Flat Panel Linux Box for $99? 480
A reader writes "Found an interesting site which describes a hack to modify the $99 Iopener internet appliance to be able to run Linux. Flat panel LCD display, small footprint, 56K (non-win)modem. No ethernet, but a built-in parallel port (for PLIP?). Just add 2.5" HD. The perfect X terminal! "
Heheheh (Score:2)
"perfect" is a bit of an overstatement. (Score:1)
Still nifty, though.
Linux & modified hardware (Score:1)
perfect . . . almost (Score:1)
Re:"perfect" is a bit of an overstatement. (Score:2)
Looks like.... (Score:1)
Not groundbreaking, but interesting nonetheless.
Awesome! (Score:3)
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Re:"perfect" is a bit of an overstatement. (Score:1)
My university has a bunch of "kiosks" all over that are basically just a dinky monitor, a keyboard, and a trackball. All you can do with them is e-mail and web browsing. But I'll bet they cost a lot more than these Iopener things.
Huh. Interesting but not quite useful yet. (Score:1)
Hmmm (Score:1)
some further ideas (Score:1)
Re:Huh. Interesting but not quite useful yet. (Score:1)
Re:Hmmm (Score:1)
Ubiquitousness (Score:3)
-----------------------
:o) (Score:1)
Re:Awesome! (Score:2)
Now if someone manages to remove that modem card and install an ethernet, that could start hurting them.
please... (Score:3)
after all, it's the creativity and inventive that counts.
Re:So what? (Score:3)
Because.. (Score:2)
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Is this thing a "loss-leader" for selling their (Score:3)
I would question the need for Linux on a device that is limited to 640x480 (no - it doesn't make sense to put Linux on everything, just most everything) not to mention just how useful it would be in everyday life in as limited a manner as it currently exists. Though- on the positive side I can see application where this would be very useful. At $99 bucks it would be the cheapest "smart-typewriter" ever and the added advantage of being able to do not only typing but spreadsheet work and presentations might make it a very useful tool for some administrative staff...
Re:Ubiquitousness (Score:2)
Why, I think it is seriously cool.
Is it really all that horrible to use an item for what it was intended?
No, but it is fun.
I don't see Linux on my digital watch, why doesn't someone fix that?
Oh, man, THAT would be COOL as shit!!!!
Netpliance impressions (Score:3)
Its a slick little box as is. The pointing device is not suitable for arthritic fingers, but they can take an PS/2 pointer as well.
The LCD is VERY sensitive to viewing angle, but if you only have one head on your neck that shouldn't be too bad. Its also very susceptible to ducking. Moving items vanish.
Their original plan was to sell them for $400 with a $5/mo ISP service. That didn't fly so they flipped to $200 and a $20/mo ISP at their xmas time introduction.
Now at $99 for a linux terminal I'm really excited. I feel a bit bad, since they are probably losing money at $99 and won't be making it up on the ISP service. Not bad enough to refrain from buying a couple though.
Right, but... (Score:3)
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Because it's the geeky thing to do! (Score:2)
Billy Transue
bill-transue@NOcoolmailSPAM.net
What is the legality behind this? (Score:3)
On a second note, what are the terms of their contract. Assuming you are buying the product, and not just on an indefinate lease, how long are you required to use their internet service before terminating the contract?
ISP Service Cancellation (Score:4)
Parallel Port ethernet (Score:3)
Can't think of the name of it off hand but will look it up in a hurry unless someone already knows it and posts...
USB networking (Score:3)
Prolific manufactures a range of USB chips, including the PL2301 and PL2302 devices that allow two USB host controllers to be linked, providing a simple point to point link at up to 5Mbps. This driver supports both PL2301 andPL2302 chips.
---
A market opportunity? (Score:3)
I love PC's, and something like this would really be the perfect complement. Why settle for an information appliance hard coded to do one particular thing, when you can a bunch of sleek little x-terminals that can do anything a stand-alone appliance does?
I can think of plenty of uses for something like this around the house, in a business setting, the uses multiply.
