Building a Handheld PC

[CasualDays]

Something like this..

How hard would it be to say upgrade the processor/memory/hard drive? I' guess this would bring a whole new definition to word proprietary eh?

Doesn't have to be this model of course, but I would love to take one of these small laptops and build a fun tiny laptop. This is more of a notebook I would use for school, but I would like it to have better capabilities that came with so many years ago

[Mr.Ferrari]

What your basically saying is that you want a really compact laptop?

http://www.learningcenter.sony.us/as...ies/index.html
http://www.learningcenter.sony.us/as...oks/tx_series/

[mairving]

You wouldn't be able to upgrade much if anything on it.

There isn't really any way to build one unless you had a manufacturing plant. Your best bet would be to get one of the new Vista ultra portables when they come out.

[CasualDays]

Would it not be a possible to use the basic ideas that come from a barebones and use them in the laptop? i.e. could I not build the lapptop around the shell? I'm guessin that is more difficult than it appears on the surface eh?

[mairving]

Originally Posted by CasualDays Would it not be a possible to use the basic ideas that come from a barebones and use them in the laptop? i.e. could I not build the lapptop around the shell? I'm guessin that is more difficult than it appears on the surface eh?

There are barebone kits for laptops. You still have quite a few limitations though. In a desktop PC you have big roomy cases and somewhat standardized motherboards that can be purchased off of the shelf. In a laptop you don't have a big roomy case. The motherboard also has very little variance. So in a nutshell a laptop pretty much has to have all of the parts made to some pretty tight specs.

[Staren]

Could this be done, probably. Could it be done by someone who has to ask, no. IF you've done heavy moding before I could see some people pulling off what you want, but for a first project it's not going to happen. I sure couldn't do it.

[CasualDays]

Originally Posted by Staren Could this be done, probably. Could it be done by someone who has to ask, no. IF you've done heavy moding before I could see some people pulling off what you want, but for a first project it's not going to happen. I sure couldn't do it.

Honestly, that is the most common response on forums. If you ask a question, there is no way you could possibly do it Still doesn't mean I won't try.

I was just looking more for techniques and possible methods for getting around some of the common problems with a building custom laptops. I understand that most if not all parts are catered to a specific size of the laptop they are put in, but is it possible to say swap processors on a laptop? I know I make that sound much easier that it is, but by using the same type of processors could I swap an earlier version for a more frisky one..

[CasualDays]

Possibly use maybe the new flash cards for enough memory to install something like windows xp? I'm guessing there would have to be a memory/processor upgrade but I think it could be possible with a bit of riggin'. I guess I'll have to oversimplify till I get my hands on one and tear into it. It doesn't seem to hard to integrate a second flash card slot onto it though since it is already using one.

[mairving]

Originally Posted by CasualDays Honestly, that is the most common response on forums. If you ask a question, there is no way you could possibly do it Still doesn't mean I won't try. I was just looking more for techniques and possible methods for getting around some of the common problems with a building custom laptops. I understand that most if not all parts are catered to a specific size of the laptop they are put in, but is it possible to say swap processors on a laptop? I know I make that sound much easier that it is, but by using the same type of processors could I swap an earlier version for a more frisky one..

It really isn't an all too common response. It is just that what you are asking to do is very difficult. Building a computer in a nice roomy case where PSU's, motherboards and processors can be changed out is one thing. Doing the same thing in a laptop size is much more difficult. Going down in scale to build a handheld PC is next to impossible.

Some laptops you could swap out processors but most of the time even if you could find the mobile processor that would work with your motherboard, it most likely wouldn't be worth the upgrade since you would be limited in choices and hence not get much performance gain.

We really aren't trying to be negative or dissuade you from doing this. Mainly just being realistic. It is just that you can't really do this with off the shelf components.

[LeftyAce]

If you're really interested, take a look at this; http://www.plasticbamboo.com/2007/05/09/gameboy-xp-pc/

If you can find out what motherboard they used (it's a VIA of some kind) you could see what processors it supports, and that would answer your main question; would it be upgradable.

[CasualDays]

Originally Posted by mairving It really isn't an all too common response. It is just that what you are asking to do is very difficult. Building a computer in a nice roomy case where PSU's, motherboards and processors can be changed out is one thing. Doing the same thing in a laptop size is much more difficult. Going down in scale to build a handheld PC is next to impossible. Some laptops you could swap out processors but most of the time even if you could find the mobile processor that would work with your motherboard, it most likely wouldn't be worth the upgrade since you would be limited in choices and hence not get much performance gain. We really aren't trying to be negative or dissuade you from doing this. Mainly just being realistic. It is just that you can't really do this with off the shelf components.

I appreciate your honesty and candor.

The point here is to upgrade this mininature rig so I am not operating one 166 mHz or at best 300 mHz. I' just want a mild 800 - 1.0 gHz speed, and about 512 meg ram. Nothing major but enough to run most apps smoothly and possibly run some of the older games. It' would be badass if I could run the new intel chips but that's doubtful.

