Author Topic: Touchscreen LCD fully integrated computers (Read 9585 times)

USSEnterprise · « **on:** October 04, 2007, 08:27:20 pm »

I have found a source for something that may be of interest to people here building juke boxes and bar tops. I know someone who recently came into possession of a good deal of fully integrated portable computers. These are not laptops. If you remember the last time you were in a hospital, you may have seen what looked like a computer system integrated into a cart that the nurses use to enter in information. They are wireless, and look to have 15" LCD touchscreens. They also include integrated keyboards and mice. I do not know what OS they use, but from who I spoke to, they sound like they would be compatible with XP. I also know that they have no integrated removable media, and I do not know what kind of ports they have. I am probably going tomorrow to check them out in person. I'll keep you updated, if interested.

bfauska · « **Reply #1 on:** October 04, 2007, 09:14:30 pm »

I'm probably not interested right now, but I would like to know more about that type of computer for potential future projects. Please share any info you get.

IG-88 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 05, 2007, 07:42:50 am »

I might be interested, depending on the price...

Hoopz · « **Reply #3 on:** October 05, 2007, 08:16:43 am »

Quote from: IG-88 on October 05, 2007, 07:42:50 am

I might be interested, depending on the price...

Ditto

_) (V) (-) · « **Reply #4 on:** October 05, 2007, 09:58:23 am »

I am defiantly interested, depending on the price...

Angry_Radish · « **Reply #5 on:** October 05, 2007, 02:11:11 pm »

Yep, more info/pics please!

USSEnterprise · « **Reply #6 on:** October 05, 2007, 02:37:22 pm »

The guy was unavailable today, so I'm probably going either over the weekend or sometime during the week next week. I don't know what he wants for them, but I know he did get them for free, so it might not be much.

spacies · « **Reply #7 on:** October 05, 2007, 03:32:47 pm »

Im interested.

Hoopz · « **Reply #8 on:** October 05, 2007, 04:12:26 pm »

Quote from: USSEnterprise on October 05, 2007, 02:37:22 pm

The guy was unavailable today, so I'm probably going either over the weekend or sometime during the week next week. I don't know what he wants for them, but I know he did get them for free, so it might not be much.

Close to free and not much are magic words! These could be just the thing for jukeboxes like you said.

Kaytrim · « **Reply #9 on:** October 05, 2007, 05:14:44 pm »

Add me to the growing list of interested parties.

Ninten-doh · « **Reply #10 on:** October 05, 2007, 05:18:40 pm »

I'm interested as well.

edge · « **Reply #11 on:** October 05, 2007, 06:16:15 pm »

Put me on your list as well.

whatzcrackn · « **Reply #12 on:** October 05, 2007, 06:50:18 pm »

depending on the price.....me too!

Kremmit · « **Reply #13 on:** October 06, 2007, 12:06:00 am »

I'd like to do a juke...

werejag · « **Reply #14 on:** October 06, 2007, 06:47:20 am »

add me in

taternutz · « **Reply #15 on:** October 06, 2007, 08:39:23 am »

List me also

Kane · « **Reply #16 on:** October 06, 2007, 09:09:39 am »

add me to the growing list of interested people.

MnMCaputo · « **Reply #17 on:** October 06, 2007, 09:50:48 am »

add me, but shhhhhhh dont tell my wife

sikarkades · « **Reply #18 on:** October 07, 2007, 11:08:39 pm »

Add me

Goz · « **Reply #19 on:** October 08, 2007, 12:26:29 am »

Would be in depending on price and specs

USSEnterprise · « **Reply #20 on:** October 08, 2007, 11:58:31 am »

going to the warehouse at 2PM this afternoon. I'll see what he wants for them, and get more information on the specs of the machines.

BTW: I will post a pic from my cell phone of these machines when I get there.

Popcorrin · « **Reply #21 on:** October 08, 2007, 03:20:25 pm »

I'm definitely interested also.

USSEnterprise · « **Reply #22 on:** October 08, 2007, 04:14:09 pm »

Just got back.

He has about 20 with more on the way. He gave me one free of charge to screw with. They are based on a 400MHz VIA CPU, with 256MB of RAM. The computer is directly integrated to the monitor. They seperate from the base as one unit. Monitor is a 15" touchscreen, capable of at least 800x600 in 256 colors (probably more). The machines have integrated video, LAN, and sound, and the monitor is not directly connected to the computer electrically (Uses a standard 15 pin). On the motherboard, there is a flash module directly connected to primary IDE, from which XP Embedded runs. There are standard power connectors on the motherboard, so you could likely hook up an HDD and CDROM.