So if anyone with the means is listening, build them! The market for appliances of this type will fail until they're cheap enough ($200 would be my price point, can I reiterate that enough?), and as long as they're tied to proprietary systems. Who else would buy a generic, sleek, flat paneled x-term for $200?
Re:ISP Service Cancellation (Score:2)
Re:I want one ! But I am in Canada.... (Score:2)
-russ
Did anyone notice that... (Score:3)
Re:What is the legality behind this? (Score:2)
The physical world and software EULA's are a world apart.
When you buy something, at circuit city, for example, you exchange cash for the object. The implied contract is that you now OWN the object, outright and completely. You can do *whatever* you want with it. This may be a grey area when it comes to the software supplied on the device, but it's very clearn with the device itself.
That is true if the purchase is cash-and-carry. If the purchase is like those 'free' or $1 cellphones, where you also must sign a contract, it's different. Then you are signing a legal document, requiring you to abide by it's terms.
The bottom line is, when you purchase something, you can do anything you like with it.
Hmm... Slow down now.. (Score:3)
I was on the point of buying one of these, but while I was thinking about it and taking a shower I came up with a progression in mind...
Now unless you're violating a license agreement by not using their internet service you aren't doing anything illegal by turning this machine into a Linux box. Sure, it seems very stupid to me that the company would sell these machines at what can only be a loss assuming they would make up their loss with the internet service -- but that's not the point here.
Whether or not the people buying this machine are doing anything wrong, think of the bad publicity this thing could cause, not to mention the potential moral guilt of destroying a dumb company. It would be different if this company were selling millions of units and only a small handfull of people hacked it and installed Linux, but Slashdot is a big site now, and our "Slashdot Effect" can do more than just take down a small web server.
Something to think about anyhow...
Internal modem on ISA or serial? (Score:2)
If the later is the case, it should only be a matter of a little solder work to get a normal ethernet NIC in there.
Linux flatscreen for $99-- NOPE! (Score:3)
Small footprint... yes... flat panel...yes... $99... no.
I think this thing is awesome... I am going to track one down this weekend... I want to perform the mods... but I'm not fooling myself... this thing is not $99 when all is said and done... I figure to do it right, $350 - $400 to get it up on a network.
Side note: If someone can find a way to retro-fit this thing into a notebook case for under $400... let me know... make this thing portable and keep the modem and I am a happy Linux camper.
Just my $.02
Could be a nice MP3 player as well (Score:2)
Yamaha YMF715 Stereo Speakers Doesn't say anything about the sound chip, though? Is it any good [or upgradable?]. I don't think that PLIP could get the bandwidth, but with USB ethernet, I could also plug this into my home network to play MP3's stored on my server!!
Respect the hack... (Score:4)
If it wasn't for people with this hackish spirit, we may never have had PC's in the first place. Do you have any idea how useless early systems like the Altair were? All you had was switches and lights, but hackers went nuts over them. Over time, they improved them, and now we have our modern PC's.
I think its an interesting post. The hack wasn't very technical, but it is kind of cute.
--Lenny
Re:Ethernet (Score:2)
Super-Nifty!! (CD-ROM??) (Score:3)
Re:EULA on signup process. Never run the SW and... (Score:2)
it would make a MARVELOUS mp3 player ;-) (Score:3)
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Re:What is the legality behind this? (Score:5)
I don't think they did, and the EULA wouldn't be needed. All they need is a cell-phone like contract when you buy that you sign up for X months of their $20 service, or pay a sliding termination fee. Which as far as I know they don't (yet) require.
Those contracts are enforcable (since you sign them when you buy the product, not "click" them after). And in my opnion they are also fair since you know the terms before you get home. That's the thing I hate about the EULA. You can buy a product and when you get home discover that there are all sorts of restrictions on it. I want to know what I'm buying before I put my money down. I don't want to get home and then decide I have to drive back to the damm store and return it.
The downside (from netpliance's point of view) is people don't like to make that kind of commitment. Just look at how many more people sign up for the no/low commit moble phones now vs. about five years ago when there were no low commit (let alone no commit) phone plans!
