ZapWizard's Media PC -Project on hold

No no no no no!

You still do not understand me!

It should be a BRAND NEW, very simplistic remote. The non-transparent edges should contain all the electronics (they have to contain all the red leds and ir led), might be IN BETWEEN of two plexi layers. (You must find somebody who can cut cuprum very well, since there must be no pcb at all to keep it transparent - you will just lay cuprum routes on the plexi and glue them.)

 

That's so cool. Can't wait to see this one "in the plexi". How you came up with such a great idea for the Compaq add-on is beyond me, would never have thought of that. Sweet rendering too....


.Darkside

/me looks at boring beige box with window, CCFL and led mod

 

umm, zap, when first pics ? Even from early stage of creating, if don't want to post here, mail me linkie ...

 

When all the hardware arrives in the mail.
I will probably do multiple project logs, one for the hardware, one for the software, and one for the case.

I will probably be working on them in this order:
Hardware-
Case-
Software-

This project will take some time, as I have to repair the IPAQ, hack apart a LOT of hardware. (I am re-wireing a lot of the connectors) Plus I have to save up some money for the plexi and harddrive. (Rent is due this week )

The case will be second, and the software last, I will have to learn programing a lot better for this project.
I have books and software on both C++ and VSB but jsut haven't been interested enough to mess with it yet.

 

Your ideas sound awesome, and that will be one great media PC when completed, better make it water proof 'cause there is sure to be drool all over it everytime one of your guests sees it!

Good luck with everything dude!

 

ZapWizard's Media PC -The Hardware

Ok all the hardware for my Media PC is in! Details at my site.
I don't mean to tag, but it's 1am and I need to sleep. Besides I don't make a penny off of it.

http://www.zapwizard.com/mediapc











(Yes those fans are spinning, and yes my camera is that fast)

 

Ambitious project and really progressing, nice one.

But Zap, are you sure you really can use both soundcards at the same time? I'm asking because last time I checked it can't! It is either one chosen in control panel.

 

nice - keep it going!

I would really love to get the nitty gritty on the screen details controller - prices - pieces etc and how the hell it all hooks up - as much info as you can muster buster!
thx in advance

 

This is turning out to be a great mod. Keep going. Could you post a rough budget of how much it is costing to build?

 

Looks sweet Zap. I think this will be your best project yet. I was wondering, will you be able to record TV to DivX? And watch it while you record?
And wywywywy, I only see one soundcard.

Also Zap, Congrats on your well deserved entry to kiloposters club .

 

Let's keep this all in one project OK Zap? I merged the threads. That way people will be able to follow the progess from beginning to end without whole chapters falling the wayside because one didn't get read as often as any of the others...

 

Sorry Zap, never had time to read all the posts, but wanted to say, if it ends up lookig and acting like those original pictures then that is one hell of a machine! Can't wait for more

 

Just wanna say congrats on actually making your dreams into reality.... i have so many ideas but i never get around to actually trying to make any of them... hope you're successful!!!!!

 

You can use two sound cards, you just set the SBlive as the prefered card, all windows programs will use this card.
Then I can use the second sound card for it's extra inputs and outputs, then feed the sound from the onboard soundcard into the SBLive (Via SPDIF of course), and viola! extra sound inputs!

Yes, ATI has their own codecs that hardware encode the video, VERY Fast, and very high quality. Can't tell the copy from the original, plus no CPU overhead.
You can't watch one-thing while recording another with this Card
(The All-in-wonder 9700 does that)
But I can re-encode the video to any type I wish, and very fast too.

The second sound card is built into the motherboard.

I am not removing the screen from the IPAQ, I am using the WHOLE ipaq, it will still be running PocketPC 2000, just with extra software to act as an interface.
No re-wireing of the LCD here, just ripping out the guts.
(But it needs a LOT of repair, this will be hard)

So far the extra part I have bought are: (Shipping extra)
Athlon XP 1600+ =$50 (OEM)
AIW Radeon =$58 (OEM, with VGA adapter only)
Power Supply =$10 (Used)
IPAQ LCD connector =$15 (For repair of IPAQ)
LED's and other MISC parts =$50

I already had everything else, I will make a page on pricing later.

I still have to get:
60-80Gig drive to store media files
More RAM, Actualy for my main system, then the RAM from my main will end up in the MediaPC
Plexiglass and all the related parts for that.

 

Updated image of more hardware:
http://www.zapwizard.com/MediaPC

And check out the lighted Slot-loading DVD
(Please don't merge DVD post with Media PC thread)
Backlit DVD on Slot Loader

 

Damn ZAP, is there anything you cant do?


Looks very cool.

 

Umm....No

(Hmm, we need a thinking Smiley)

------------------------------------------------------
I got more done, posts later.
I hope to have my IPAQ fixed tonight.

 

.......

hehe


but really, this box is looking amazing, really hope it will materialize as planned. Good Luck dude.

 

Here the next mod for my Media PC

Re-wired DVD Activity LED and Eject switch

Bit-Tech Thread here

 

This project is going to rule. I don't know how set you are on the iPAQ, but I have a possible suggestion:

You might consider using a small touch screen lcd (I saw it done in an mp3car project, sorry I cant find the linkie) and just operate windows (or a custom shell) with your finger instead of a mouse. You could then have a second video card output (the all in wonder for example) to the tv and use a dual monitor setup so controls are on the tiny monitor but things like the divx viewer itself are on the large display. It would be more expensive since you already have the ipaq, but far easier to implement, and you certainly have enough other challenges ahead of you. =)