Little Laptop Control Panel Project

[Searcher7]

Has anyone here created a control panel for use with a laptop?

Im thinking about building something small, and was hoping to get recommendations.

(Specific laptop recommendations would also be appreciated).

Thanks a lot.

Darren

[CJK]

My first CP wasn't specifically intended for use with a laptop -- I actually built it to see how all this stuff went together and to try out MAME using real controls for once -- but it would have worked fine. I built it out of scraps I had around the workshop, and it was 13.5 x 4.5 x 4. It was actually too small, though, because I didn't have enough room to mount the IPAC without it sticking out the front. I also never put a front, back, or bottom on it. But it worked great, and it inspired me to build a bigger, better one as a second test. (This one has a trackball and a spinner and fewer buttons.)

I tend to play the classics, so I don't need 6 buttons. If I were building a small, portable CP, I'd have an 8-way joystick, 3 player buttons, 3 admin buttons (P1 coin, P1 start, ESC), and a spinner. (I'd like a trackball, but it would kind of ruin the "small" part.)

Anyway, I've attached pics of my first CP -- you can see what I mean about fitting all that stuff in such a small space.

-- Chris

[xonix_digital]

Thats a great Idea.. I am getting a new laptop for work... Maybe this will make the investment worth while!!! 

Im really going to do this!

Thanks for the inspiration!

-=XD=-

[tk_42_1]

This is just like the age old question eveyone asks about what type of computer is good for MAME.

I've used my work laptop alot for MAME and it works great.  It's an IBM T20 PIII 700Mhz 256MB RAM running win2000.

One thing to look for is that the system has either a S-video or some other way to hook it up to an external monitor if you wish to do that.

My CP right now is a stand alone type but is about 3 1/2 feet wide but only has one USB cable.   Inside there is an IPAC VE, PS/2 to USB mouse adaptor and a USB hub.  This way there is only one cable sticking out the connect to the laptop from the CP.  It's a monster to carry around but it's the first CP I made and gets the job done.

The pic is old and I've cleaned up the wiring job and also have added pinball buttons on the side since it was taken.

[Searcher7]

My first CP wasn't specifically intended for use with a laptop -- I actually built it to see how all this stuff went together and to try out MAME using real controls for once -- but it would have worked fine. I built it out of scraps I had around the workshop, and it was 13.5 x 4.5 x 4. It was actually too small, though, because I didn't have enough room to mount the IPAC without it sticking out the front. I also never put a front, back, or bottom on it. But it worked great, and it inspired me to build a bigger, better one as a second test. (This one has a trackball and a spinner and fewer buttons.)

I tend to play the classics, so I don't need 6 buttons. If I were building a small, portable CP, I'd have an 8-way joystick, 3 player buttons, 3 admin buttons (P1 coin, P1 start, ESC), and a spinner. (I'd like a trackball, but it would kind of ruin the "small" part.)

Anyway, I've attached pics of my first CP -- you can see what I mean about fitting all that stuff in such a small space.

-- Chris

Since I don't use(or have) credit cards, PayPal is not an option for me, so I cannot get an IPAC.

So I'll have to hack a USB sidewinder, and find the smallest *good quality* joystick I can find for this project.

As for the laptop. I guess a cheap 400 P2(or higher) with a USB port will suffice.(I only play the older games).

Thanks.

Darren

[Stobe]

An alternative to making it real small (i.e. not ergonomically comfortable), you could always build a desktop controller that had 'legs' just outside the width of the laptop.  Then you could place the CP over the keyboard part of the laptop, if deskspace is minimal.

Otherwise, don't be afraid to stufy the hotrod, etc, since they have built a pretty nice setup in a semi-small package.

-Stobe