From what I have read here, there is none. Even if there was one this would be nice because it means there would be a use for this $99 box even if netpliance went bankrupt (and face it, this kind of market is really rough, they have to compete with $0 PCs offering the same kind of deal, but with a 2 to 4 year ISP commitment).
Using the 16mb flash (Score:2)
--
Re:Because.. (Score:2)
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The Sound would not work (Score:2)
I am running Debian 2.2 and have seen no way to get the audio working.
EC
Re:Hmm... Slow down now.. (Score:4)
9.These users don't sign up for the internet service and the company doesn't make their money back
If the company doesn't require the purchase of Internet service, it's their own blunder. In capitalistic markets, stupid companies die, and smart ones succeed. Pitying dumb companies is counterproductive for yourself and for the market as a whole. Selling products at a loss without some assurance of a tied-in gain is stupid, and any company that does it is asking to fail.
Fortunately for Netpliance (and unfortunately for me), iOpeners are only $99 with premium service, a whopping $22/mo. If they allow users to cancel the service immediately, we're back to "It's their own damn fault" territory.
clear up some questions on my iopener hack (Score:5)
Wireless LCD screen Linux terminal for $200 (Score:5)
My plan is to hack one into a wireless LCD screen Linux system for less than $200. I believe this can be done, but I will need some help. Here is the known specs:
Will anyone who has seen the actual board, or who knows anything about it, please comment on my idea? If anyone can identify the connection of the modem daughterboard to the motherboard, it's even better. Some people suggested that it was PCMCIA, in this case, does anyone know which PCMCIA controller is used?
If this can be done, and we have access to the ISA bus or a PCMCIA connector on the i-opener, possibilities are endless. The i-opener has barely enough space inside to house a small ISA card with the metal bracket removed. With an ISA Ethernet board with a boot ROM, you can build a diskless X terminal; or you can try adding a wireless LAN card like me.
If I can pull this off, I will post it as an article on my Bluetooth Central [bluetoothcentral.com] to share.
--
BluetoothCentral.com [bluetoothcentral.com]
A site for everything Bluetooth. Coming soon.
It's got an usb port (Score:3)
NFS-mount /usr (Score:2)
Out of stock (Score:2)
all out of stock (Score:2)
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Re:Linux flatscreen for $99-- NOPE! (Score:5)
So we have now a whopping $200, which is what the unit cost originally. So while it's twice the price, it's still undeniably nifty.
Somewhere below (above?) someone mentioned a parallel port ethernet card which is also supported under linux. That, however, costs around $75 or $100, so now we're in the 275$ range.
Not nearly $350-400, though. And $275 (or even better, $200) is a fabulous deal for a tiny little terminal.
-Ed
Re:Linux flatscreen for $99-- NOPE! (Score:3)
If you want to give me $75-$100 for a small 2.5" IDE drive [egghead.com], let me know and I'll send you my address.
Or you could just use its native OS. (Score:4)
Flat Panel Linux (Score:4)
Those who dare open the box
Run Unix for cheap.
Rock on (Score:2)
Re:it would make a MARVELOUS mp3 player ;-) (Score:2)
B: You can build a parallel port IR reciever that will work with just about any remote controll and with the linux infrared remote controll drivers for about $10 worth of radioshack parts. see http://fsinfo.cs.uni-sb.de/~columbus/lirc/paralle
Happy hacking
No -- no contract, no extra cost (Score:3)
List of 2.5" Drive Vendors (Score:2)
To be nice I thought I'd be provide some links to 2.5" HDs and Accessories:
eCost [ecost.com] - A listing of some notebook (2.5 mostly) hard drives
PriceTrack [pricetrac.com] - A listing on 1.0 to 3.9 gig Hard Drives (some may not be 2.5)
More 2.5 Drive Comparisions [pctoday.com] - Just more of the same
IDE Connectors [pricetrac.com] - May or may not be what your looking for
Hope it helped,
Re:Awesome! (Score:2)
Now, what about IDE 21" monitor, or maybe an IDE-USB convertor to go with it
Re:Using the 16mb flash (Score:3)
No HD required.. (Score:2)
Re:Ubiquitousness (Score:2)
> Oh, man, THAT would be COOL as shit!!!!