Now, here's the bad part: All together, with cart, it weighs 100lbs. Most of that weight comes from the battery pack/power supply, which is necessary for the thing's operation. The power connection on both the computer and monitor is a mini-din 4 pin connector. One could probably rig something up, though, to work with a PC supply.

Price is still undetermined, but I couldn't imagine him charging much more than $100 a pop. Really not sure, though.

FunWithFire · « **Reply #23 on:** October 08, 2007, 04:24:55 pm »

Interesting. Where in Jersey are you? I'm in Freehold. Might be very interested considering I wouldn't have to worry about shipping.

USSEnterprise · « **Reply #24 on:** October 08, 2007, 04:29:50 pm »

I don't have them, someone in Tinton Falls does, and mine, I'm keeping. I just want to correct something I said before: The monitors connections are actually proprietary. It can be disconnected from the computer portion, but I don't know what you could plug into.

Lastly, I didn't mention this before, but they do have 2 PCMCIA slots, so wireless internet is possible

Hoopz · « **Reply #25 on:** October 08, 2007, 05:56:40 pm »

Sounds promising. Keep my name in the hopper. If there is a hopper so far.

bfauska · « **Reply #26 on:** October 08, 2007, 05:57:02 pm »

_) (V) (-) · « **Reply #27 on:** October 08, 2007, 06:23:43 pm »

Quote from: bfauska on October 08, 2007, 05:57:02 pm

?

I second that

Lilwolf · « **Reply #28 on:** October 08, 2007, 08:22:02 pm »

It does sound promising. I might be up for one. Shipping might be an issue though. Did they come with any boxes? (or have any laying around).

Also, the monitor seemed to be seperateable... how about the touchscreen part? (if you want to remove the computer itself and plug something else on it).

And what via chipset is on it? Some does GREAT job on sound (for a jukebox) but others didn't.... But I guess thats moot since I would probably just plug my own via in on it.

100 lbs though... man thats a lot of weight...

Pics?

USSEnterprise · « **Reply #29 on:** October 08, 2007, 08:26:16 pm »

pics

this may be of help:

http://www1.epinions.com/pr-Planar_Invitium_Tk4_997-2900-00_PC_Desktop

Because the onboard video is proprietary to the touchscreen, I don't know if you could mix and match.

Kaytrim · « **Reply #30 on:** October 08, 2007, 08:37:54 pm »

I am very interested in just the PC with monitor. See if the power supply is removable and can be reconnected to the PC. If the pc works without the batteries then they and the cart could be recycled. The next questions would be if the CF card could be removed and a normal HDD put in it's place with TinyXP installed. If that all works then it is definitely viable for a juke. I am also curious if the RAM can be upgraded, 256MB is minimum for XP.

Have fun with your new toy and let us know how it works out.
Kaytrim

Hoopz · « **Reply #31 on:** October 08, 2007, 09:43:53 pm »

Quote from: Kaytrim on October 08, 2007, 08:37:54 pm

I am very interested in just the PC with monitor. See if the power supply is removable and can be reconnected to the PC. If the pc works without the batteries then they and the cart could be recycled. The next questions would be if the CF card could be removed and a normal HDD put in it's place with TinyXP installed. If that all works then it is definitely viable for a juke. I am also curious if the RAM can be upgraded, 256MB is minimum for XP.

Have fun with your new toy and let us know how it works out.
Kaytrim

I would also see the cart as being unnecessary. If it can be shipped w/o the cart, I would most definitely be interested.

shardian · « **Reply #32 on:** October 09, 2007, 08:43:52 am »

Of course the batteries can be optional. Odds are they are 12volts, and the pc and monitor are drawing anywhere from 1-2 amps. A laptop ac adapter will most likely supply enough juice. You just hack the end of the PS cable, and hard wire it into the system.

heffe2001 · « **Reply #33 on:** October 09, 2007, 08:57:53 am »

All you'd need is the pinout for the power connector, and I'm sure something could be hacked together. I'd definitely be interested in one, especially if the ram was upgradeable (but I'm going to guess no, but you never know).

