Ultra portable Laptop

[xtremedge]

Has anybody seen those ultra portable laptops, like to OQO, Flybook, Tigit, etc.
There is even one called the EEE pc that is only $200 runs XP and a tabbed version of linux with 16gb of storage. I want one but the price tag is to much for most of these except the EEE pc which is not out yet, and i was wondering if it would be better if i built one myself? I am new with building computers so i have no idea what it takes to build a computer from the ground up much less a micro laptop. I believe i can handle the case because i have done case mods before, and at http://www.benheck.com we specialize in making things portable. I believe that if i built it myself it would be a great learning experience. How much would it cost for the parts to build a small pc not including the price of the case materials? Does anyone know of a simple guide to making a computer?

Thanks

I am thinking of a small rugged clamshell design by the way.

[Luke122]

I loved that Xbox360 portable system.. that was great. :D

To build something that small you would want to use some pretty specific components; a good resource for small systems is www.mini-itx.com (http://www.mini-itx.com). You may want to look into the PicoITX components, CF-IDE adaptors, Microdrives, and low profile ram. Those boards have all the necessary connections either onboard or available through a "daughter board".

I think it's a great idea that you have, and look forward to a worklog. :)

Welcome aboard!

[xtremedge]

thanks for the warm welcome!
i have heard of the mini-itx computers, what OS can they run, and do they come with instructions because i am clueless on how to build one?

once i get a job i am going to start to build it, as of now i am just pricing materials and parts.

did you see benheck's second xbox 360 laptop? He is also making one more based on the xbox 360 elite.

[Bucko]

Generally with ultra light Laptops, you pretty much can't match them in size and performance compared to what you could build yourself that small.

You'd be stuck buying laptop parts, and would get to a point you have made a laptop in a custom case, or you use more powerful and upgradeable parts that end up being bigger and then defeats your purpose of building a very small laptop.

[crenn]

Mini-ITX computers are a 17x17cm motherboard. They can use most OSes, but I wouldn't recommend Vista. They have the processor on board unless you buy a intel based Mini-ITX board.

[Luke122]

...and the Pico ITX boards are using embedded CPU's, usually 800mhz - 1ghz.

Bucko is right, you are going to have to sacrifice size for performance.

They can run pretty much any OS, but as Crenn mentioned, Vista isnt a good idea, as it's pretty resource UNfriendly. Most flavors of linux work extremely well on mini/pico/nano-itx systems.

I did a DSL (Damn Small Linux) today on a P3 550 laptop with 64mb ram and a 6gb hdd, and it's FAST. 50mb OS including a bunch of apps, and it works great for basic web and office funtionality.

[Spawn-Inc]

well i was looking online and you could build this,

http://unix.rulez.org/~calver/pictures/oldpics/laptop1.jpg

[solja]

6.7" by 6.7" I say thats small enough.. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813153052

this should be fun to work on, and it also gives me an idea :D

[Helix666]

well i was looking online and you could build this,

http://unix.rulez.org/~calver/pictures/oldpics/laptop1.jpg

OMG! Teh L337! :eek:

:D

[D1337]

There was one for 100$, 10 gigs of HD, 512 ram, clock was either 6** or 3** dont remember lol.

If anyone wants a link ill go find it again.