Even better - tommorrow I'm planning on overclocking my watch.
--
Re:Hmm... Slow down now.. (Score:2)
Re:X terminal (Score:2)
This is not relevent today, but there are USB NICs out there, and hopefully they will be suppored soon.
-Peter
Their financial model.. (Score:4)
LetterRip
Re:Linux on a WINChip (Score:2)
W inchip Specs [google.com]
Another site, the Indiana University Knowledge Base [indiana.edu] had some decent, general information, but nothing on bus speeds and voltages.
The short answer is that this is a 60MHz bus box, probably 3.3v. If the chip was running at 200MHz, the bus would be 66MHz. The 3.3v will be fine for my Pentium 166-MMX, and the 60MHz bus should run okay with my chip (according to Intel's documentation [intel.com]. Whee! I'll have to check the documentation on my AMD K6 233MHz later.
Chris
Re:it would make a MARVELOUS mp3 player ;-) (Score:2)
I wasn't sure if the onboard sound was linux-supported. and besides, the lp3device (I own one) sounds VERY good. I would bet its at least 10db quieter, maybe 20, than the onboard sound.
...parallel port IR reciever
now, that one takes cpu since it has to poll in a tight loop (I built that before junking it and just buying the nice RealMagic system).
so while the above post contains info that will work ok, having very recently built a "dedicated" linux mp3 box (custom box, with onboard lcd display and IR remote in a stereo component sized plastic box) I know that the serial-based ir remote is sensitive and resistant enough to noise to be useful for 20 feet or so.
and the lp3 device is very quiet (ultra low noise). any sound card that is that low noise will easily run $100 and more.
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I want one of these! (Score:2)
Re:Ubiquitousness (Score:2)
I've been saying there's not enough hours in the day for years... I knew there had to be a way to do it. :-)
Seriously, now...
Speaking of overclocking, I wonder if there's a way to change the bus speed and/or multiplier (and voltage!) on this little puppy. From the picture it looks like it's got a standard ZIF Socket 7. It comes with a pretty wussy 180MHz winchip processor; I've got faster chips than that gathering dust in my parts drawer. It would be nice to be able to just drop in a K6-2/350, or even a P-233mmx for that matter.
"The axiom 'An honest man has nothing to fear from the police'
Re:What is the legality behind this? (Score:2)
Win 98 Second Edition runs (Score:2)
If you have any question email me, I will try to get linux on a spare HD to Install.
ok, so I paid the $39 ransom fee ;-) (Score:2)
so I ordered one via the phone. even with the $39 'shipping' charge, its still a bargain.
...as long as they don't get sneaky and change the internals so we can no longer use this as a linux box ;-(
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Re:ok, so I paid the $39 ransom fee ;-) (Score:2)
this was funny; when I ordered via the customer sales rep, he was confused that I didn't want to order the internet service along with it."yeah, I'm going to be using it as a gift and I'll let the recipient do the internet registration stuff" ;-)
the real funny part was that the sales guy said something like, "and here's your confirmation number. you'll need that number when you call in for tech support; and I know you'll be calling in for them after you receive your unit..". meaning, of course, he thought I was planning to use it as-is with some other isp. I guess he doesn't realize that this unit is totally useable as a standalone box with a real o/s on it.
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Re:Ubiquitousness (Score:2)
Actually, the netbook is cute enough on its own that I think I'll keep it even if I end up using the proprietary OS that comes with it.
No reason not to *try* to run Linux on everything. Or to get a Merlin wireless card to work on a Psion or, failing that, through an analog cellular phone...
This is the kind of thing that makes life fun!
- Robin
Unidentified modem interface (Score:2)
It is a standard endorsed by Intel and based on an AC-97 [intel.com] serial interface to the codec.
If this is the case it means that something else on the board is doing the actual DSP work and presenting the result to the CPU as a standard modem.