Originally Posted by LeftyAce If you're really interested, take a look at this; http://www.plasticbamboo.com/2007/05/09/gameboy-xp-pc/ If you can find out what motherboard they used (it's a VIA of some kind) you could see what processors it supports, and that would answer your main question; would it be upgradable.

Thanks for the great post! This is kind of the direction I was heading, I hadn't even seen this but I am glad to see someone else used flash media to store XP. I'm sure better options will presents themselves, but to be honest, the shell of the handheld pc is definitely a bit bigger than the gameboy so maybe I'll have a bit more room than him. I'm not really too sure if I am going to have to start from scratch or if I could probably use some of the pieces from the original build

The plan right now is to buy two of them, one to use through this semester, and the second to build for net semester

I' guess I had one more question- I had the idea to maybe create a box similar to the gameboy idea and have the handheld pc "leach" off the better components in the gameboy type rig. Is it possible to run two processors simultaneously like that? Or would I basically be just relocating the entire system to a different box? Sorry if that question is vague

[Alaron]

Check out: http://mini-itx.com/ for some ideas on small PCs. You can even order the motherboard/cpu from them. Though I will warn you that VIA processors are not the most powerful.

[CasualDays]

PX10000g

This badboy is what he used, and probably what I will have to use.

[whubbard]

Originally Posted by CasualDays PX10000g This badboy is what he used, and probably what I will have to use.

Yes that would work...

If you can find a link to the mobo used in the NEC...you might be able to swap around a few things if you know what your doing. Ram should be easy to swap. The CPU and GPU depend...might not be possible...might need just a big of soldering...might just come right out.

[CasualDays]

Originally Posted by whubbard Yes that would work... If you can find a link to the mobo used in the NEC...you might be able to swap around a few things if you know what your doing. Ram should be easy to swap. The CPU and GPU depend...might not be possible...might need just a big of soldering...might just come right out.

See that's kinda what I was hoping for. Occassionally I see they have lots of these things for sale where only 1 or 2 of them works. I need to buy one of those, and break open a few and see what I can do in there. Sounds like a good time

[The_YongGrand]

Originally Posted by CasualDays See that's kinda what I was hoping for. Occassionally I see they have lots of these things for sale where only 1 or 2 of them works. I need to buy one of those, and break open a few and see what I can do in there. Sounds like a good time

The easiet economical handheld PC is still a second-hand notebook. But please take note - the batteries for it might be difficult to be obtained.

[whubbard]

Originally Posted by The_YongGrand - the batteries for it might be difficult to be obtained.

Just give Sony a call...a bet they have a lot of batteries lying around that you could somehow get to work......

[Mr.Ferrari]

Originally Posted by CasualDays PX10000g This badboy is what he used, and probably what I will have to use.

Just remember though, it isn't going to be cheap, ~$300+, not including memory, storage, powersupply and a modified case, opticals etc. Although I can see where you can get really creative with this.

Just don't expect any kind of major gameage or to run anything besides the internet without sacrificing some major performance. The C7's aren't exactly speed demons.

If you decide against the batteries, you can buy a Pico-PSU to power it.

[LeftyAce]

Just give Sony a call...a bet they have a lot of batteries lying around that you could somehow get to work......

Yeah, but is it still a 'portable pc' if you have to carry a fire extinguisher around with you?


But seriously, it looks like you can make this work, just accept that this is more of a project than it is a way to get yourself a small computer. 'Results may vary' if you will.

[whubbard]

http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/02/p...or-mini-fires/
yep

[CasualDays]

Originally Posted by Mr.Ferrari Just remember though, it isn't going to be cheap, ~$300+, not including memory, storage, powersupply and a modified case, opticals etc. Although I can see where you can get really creative with this. Just don't expect any kind of major gameage or to run anything besides the internet without sacrificing some major performance. The C7's aren't exactly speed demons. If you decide against the batteries, you can buy a Pico-PSU to power it.

This is true, it won't be amazingly cheap. It' will still be effective, and I am almost completely certain I can keep it under a $1000. I want something that will run efficiently, and be able to do all of the remedial tasks I could want to do away from my macbook/pc desktop. I have a gaming pc and I've done/do what little graphics work I do on my macbook. I just want a mini laptop with xp on it, so there aren't the limitations of windows ce. I' might be able to have a game or two, although it might get to hot with a game..

Originally Posted by LeftyAce Yeah, but is it still a 'portable pc' if you have to carry a fire extinguisher around with you? But seriously, it looks like you can make this work, just accept that this is more of a project than it is a way to get yourself a small computer. 'Results may vary' if you will.

Of course it will be a project. It's like saying I could buy an awd porsche instead of building my awd rabbit. It's a little foolish, but in the end it will be just as effective for a lot less. Besides learning is half the experience.