1200 Laptop Project

madman · 14 July 2011, 23:27

I started this some while ago but had to put it away for a while but now it's back and is almost finished.

A few years ago I built an A600 as a sort of laptop albeit very heavy in a homemade sheet steel case. It worked but was a bit flaky and rattly.

This time I decide to go for a 1200 but use a brief case as a case to make it a little more portable.

The specs of the machine are:

1D4 motherboard
Apollo 040/40 accelerator with 32Mb RAM
Eyetech SD/FF
Eyetech 4way bufferred IDE
Eyetch EZKEY keyboard adapter
Slimline CDROM with ATAPI/IDE adapter
Slimline PC(laptop) floppy with adapter with just pins 2 and 34 crossed on the cable
4Gb CF card with CF/IDE adapter for the hard drive
PCMCIA CF adapter for file transfers
PCMCIA wireless card
PCMCIA ethernet card
Shuttle PSU
Slimline PS2 keyboard
Synaptics PS2 trackpad from a dead laptop
Cocolino PS2 mouse adapter
Switchable external amiga mouse port
12" desktop LCD screen stripped out for the display with inbuilt speakers and amp
CU Amiga CDDA mixer to mix CD audio with the native audio
The mother board has been modified with the PCMCIA reset fix from aminet and the PCMCIA LED fix found here on EAB courtesy of doobreynet and the modulator has been removed.

Here are a few pics, as requested.

This is the PSU cabling. All it has now is a standard MOLEX connector to feed to the motherboard, a floppy connector which feeds a power distribution board, a connection to the ON?OFF switch and an earth connection.

This is the mouse connection. The external and internal connections on the cable have the power and gnd lines switched to select either the internal track pad or the external mouse/joystick.

PCMCIA LED mod

CF card harddrive

Fully fitted lower case.

Watch this space! More photos to come!

fitzsteve · 15 July 2011, 00:09

Hi!

Thats a really intersting project, thanks for sharing

Hope you got a big Lap though

Only kidding, I look foward to the finished project and the updates

One question, I guess you'll mount a keyboard on top? Have you thought about cooling/venting?

Steve.

rkauer · 15 July 2011, 00:18

I can recommend you using an A500 keyboard with the LED sacked out. Wiring +5, GND, kb_clock, kb_data & reset lines will be a breeze for one with your soldering skills.

Just swapping the key tops with the one from A1200 and all will be perfect.

Or go nuts and paint the keycaps black and add black Amiga stickers over.

Oh, I concur with Steve on the cooling matter: better grab a proper cooler as the 040 is a hot monster.

fitzsteve · 15 July 2011, 00:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkauer

Oh, I concur with Steve on the cooling matter: better grab a proper cooler as the 040 is a hot monster.

If I kept my PPC Desktop project the plan was to use a Voodoo Exhaust Fan near BVsion/Rear of case, somthing like similar might help on a project such as this

madman · 15 July 2011, 00:53

I've had it fully closed up and running for over 4 hours without any over heating problems. The fan on the 040 is bigger than the original and there is draw through ventilation from the front of the case near the carry handle and out through the PSU at the rear.

The keyboard is a slim line desktop PC thing, PS2 converted to amiga with the EZKey.

rkauer · 15 July 2011, 00:58

Awesome!

Moar pr0n! Moar!

madman · 30 July 2011, 20:40

It's finished!! More pics tomorrow!

johnim · 30 July 2011, 23:14

cant wait to see the finished project mate

Amigafanboi · 31 July 2011, 11:08

madman · 31 July 2011, 20:18

Finished the laptop yesterday, well, finished for now, there are still some improvements I want to make, USB support for one and change the PSU for a battery and Pico PSU and charger cct, but that will come in due course.

Here you are then, a few piccies of the "finished" thing.

Overall shot

View of the keyboard and track pad. The 4 screws allow easy access to the guts of the machine.

Screen view. I used Bloodwych's ClassicWB OS3.9 as a starting point and then tweaked it the way I wanted it. The backdrop is a MAC backdrop which I used to create a pattern for the dock. Only problem I have is I have not found a way or removing the border from the dock. Anybody got any thoughts on whether it is possible?

CD and PCMCIA slot

Floppy and power

Rear connections with the external mouse / internal trackpad switch next to the mouse port

Some benchmarking screen shots.

Hope you like it! I do!!

cv643d · 01 August 2011, 00:08

Thats a nice mod! I wonder how slim you can go. Nice way of making the A1200 portable, gives me many ideas.. .hmmm :-)

johnim · 01 August 2011, 00:26

very nice mate

Akira · 01 August 2011, 15:00

The Mac OS X type background is hilarious

madman · 01 August 2011, 16:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akira

The Mac OS X type background is hilarious

Glad you like it!