ZZ
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Re:No -- no contract, no extra cost (Score:2)
Getting into QNX on the I-Opener (Score:4)
Fun things to do with an I-Opener:
1. - Plug in a normal PS/2 keyboard (one with an ESC key). Or, you can take a laptop PS/2 "Y" cable and plug in both the mouse and keyboard (the mouse and keyboard are reversed, ie., plug the mouse into the keyboard connector and the keyboard into the mouse connector).
2. - Wait for the system to boot up and go into the tutorial. Let it get far enough into the tutorial that it waits for your input so that it doesn't keep getting in your way.
3. - Press ESC-4 a few times. This will bring up a shell with root access. You are now in the QNX operating System.
4. - The first thing you will want to do is allow root to login.
: cd
: chmod +www passwd
: vi passwd
(delete the first "x" in the root entry)
: chmod -www passwd
now you can login as root without a password. Note that this change is not permanent. To make the change permanent you have to make the change to the passwd~ file. Note, the system won't let you make the change to the passwd~ file, so you have to mv passwd~ to passwd_old and then copy passwd_old to passwd~ and then make the change.
5. - do a "ps". Probably the very last thing you will see is something like "/app/start-photon".
6. - kill the
You will now be at a text-only screen where you can login as root.
Notes:
- Don't delete
- Hitting the power button to power off only powers off the display (it might also put the processor into sleep mode, I dunno). Powering off doesn't "power off". You have to disconnect power to do a hard boot.
- These things have a telnet daemon and a www daemon running in the background by default.
I'm sure if you knew QNX well enough, you could just use the underlying system there to dialup to the internet, download a linux kernel and install it onto the flash directly. But seeing as I've pretty much hosed up my system by deleting a startup file, I'm going to have to hook up a hard drive anyway.
--
Mark Fassler
fassler at verinet dot com
Re:Ubiquitousness (Score:2)
I also wonder if anyone has been able to install an operating system on graphical calculators. Off to the NetBSD website I go!
What about QNX??? (Score:2)
-=-=-=-=-
perfect for mp3s (Score:2)
16 megs of flash to speedly boot from, an IDE CDROM for the mp3s.. At that price, I should get one for the living room and one for the car..
Re:Why 2.5"?? (Score:2)
Re:Replacing the Sandisk? (Score:2)
--
Re:Hack an Audio out? (Score:2)
--
Re:Truth please? (Score:2)
http://www.tridentmicro.com/html/press_release/
Re:Right, but... (Score:2)
I bought one and there was no mention anywhere about a minimum length of contract, so they're screwed. I didn't sign anything / click on anything that said I agreed to anything whatsoever so I guess it's tough titty for them!
Buy the 3 months service for $65, and you have to pay more for the machine itself.How do you figure? $99 machine, $65 for 3 months service. $65
Re:Out of stock -- reason (Score:2)
Re:I just informed Netpliance of the hack. (Score:2)
> [ lots of very valid stuff about how this will likely not put Netpliance out of business,
> but how their business model is, at least presently, flawed, and how it's too late for them to do
> much about it now anyways ]
He also writes one thing with which I disagree:
> I would like to hereby congratulate the Netpliance engineer who invented [ the flipped-pins
>on the IDE port for "security" ] . It would be too bad if he went back to
> flipping burgers just weeks before the IPO.
Hell, I'd like to thank said engineer. For making it possible for all of us to enjoy a really cool toy for $99.
I'd also like to point out to his bosses that Netpliance's sales may well skyrocket before the IPO. Even if Netpliance doesn't see the kind of revenue it originally projected, by using a relatively open architecture with no real effort made at preventing re-use of the hardware, it's made a name for itself among geeks.
The poster to whom I'm replying also made a suggestion: that Netpliance consider selling general-purpose versions of these machines in the $200-250 range.
I'd like to echo that suggestion. It's a damn sexy box. Hell, it exudes sex. I, along with many other Slashdot readers, am probably gonna buy one of these things at $99+$30 shipping in order to hack it to run Linux and skip the built-in ISP part of the equation. That's because I'm not afraid of voiding a warranty with a soldering iron.
