[ChazB]

I've spent the last week or so doing some research and sourcing some vendors and I've decided to do a completely custom Mini 10v Slate/Tablet conversion with all of the bells and whistles. This is likely going to be a fairly rough design and not be too pretty inside or out, but we'll see how it goes. Here are the major outline of the project:

Base System

• Inspiron Mini 10v

  2GB 800MHz DDR2
  1.6GHz Intel Atom N270
  1.3MP Webcam
  500GB HDD
  802.11a/b/g/n
  Bluetooth
  6 Cell 56Wh battery

Build Plan

• Custom Designed and Manufactured Chassis

  My friend does design for CNC machining and is designing and fabricating a custom case for me. It will be either plastic or aluminium and will be slightly larger than the Mini 10v chassis to accomodate the extra components. If this works out well, we will manufacture these for others that want to do the same.

• Internal 6 Cell Battery

  I'll be disassembling the battery and securing it in the case to reduce external bulk.

• Touch Screen Overlay

  Using this post by weathejx as a guide I'll be installing a Hoda 10.1" Touch Screen Kit designed for another model netbook. I plan to remove the existing web cam's plug that goes to the motherboard and wire it on to the touchscreen's USB hub for ease of connection. Then I'm going to remove one of the connectors from the hub and hardwire the cam to the hub.

• Integrated USB Hub

  Using this post by acabtp as a guide I'm going to strip a mini 4 port USB hub down to just the controller board and hardwire it to the connectorless WWAN port in my model and steal 5V power from the touchpad which will be removed completely.

• Integrated GPS

  Using this post, also by acabtp, as a guide I'm going to strip a USB attached GPS down to the board and hardwire it to the above installed USB hub.

• Integrated Fingerprint Scanner

  Using this post by rich2871 and this post by grassle as guides I'm going to strip a USB attached fingerprint scanner down to the board and hardwire it to the installed USB hub.

• Integrated Accelerometer

  Using this post by rock99rock as a guide I'm going to strip down the motion controller to the board (I assume that is what he did) and hardwire it to the installed USB hub.

• Integrated 16GB High Speed Flash Drive

  I have a Patriot Xporter 16GB flash drive at home with a broken USB connector that I'm going to strip down to the board and hardwire to the installed USB hub. I may use this as my OS installation point if I can.

Not worth mentioning really, but I plan to remove the SDHC card reader from the board as well since a card wouldn't sit flush even with the custom case. Overall I know this seems very ambitious, but most of the hard work has already been done by the excellent forum members whose posts I referenced. I'm doing this as a "to see if I can" project so I fully expect it to take time and money, but I'm hoping to have it done by fall at the latest. This should be attainable as I'll be working with a CNC designer to have the case made and an electronics technician to help with the delicate soldering. If anyone has any comments or ideas for additional hardware, let me know; I'm open to constructive commentary and ideas.

[eemerkacken]

sounds really really cool, i´m looking forward to it!


EDIT: " My friend does design for CNC machining and is designing and fabricating a custom case for me. It will be either plastic or aluminium and will be slightly larger than the Mini 10v chassis to accomodate the extra components. If this works out well, we will manufacture these for others that want to do the same."

That´s nice, i hope you´ll keep the ethernet/vga-port/card-reader. Good luck

[ChazB]

Project Update:

All parts have been ordered. I'm using the same items that were used in each of the posts linked to in my first post. I also met with my designer for the first time today to talk about the project and I should have a rough draft of what the case will look like in a few weeks. Right now we're either going to have the case 3D printed and then have a custom vinyl wrap made for it to make it look nice, or we're going to have an aluminium shell made with a thin, flexible plastic insert that will hold all of the components.

The final product will be about the same thickness all over as the stock 10v is at the back, but 1.5-2" deeper (almost square). This will provide ample room for the internal components that will be added. If our prototype shows that we have lots of room, we'll shrink it as much as possible.

[eemerkacken]

i would love to know how's your project is going so far?

[ChazB]

I'm still waiting on the touchscreen which hasn't shipped from MDD yet. I have everything else in hand. Oddly I got an email today that I need to call them about the order. The hours to call during ended before the email was sent. Design of the case has started, but is on hold until we can get all of the parts and see how we're going to fit them in.

[miguelastico]

A good add on to this project would be a PixelQi screen
I sent an email to them and they say they will sell a DIY kit for 10.1" netbooks the second quarter of 2010

[holmes4]

Well, they did say that about six months ago. I'll believe it when I see it.

[ChazB]

Did they give you more info on it other than that they would be available later? Their site says some are shipping now, but I'm more interested in the specs. Did they give you any?

[xWillis91]

I'm so interested in this project. Any updates since last month? Progress pictures?