m not sure about the connectors here. (Plus, I bet I’ll need to order extra batteries 🙂 )
The case is another issue. I built my S100 so many years back on top of an aluminum sheet wrapped in a wood case. This kind of approach isn’t going to work so well with a handheld. Hmmm. A boxy case made out of Plexiglas and standoffs might be OK. Buttons could be a problem though. Maybe someone else has some ideas here.
I’m only a few hours into dreaming about this, so I’m probably missing something big. Ideas anyone?
This would be so much fun to do. And it would give me a reason to drag out the oscilloscope again.
Lessee…what’s in the MiniMage’s inventory…
-as far as digitizers go, one ePodsOne and one Fujitsu PenCentra
-30gb 2.5″ notebook drive (perhaps I should be thinking about a 1.8″)
-TPC MSDN ISOs, can get MCE (I think this sounds like development!)
-PCMCIA WiFi cards
-soldering iron (belongs to work, but accessible) and other tools
What would I need?
-mobo
-memory
-drivers
-proper case?
-cooling strategy/parts
-more skill than I’ve got
It was fun scheming, though. It would give a completely new meaning to “hack your ePods.” If someone posts a DIY howto, my ePods is definitely in mortal danger, but it hurts to think about it. It’s the only ePods I’ve got!