But given that the hack will likely take a few hours, and given that an even larger contingent on Slashdot may question their ability to re-pin a ribbon cable, I'd think there'd be strong and widespread interest in buying the unit unencumbered for $200-250. Truth be known, even though I enjoy mucking about with a soldering iron, I'd probably have preferred to pay a little extra and buy the unit that way myself.
If you're a Netpliance exec and you're reading this, and if there's a reasonable price point at which you can sell the unit and still make money - please consider it as an option. What looks like today's disaster may simply be tomorrow's opportunity in disguise. There's a reason your call volume and web site traffic just soared tonight.
So don't fire him. Give the guy who thought up the pin-swapped IDE connector a helluva bonus. If you'd built the box on a wholly-proprietary architecture, it would have cost far more to build, and would have had no geek appeal whatsoever.
But as it stands - it runs UNIX (whether QNX or Linux) and it's a flatscreen and it's expandable - it's bloody sexy, and I'm gonna buy one. I'll buy it for $99+30 and hack it -- but only because I didn't have the option for buying it at $200-250 without the ISP tie-in.
Master/slave IDE (Score:2)
Re:What about in the UK? (Score:2)
I suspect a more enterprising slashdotter could buy up a bundle, make the necessary adaptions and stick them on eBay. Anyone feeling tempted, or do I have to fly across the Atlantic to get a £60 computer?
Greg
A first for the /. effect! (Score:2)
So now we have proof that the
Imagine the faces back at headquarters when they see the weekend sales figures. They'll be so excited, waiting for all the new ISP subscriptions that they'll expect to be getting - I feel kind of sorry for them.
- -Josh Turiel
Re:Why not External? (Score:2)
I emailed the company that someone suggested earlier in this board. Here is the email. I hope this helps though honestly I can't decide if that is
the cable I want or not. Anyone know anything about the specific cable she is referring to?
With regards to your message at 02:28 AM
3/12/00 -0600, John. Where you stated:
>I need a 44pin IDE cable (laptop ide
>connection size) for a 2.5" hard drive.
>First, do you have these, and what is the
>price? Second, if possible I need
>one that has pins 1 and 2 swapped, 3 and 4
>swapped, 5 and 6 swapped, etc.
>Are these type cables available? Thank you >very much for your time.
>John
We stock the internal IDE cable for the Multia/UDB Computer as part number
FC530.
Cost per FC530 is $10 US / $15 CAD.
Cost of shipping / handling by mail is $5 US for USA destinations and $5
CAD for Canadian.
We accept payment by cashiers cheque, money order, VISA or Mastercard.
If you prefer not to send credit information by email we suggest you may
consider faxing us your particulars.
We process the orders within 1 business day and normally ship in North
America by airmail. This takes from 4 to 10 days depending on location. If
needed we can also send by courier, but this is much more expensive.
To process your order we would need:
Name
Address, including ZIP or postal code
If paying by credit card we also need:
Type of card (VISA or Mastercard)
Name of credit card holder as shown on the face of the card
Card number
Expiry date of card
If processing your order on credit card and if you are in the US the exact
charges may be slightly different as we post the charges in Canadian
dollars and your bank/credit card company performs the actual currency
exchange. As rates fluctuate it may be out by a per cent or 2.
We thank you for your enquiry!
Best regards,
Maurice W. Hilarius Telephone: 01-780-456-9771
Hard Data Ltd. FAX: 01-780-456-9772
11060 - 166 Avenue mailto:maurice@harddata.com
Edmonton, AB, Canada http://www.harddata.com/
T5X 1Y3
03-12-2000 18:51:57
RE:Souce For Mini IDE cables? (modified 0 times)
VivianC
I looked up the specs for the Multia and it is a 44 pin IDE connector for a hard-drive. The manual doesn't provide any pinouts for it, so I'll guess
that it would still need the pins reversed.
Any idea on the length? It looks about 3 inches in the picture. Not a lot of room to work with....
This is the best page I've found on it so far:
http://www.brouhaha.com/~eric/computers/udb.html
Viv
ListServ for iopener hack now up (Score:2)
Check it out... full-featured listserv.
I am the list mom.
