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Imagine a computer about the size of a CD case, only about four times as thick.
1. The sceen folds up, (the first "CD case")
2. then "half" keyboards fold out on either side (the 2nd & 3rd "CD cases")
3. and what you have in between the keyboards are a Track Pad Mouse, On/Off button, and
other assorted buttons. (the last 1 & a half "CD cases")
4. There is a slot loading CD ROM/ CD RW/ DVD/ whatever you want to pay for.
Feel free to make corrections as necessary, I don't know a lot about computers, I just made this up as a small computer for spies or whatever.
Here ya go...
http://www.thinkgee...ing/handhelds/5a98/
[DrCurry, Oct 04 2004]
Very Small Computer
http://www.oqo.com
Dinky little thing. [galukalock, Oct 04 2004]
The real Mini
http://www.mini.co.uk/
Hold on to your seat. [roby, Oct 04 2004]
Size comparison of oqo
http://www.stevebar...raphics/oqo_cat.jpg
Hint: lower left [thumbwax, Oct 04 2004]
[link]
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No screen or keyboard, but the Cappucino has the right form factor. |
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How do you make a folding screen that does not appear to have large seams when unfolded? |
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The screen folds *UP* like a notebook computer. (There are no 'seams') |
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From Steve DeGroof's picture, I'm sold. Might already be baked, but merit has to be given. + |
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Welcome, [smileydudette]. |
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4 CD cases thick and seems to roughly look like:
1 CD - screen
2 CD - keyboard left
3 CD - keyboard right
4 CD - CD ROM drive
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Peripherals accounted for...did I just miss the CPU/circuitry someplace? (And batteries if "portable" means what I think it means) |
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[Steve DeGroof] Thanks for the picture, and all the links, yeah that's what it looks like.(You did a good job from my discription)
Theoretically, a CD player should fit, w/ a small 1 hr. battery hard drive etc. |
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[bliss] You wouldn't have to have small fingers to type on this. |
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[half] Yes, there is all the circutry in here, I just didn't want to have to go thru and describe every little wire *no offense*. (besides, I would have NO idea how to explain it all) |
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No offense taken, nor intended. No need to explain all the circuitry, I'm covered on that part. I just wondered where in the suggested configuration it would be located. I didn't see it accounted for in the description and was trying figure out where it might fit. |
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I tend to look at these ideas from a practical perspective, as if I were tasked with building it, more than a high level conceptual perspective. It's possible that I'm the only one that can't see from your description where the main board would reside. |
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[half]I meant for all the circutry to be under the mouse part of it, and above the CD ROM drive (unless you already figured that out, and i'm just rambling on about things you already know...) |
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I don't know about this idea, but as for making computers small...see link. |
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I was quite excited by the name of this idea because I've been having a lot of trouble thinking about things when I'm driving my Mini.
So I was hoping this was an idea for a computer I could use in my Mini to help sort things out (you know, like what do those funny colored taillights mean, which side of the road am I supposed to be on today, that sort of problem).
Would your computer work in a Mini? It looks like I'd have a lot of trouble unfolding the wings and laying it all out. Between me and the steering wheel there's not a lot of room. [see link at left] |
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[fogfreak] Um, they make computers *smaller* than this. (as pointed out by [galukalock]'s link showing a computer about the size of a deck of cards) |
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[roby] You have a Mini? COOL! *ahem* must control my elf! You could probably use this in your Mini, (Can I see it up close & personal?) providing you didn't want to use it for more than an hour. But, you might have to sit sideways in you chair and put the computer on the seat next to you. :) |
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The smallest standalone CD player is about the width, height and thickness of 2 CD cases, so I don't know how feasible this is. |
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That's why I was asking where the circutry would be. Even if the drive was only 1 jewel case thick, there's still not room for the electronic bits. Doesn't seem likely that this would work. However, it started me thinking about how to make a smaller, more of a "skeleton" drive, and after a few sharp left turns I wound up at another halfbaked idea that I'll try to remember to post later. |
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Would it be possible to create a CD drive that's slightly more than half the standard size? The CD would not be completely contained, but would only be inserted just past the center hole, with the rest protruding out. I suppose you'd have to be careful not to cut yourself on the exposed spinning portion. |
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This may not solve anything, just a thought. I recall seeing record players like this in the previous century. |
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Yep, precisely the path I headed down, [waugs]. But I was thinking maybe even a little over a quarter of the size of a standard drive. That would leave a lot more of the spinning disk exposed, but since we're trying to minimize size, some tradeoffs are necessary. |
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I was just going to say that I have a record deck like that [waugs] purchased 3 months ago. |
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half, yes I see what you mean. You'd really only need a radial design, wouldn't you? |
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It seems I should rethink this computer...
