Alternative Design For The Ppz, To solve all issues. Options

[Ferret-Simpson]

I think the biggest issue so far, has been that of the keyboard. Feel free to disagree.

Everyone and their grandmother has had their own idea of what they want from this. I've been after a keyboard similar to a Universal or Clamshell Zaurus, some have wanted chorded keyboards, some folding belkin-style keyboards, some just want a slate.

How about just MAKING a slate, without a keyboard. I propose that a separate keyboard is produced, however the heck anyone wants it, that connects to a port on the bottom of the device. You can have it on a cable, folding, with a Zaurus-style hinge on it so that it folds over the slate part. Whatever. You could either use a USB/M-USB connector, or attach it to the internal keyboard pins, (As long as they're capable of hotplugging.) What you'd end up with is a thicker display unit, and a thinner keyboard that you could flip out. You could carry a blooming Sun Type 6 130 odd key USB model instead, if you felt like it.

In fact, put the ATA connector on the same port and put the hard disk in the keyboard. That'll bulk up the keyboard a it, slim down the base unit, and let you decide again whether you want a 2.5GB notebook drive (With an external PSU or LARGE extra battery) a 1.8" CF-type Microdrive, a 60GB iPod drive, or a 256MB Flash card. Whatever floats your boat.

[Da_Blitz]

I personally don't want a view-only device

then attach the keyboard

i didnt mean that as an insult, just to point out how brilliant that type of thinking was by seperating the keyboard and thecase

i do plon to make the keyboard usb connection a swivel joint. i want to have it so that it can support the upper half and if there are strength limitations then the upper half minus battery (as i would rather the battery in the keyboard in that case)

this would be a really good place to use miniusb plug. so perhaps there will be a return of usb client. that way i would have to have the flexible charging arrangment so that when it is plugged into a PC/keyboard it charges while when it discharges

i am thinking the screen PCB should be as large as the screen and flat and we use a flat batteryas large of the screen, lukiy for me i have found a supplier for battries that is the right size for above

basically i helped my grandfather set up an RC plane shop as he is an avid flyer who just retired who i convinced to start up a hobby shop to fund his plane purchasing as well as keep him occupied. anyway i was unaware of the scope he would take when starting somthing like this up and basically he flew into china and set up some contacts for plane suppliers and parts. basically i can now get Litium ion battries for RC planes that are very thin and are a bit smaller than the lcd screen on the Z and they are in series!!!

what does this mean, well they are 7.4v @ 2200maH, and there are 3 bonded together, so i cauld put 3 in parrelel and get 6600 maH at about 2.8v or i could just use one and get a nice thin case. your choice if you only want one battery in the Z then you get 2 spare battries. plus they are cheap and i may be able to get custom sizes for this progect as the RC plane people arent that touchy about size, they want low weight

Yeah!!!! one problem solved. now all i need to do is decide on a screen size as that will be the sive of the PCB, how does 5.8" sound in truth its more likly i will use a 4" screen with a thin boader (sound on keyboard)