"What have I done?"
modem interface is serial (Score:2)
interface to be a standard serial port plus
four extra lines, two for incoming phone line
and two for outgoing phone line.
so, you've got a COM1 port to play with. no bus.
sorry
it has a USB port though. lots of stuff can
fit in a usb port. like a $4o USB to ethernet
adaptor. also available in wireless.
Other similar options... (Score:2)
My first conversion of this type (other than laptops, which I was running Linux on way before it was cool, and when video drivers were a really ugly problem) was an Epson IM-403 cash register computer. (Available from Timeline, the surplus guys, for $99.) It's got a lot less stones than the iOpener, and no screen, but it does have a nifty if tiny little UPS that lets it ride out most power glitches. I've posted about this project here on
- 486SX33 CPU, pretty nice little BIOS
- nice little Chips and Tech video controller will do 800x600 max to std VGA connector
- four serial ports (great for control projects!)
- a parallel port
- socket/tray for a 2.5" IDE notebook hard disk (will accept even the tall 17 or 19mm drives, so you can put IBM's latest monster in it)
- a single ISA half-card slot for the obligatory network card.
- Socket for up to 32MB of RAM (plenty for a decent Linux system - I've run several versions of Caldera on the box, but recommend sticking to slim WMs for obvious reasons.)
- Flat ribbon connector for Epson floppy (know where to order one, if you need it.)
- Tiny little NiCad UPS built in. This is one of the coolest features, and the reason one of these is my primary file server at home. It will only keep the box alive for a few minutes, but that's always been enough so far.
These run Linux fine, or if you just need vNC, you can run the DOS vNC client with the packet drivers or a stripped Linux with the SVGALIB vNC, either of which should fit on a floppy. [As an aside, I have one extra IM-403 with a 3GB HDD that I'll sell for $120+S&H in the US, if anyone's interested.]
(BTW, anybody know where I can get a multiport network card (2 or more Ethers, 1 half-size ISA slot) that works under Linux? If so, I've got my new firewall...)
Also, I'm just starting to hack on a little ARM-based *touchscreen* webphone. These were built at enormous cost by AT&T and Philips before they decided they cost more than the market would bear. (They would have had to sell them for about $600.) They run AT&T's Inferno operating system, and are pretty darn nice speakerphones in addition to finally having the holy grail I've been searching for: a *touchscreen*. I think I can lay my hands on a couple hundred more of these at ~$200 each +S&H, if there's interest. They aren't speedy, but they have a built-in web browser and use one of those little WebTV-style wireless keyboards. Although I don't know of anyone that's replaced the OS (althogh ARM Linux is out there...), but there are hacking instructions available that show how to get root in Inferno. They don't have E-net connections, but do have two PCMCIA slots, so decent networking should be possible.
I've done a lot of hacking with laptop hard disks, and it's extraordianrily difficult to get the 44-pin cables for these things, especially if you want a cable to support two of the little drives. (Which I'd like to do for several machines I've got, including my FIC Sahara Databook, which uses a notebook CDROM on the secondary IDE channel that could give me a place to hang a backup drive. I can't even find anyplace to get a cable like that *made* anywhere here in Austin! You can get the connectors from Jameco, but I haven't found out where to get the dinkier ribon cable these need. (The 44-pin IDE 2.5" drive header uses 2mm pin spacing rather than the standard
Also, a local computer shop once had sockets and little plastic cases to allow a 2.5" HDD to be plugged into a 3.5" drive bay socket. They don't have them anymore. Anybody stumble across these in your searches?
Re:I want one of these! (Score:2)
Re:RAM limit? Yes, see post #260 (Score:2)
I don't know for sure if this will work with the Iopener, but it does for one of my old PC's which also has a 64M BIOS limit.
Re:I want one of these! (Score:2)
As I said before, unfortunately, I don't have a local Circuit City (I live in a small town of about 300k people out in the boondocks). The nearest ones to me are 250-300 miles away, so you can bet I would call first and have them hold one for me before I'd make that kind of a drive! It would majorly suck to drive 5 or 6 hours for nothing, especially with the horribly ridiculous gas prices recently.