Maybe design it to be a bit thicker. Perhaps making the middle about 3 1/2 CD cases thick?
I don't know about leaving part of the CD uncovered, I see a small child reaching for it... |
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[Steve] Yes, a membrane keyboard would probably be the way to go. As you said, stick some stuff that would fit in underneath there. |
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If, as [waugs] said, only half of the disk was exposed, maybe the keyboard when folded flat would shield the spinning disk. Lift that half of the keyboard to expose the disk for installation/removal, spin the disk only when the keyboard is folded back down. |
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I'm not picturing the CD exposed thing. I thought the idea of the 1/4 size CD drive to be a good one, and you could use the other 3/4 of the space for circuitry. |
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Question. If the cd's the limiting factor, why not get rid of it? Use the space for the processor, battery, and a whole lot of memory. Make this thing connectable to a normal computer to download the contents of a CD. Then your battery would last longer (not having to drive a CD), and you could even use it in a bumpy environment (such as a mini). |
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See: Very Small Computer *link* which galukalock posted. There's a second link which I posted which is a size comparison of oqo and commonly seen objects. Sadly, the oqo has yet to appear in the marketplace, which may mean it's a dead parrot, um, pigeon, er, vaporware. |
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I had heard of the computer galuk posted a link to, and thought: "Oh, well maybe I can improve on that! Make it look like a CD case from an aerial perspective when closed, so that you could put CD's in it therefore ridding the need of having to lug all sorts of attachments with you wherever you go." |
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If people can make smaller computers than this, (PDA's) I don't see *why* this wouldn't work. |
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[thumbwax] Thank you for the amusing photo, I was aware how small it was, but it will serve it's perpose for those who didn't know it's size. :) |
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As for small CD drives, the one I have in my laptop computer isn't that big. |
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//If the cd's the limiting factor, why not get rid of it?// I was laboring under the impression that the idea was shooting for a full featured computer without requiring the use of a docking station or other external hardware. |
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Now George Jetson's car, that was realistic. This on the other hand... |
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[half] *finally!* someone who gets the picture!! |
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How unfortunate for you that it turns out to be me who understands you. |
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So then you'll vote 4 it? Please?
: ) : ) : ) You'd make me *very* happy. (smiles expectantly) |
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//So then you'll vote 4 it? Please? : ) : ) : ) You'd make me *very* happy. (smiles expectantly)// |
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Actually, it's baked by IBM, sony and a bunch of others. They use mid-high end processors and run latest Windows. |
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But... as you so very much want a croissant... (+) Here you go. |
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Ok, ok. If it means that much to you. In spite of my misgivings, since no one has been able to provide a link that proves bakedness of the idea as proposed, have a "+". |
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I like the CD form factor; but why not go for a Flash memory slot and have the CD(-RW) drive as a bolt on extra ? |
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I'm quite sure this is Bakeable. |
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i saw a cassette player once that
was just a little bar that snapped
onto the working end of the tape,
then has a little arm that reached
up to drive the spindles. |
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this seems bakeable. good work,
[*dudette] |
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what about slim cases? if cd rom drive is size of slim case, u could double ur space for something else |
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