My Dell Mini Forum

Deldotb · **Working Touch Screen on Mini 9 -** 11-23-2008, 06:59 AM

UPDATE on 11.30.08
The installation guide is "friendly" now
Also, I put my Mini up for auction on eBay. Search for "Dell Mini Touchscreen", item 220321425333
or try this monster URL: http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-Mini-9-with...3A1|240%3A1318
UPDATE ENDS

UPDATE on 11.26.08:
I have a preliminary, fugly install guide on my slow-ass website. The pictures are HUGE, but I'll trim those down too.
I will update it with the new pictures of the pin 36/38 internal USB soon.
http://dellmini.restmass.net
Suggestions/questions welcome at mini9_at_restmass_dot_net (scrambled for spam)

UPDATE ENDS

OK, I have a touch screen working on the Dell Mini 9, but I could not find out which extra points on the motherboard to connect it to the USB hub. Unfortunately, I had to sacrifice one of the left external USB ports to the cause... I know this is not an elegant hack but when I post the installation directions online, I hope that some intrepid person will take my hack to the next level.
[youtube:3lv2hdud]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7N38qsZotA[/youtube:3lv2hdud]

I also have to restart udev from a shell after I start Ubuntu so it will pick up the touch screen... not really sure why, but I'm sure that the driver can be installed automatically in some init.d startup script: I will research that as well and post. If any of you Linux gurus have a suggestion, let me know and I'll include them in the writeup.

Other than these two problems, the touch screen that I bought on eBay from Hong Kong seller toptouchscreen works pretty good (I don't think he understands English very well, but I told him I'd give him props anyway). I downloaded the Linux drivers and setup program for it and it runs flawlessly, and the setup program has a nice little program that calibrates the touch screen and saves that info for future sessions. The USB device that hooks up to the touch screen is, sadly, USB 1.1, so I have noticed a slight delay if one draws simple lines or squiggles; but for normal UI work it's pretty good. Ton's of options for it that control the click speed, calibration points, and even what part of the screen you want touch sensitive.

I'll try to post it today or tomorrow with pictures. I think I may need to modify the settings... not getting a good response for some clicks. I'll demo the TouchKit software later, too.

CMcCane · **Re: Working Touch Screen on Mini 9 -** 11-23-2008, 02:26 PM

Great work! Congrats on the first touch screen Mini 9!

yorgle · **Re: Working Touch Screen on Mini 9 -** 11-23-2008, 03:36 PM

Great work! Does the touchscreen affect the image quality of the screen at all?

UnaClocker · **Re: Working Touch Screen on Mini 9 -** 11-23-2008, 06:29 PM

Hey, awesome. I went and posted your video on YouTube, it'll get a wider audience and be more convenient that way. Hope you don't mind. Anyways, good job, and check out the threads here, we've found a good internal USB port on the vacant PCI-e slot.

-- Moved video to top post
-- Your friendly admin.

medicThree · **Re: Working Touch Screen on Mini 9 -** 11-23-2008, 07:07 PM

That is sooooo damn cool. I love it!

Deldotb · **Re: Working Touch Screen on Mini 9 -** 11-23-2008, 07:21 PM

The screen quality is not really worse, just a hair little dimmer. I am really wondering more about how the battery life will be affected.

Deldotb · **Re: Working Touch Screen on Mini 9 -** 11-23-2008, 07:24 PM

Hey, that's cool posting it on YouTube. I don't mind.

Deldotb · **Re: Working Touch Screen on Mini 9 -** 11-24-2008, 01:53 AM

Sorry, guys, but I still haven't had the time to get all the instructions together in a post-able form (2 kids and a broken XBox, 'nuf said!).

I did make some more vids and will post some on YouTube tonight or tomorrow morning. My handle on YouTube is the same here... deldotb.

So far about the hack... not real happy with it, sadly. It's not a very response touchscreen, and I frequently have to double tap more than once to get the group icons to change screens (if you're running Dell's Ubuntu Remix, you know what I mean). When I get into an actual program like TuxPaint or Solitare, it works fine with either stylus or finger. It could be the drivers I'm using, too. At this point, I'm just happy to get it working.

I have a friend who has a blog and I promised him first dibs on posting the installation directions. After that, I would like to get with the moderator of mydellmini.com and see if he would like to promote it on his home page.

yorgle · **Re: Working Touch Screen on Mini 9 -** 11-24-2008, 02:03 AM

I'm seriously thinking of attempting this mod myself, primarily for use with gps while driving. Did you have to make any physical modifications to the mini case or lid?

Deldotb · **Re: Working Touch Screen on Mini 9 -** 11-24-2008, 02:32 AM

Yes, both internally and externally. Had to solder connections to USB internally and affix the touchscreen to the LCD, underneath the display bezel. I tested the setup first by connecting a USB cable to the touchscreen, so you may consider that if you're only going to use it as a GPS.

I now have my first video up at YouTube here
[youtube:2vl9fmot]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7N38qsZotA[/youtube:2vl9fmot]