14 July 2011, 23:27	#1
madman Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: UK Posts: 24	1200 Laptop Project I started this some while ago but had to put it away for a while but now it's back and is almost finished. A few years ago I built an A600 as a sort of laptop albeit very heavy in a homemade sheet steel case. It worked but was a bit flaky and rattly. This time I decide to go for a 1200 but use a brief case as a case to make it a little more portable. The specs of the machine are: 1D4 motherboard Apollo 040/40 accelerator with 32Mb RAM Eyetech SD/FF Eyetech 4way bufferred IDE Eyetch EZKEY keyboard adapter Slimline CDROM with ATAPI/IDE adapter Slimline PC(laptop) floppy with adapter with just pins 2 and 34 crossed on the cable 4Gb CF card with CF/IDE adapter for the hard drive PCMCIA CF adapter for file transfers PCMCIA wireless card PCMCIA ethernet card Shuttle PSU Slimline PS2 keyboard Synaptics PS2 trackpad from a dead laptop Cocolino PS2 mouse adapter Switchable external amiga mouse port 12" desktop LCD screen stripped out for the display with inbuilt speakers and amp CU Amiga CDDA mixer to mix CD audio with the native audio The mother board has been modified with the PCMCIA reset fix from aminet and the PCMCIA LED fix found here on EAB courtesy of doobreynet and the modulator has been removed. Here are a few pics, as requested. This is the PSU cabling. All it has now is a standard MOLEX connector to feed to the motherboard, a floppy connector which feeds a power distribution board, a connection to the ON?OFF switch and an earth connection. This is the mouse connection. The external and internal connections on the cable have the power and gnd lines switched to select either the internal track pad or the external mouse/joystick. PCMCIA LED mod CF card harddrive Fully fitted lower case. Watch this space! More photos to come!

15 July 2011, 00:09	#2
fitzsteve Professional slacker! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kent, UK Age: 33 Posts: 4,800	Hi! Thats a really intersting project, thanks for sharing Hope you got a big Lap though Only kidding, I look foward to the finished project and the updates One question, I guess you'll mount a keyboard on top? Have you thought about cooling/venting? Steve. __________________ A500+ 2mb - A600 / 8mb - A600, ACA630/64, A604, IndiECS - A4000D, WarpEngine040, Toccata, DenebUSB, CV64/3D - A1200D, ACA1232/33, IndiAGA MkII - A1200D Magic Pack +ACA1220 - A1200T, 060/PPC330, G-RexPCI, SubwayUSB - CD32 + SX32, IndiMkII - uA1 800mhz My Retr0 Blog

15 July 2011, 00:18	#3
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 47 Posts: 3,477	I can recommend you using an A500 keyboard with the LED sacked out. Wiring +5, GND, kb_clock, kb_data & reset lines will be a breeze for one with your soldering skills. Just swapping the key tops with the one from A1200 and all will be perfect. Or go nuts and paint the keycaps black and add black Amiga stickers over. Oh, I concur with Steve on the cooling matter: better grab a proper cooler as the 040 is a hot monster. __________________ Amigan since 1989 Known drunk since 1982 (don't know quite well, I was drunk) 13 Amigas at home Finally a Z3 one! I'll stick with 'Cachaça do Inter' for this week: Chivas gives headaches! :D

15 July 2011, 00:58	#6
rkauer I hate potatos and shirts Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sao Leopoldo / Brazil Age: 47 Posts: 3,477	Awesome! Moar pr0n! Moar! __________________ Amigan since 1989 Known drunk since 1982 (don't know quite well, I was drunk) 13 Amigas at home Finally a Z3 one! I'll stick with 'Cachaça do Inter' for this week: Chivas gives headaches! :D

31 July 2011, 11:08	#9
Amigafanboi Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Fareham Hampshire Age: 43 Posts: 142	<Sits tapping fingers> __________________ E=MC68060²

15 July 2011, 00:53	#5
madman Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: UK Posts: 24	I've had it fully closed up and running for over 4 hours without any over heating problems. The fan on the 040 is bigger than the original and there is draw through ventilation from the front of the case near the carry handle and out through the PSU at the rear. The keyboard is a slim line desktop PC thing, PS2 converted to amiga with the EZKey.

30 July 2011, 20:40	#7
madman Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: UK Posts: 24	It's finished!! More pics tomorrow!

30 July 2011, 23:14	#8
johnim Amibay Mod/Staff Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: birmingham uk Age: 37 Posts: 820	cant wait to see the finished project mate

31 July 2011, 20:18	#10
madman Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: UK Posts: 24	Finished the laptop yesterday, well, finished for now, there are still some improvements I want to make, USB support for one and change the PSU for a battery and Pico PSU and charger cct, but that will come in due course. Here you are then, a few piccies of the "finished" thing. Overall shot View of the keyboard and track pad. The 4 screws allow easy access to the guts of the machine. Screen view. I used Bloodwych's ClassicWB OS3.9 as a starting point and then tweaked it the way I wanted it. The backdrop is a MAC backdrop which I used to create a pattern for the dock. Only problem I have is I have not found a way or removing the border from the dock. Anybody got any thoughts on whether it is possible? CD and PCMCIA slot Floppy and power Rear connections with the external mouse / internal trackpad switch next to the mouse port Some benchmarking screen shots. Hope you like it! I do!!

01 August 2011, 00:08	#11
cv643d Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Stockholm/Sweden Age: 35 Posts: 704	Thats a nice mod! I wonder how slim you can go. Nice way of making the A1200 portable, gives me many ideas.. .hmmm :-) __________________ #1 Amiga 1200, Apollo 1260 @ 50MHz, 32MB fast RAM, 1GB CF-card, IndivisionAGA, MicroniK 1.86MB Floppy drive #2 Amiga 600, ACA630 25MHz, 32MB fast RAM Vintage Amiga Hardware Blog Amiga News Vintage Amiga Programs Amiga Fish disk database Amiga stuff for sale

01 August 2011, 00:26	#12
johnim Amibay Mod/Staff Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: birmingham uk Age: 37 Posts: 820	very nice mate

01 August 2011, 15:00	#13
Akira Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: # Posts: 12,593	The Mac OS X type background is hilarious

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