Internal Storage Discussion

[adf]

the keyboard is basically a targus fold out keyboard intergrated into the design (ie CPU on the keyboard PCB)

are you refering to unionfs and not loop images, union fs in konoppik is great and i plan to use it to patch the bootloader (ie ro flash in hardware and a rw area that can not be booted if a button is held down), after you leave the bios how its setup is your problem, but there will be at least support for booting off of dm-crypt devices, pc bios partions and lvm (or lvm on dm-crypt) as well as loop images on said filesystems/partions

it wouldnt be too hard to mount the flash or part of it as ro and unionfs the rest so that to format to a base system all you do is rm /mnt/rwfs/* and have it at a factory install
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right. unionfs.   Seems like it might be worth considering...could make for a more "bulletproof" software environment, though ti would be a little more complicated to modify

[uMP2k]

the keyboard is basically a targus fold out keyboard intergrated into the design (ie CPU on the keyboard PCB)[div align=\"right\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

This should probably go in the keyboard discussion, but as it was raised here I am wondering if anybody remembers the video of the Ipaq with an integrated folding keyboard.  It was only a design mock up, but certainly very cool.

I think the link to the video in the first post of [a href=\"http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=11345&highlight=keyboard] THIS [/url] thread on pocketpcthoughts still works.

[Da_Blitz]

why would i only want to use half the avalible keys?, what i am talking about is that 1/2 the normal keys are on one PCB and the other half on the other PCB, the 2 PCBs are connected along one edge by a hinge

when in pda mode one half is pointing up and the other half is pointing down so that only 1/2 the keys can be seen, meaning you have to use cordded input. when you get a chance you fold the keyboard towards you and open it up so that you get both halves pointing upwards and you can use all the keys

i am assuming you have never seen one of the folding keyboards from targus

actually i heard that there was a backpack for an old palm that was simmilar (in fact i am hopping it should arrive soon )

[Ferret-Simpson]

So this thing doesn't have a "Slate" mode.

[Da_Blitz]

i dont know where you keep getting that idea from, a fold out keyboard dosent automatically mean no slate mode

in fact beirag able to use slate mode in the full sized keyboard mode is an advantage because the screen can be folded againtst the battery area then folded up so that all you see is a keyboard and screen

if you get a chance look up the targus PDA keyboard, they are nice (unfortunattly they are a bit tempremental and hence why i dont use mine as offten)

[adf]

i dont know where you keep getting that idea from, a fold out keyboard dosent automatically mean no slate mode

in fact beirag able to use slate mode in the full sized keyboard mode is an advantage because the screen can be folded againtst the battery area then folded up so that all you see is a keyboard and screen

if you get a chance look up the targus PDA keyboard, they are nice (unfortunattly they are a bit tempremental and hence why i dont use mine as offten)
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While we are on the keyboard thing... ATM I don't see myself being thrille dwith chording for most apps... might be cool as a media plaer interface in the truck, or something...  BUT  the extendable keyboard with video out show instant workstation possibilities....

BTW.. we still looking at hdmi and maybe an adapter?

edit:  my interests are as always, keep it simple, durable and versatile.  (of course a rock is simple, versatile and durable....)  Are we getting to the point where DB makes a prototype and finds all sorts of unexpected difficulties (or not)?

[Da_Blitz]

as i have said i dont expect anyone to use it however it does present other intresting ways of doing the hardware

if you want a full sized keyboard then when folded up you will have to use the corded keyboard, there is no work around due to button size

workstation is what i am aiming for for design 1, design 2 is slightly off the wall however but still usefull and uses the same basic design if we split the major components between 2 PCBs connected by a thin flat cable (BTW anyone here seen GITS season 1 eppisode 1 and the neck device the chief has?)

if you wantede a full qwerty layout when folded up then when folded out you would have the full (half sized) qwerty layout and anouther half with whatever layout you want (gaming controls, moive playback, give me ideas here)

[adf]

as i have said i dont expect anyone to use it however it does present other intresting ways of doing the hardware

if you want a full sized keyboard then when folded up you will have to use the corded keyboard, there is no work around due to button size

workstation is what i am aiming for for design 1, design 2 is slightly off the wall however but still usefull and uses the same basic design if we split the major components between 2 PCBs connected by a thin flat cable (BTW anyone here seen GITS season 1 eppisode 1 and the neck device the chief has?)

if you wantede a full qwerty layout when folded up then when folded out you would have the full (half sized) qwerty layout and anouther half with whatever layout you want (gaming controls, moive playback, give me ideas here)
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I could live with chording if it means a full keyboard that folds into the device--seems like a reasonable tradeoff

Well..  if the the thing is being done from the ground up, with proper drivers for the hardware, then the full sized/ half sized sound pretty cool/   Why not a numeric keypad with a few media/game controller buttons?

It's getting to the point where maybe drawings or pics of a bad cardboard mockup might help us see what you intend,  I think.  As I've said before, though... It soulds like whatever actually gets built will at least have some thought behind it, so I'm mor3 or less waiting to see how component availabilty and other such constraints affect the finished box. I think the ideas are mostly in place now, right?

[Da_Blitz]

actually i would have said that about a mont ago, i have been dragging my feet a bit when it comes to sourcing parts as its a very long process and i have unfortunattly been keeping myself busy

might give it a crack again this weekend