USSEnterprise · « **Reply #34 on:** October 09, 2007, 02:23:25 pm »

After further study of this thing, I believe the following would probably be the best way to make a juke out of one:

1. Get a CF to IDE adapter, and connect to primary IDE.
2. Insert a 2-4GB CF Card.
3. Use external USB CD-ROM Drive to install Windows/Linux on the CF.
4. Set up networking on the thing with either the onboard LAN or a wireless PCMCIA Card
5. Use this computer as a terminal to a music server elsewhere in your house.

Because of the size, there is no way of getting a standard 3.5" HDD in there, and a 2.5" laptop drive might work, but its still pretty cramped in there. Also, remember that this thing has no internal fans, so something other than a SSD would heat things up a lot.

Kaytrim · « **Reply #35 on:** October 09, 2007, 02:28:57 pm »

You gota think outside the box man. Or at least build a better one.

I am thinking of deceasing the PC and mount it in a much nicer box.

TTFN
Kaytrim

USSEnterprise · « **Reply #36 on:** October 09, 2007, 02:51:36 pm »

but finding a longer cable to go between monitor and computer would likely be a nightmare

Kaytrim · « **Reply #37 on:** October 09, 2007, 02:57:58 pm »

When you take off the back of the case is the motherboard still attached to the monitor? If so then an IDE cable would do the trick. Just leave the back off the thing and install it in a MDF box. Find out how much the guy wants for them and I will more than likely take one off your (his) hands.

TTFN

spacies · « **Reply #38 on:** October 09, 2007, 03:14:14 pm »

Cut the wire and make it longer. Easy!

Angry_Radish · « **Reply #39 on:** October 09, 2007, 03:21:43 pm »

Quote from: Kaytrim on October 09, 2007, 02:57:58 pm

When you take off the back of the case is the motherboard still attached to the monitor? If so then an IDE cable would do the trick. Just leave the back off the thing and install it in a MDF box. Find out how much the guy wants for them and I will more than likely take one off your (his) hands.

Agreed.
Count me in as interested as well please.
If you can seperate it from the cart/batteries, I'm in for one :-)

USSEnterprise · « **Reply #40 on:** October 09, 2007, 03:26:09 pm »

good idea on the laptop charger, assuming we could find a pinout for power. The monitor/computer alone is only about 25 lbs, and the other 75 lbs is in the cart and batteries. Wonder if I could put all the batteries from these together and build a Prius? Or maybe just one hell of a power wheels car.

ElfShotTheFood · « **Reply #41 on:** October 09, 2007, 03:59:12 pm »

these things are here in jersey!!!
I'm definitely interested. one for a mp3 player, and another maybe for a point of sale system for my dads restaurant.

MikeQ · « **Reply #42 on:** October 09, 2007, 04:08:08 pm »

Quote from: USSEnterprise on October 09, 2007, 02:51:36 pm

but finding a longer cable to go between monitor and computer would likely be a nightmare

The monitor connector is probably an LVDS connector. It is a standard interface used in laptops. You could probably find or make a cable.

USSEnterprise · « **Reply #43 on:** October 09, 2007, 06:06:23 pm »

Quote from: MikeQ on October 09, 2007, 04:08:08 pm

Quote from: USSEnterprise on October 09, 2007, 02:51:36 pm
but finding a longer cable to go between monitor and computer would likely be a nightmare

The monitor connector is probably an LVDS connector. It is a standard interface used in laptops. You could probably find or make a cable.

Basically, it almost looks like DVI, but it isn't, since it carries the video and touchscreen data accross one cable

Kaytrim · « **Reply #44 on:** October 09, 2007, 06:13:26 pm »

How about some

USSEnterprise · « **Reply #45 on:** October 09, 2007, 06:25:06 pm »

I'll see if I get to it. I need to finish my Van De Graff tonight and I have a good deal of homework. Tomorrow, I'll get a pic of the connector.

MikeQ · « **Reply #46 on:** October 09, 2007, 07:25:14 pm »

Get a picture of the motherboard connector for the LCD / touch screen. There are some Mini ITX boards with LVDS / Touch Screen integrated. I'd be interested in seeing what they are using.

USSEnterprise · « **Reply #47 on:** October 09, 2007, 10:19:47 pm »

Well, I have the whole thing running on my dining room table, sans the 60 pound cart and the 10 pound batteries. Once the batteries are removed, the power supply is relatively lightweight. Maybe 35 lbs total shipping weight. The two 12v sealed lead acid batteries add about 10 lbs, and, if new and fully charged, will supposedly run the system for 14 hours. The audio, according to what I saw in device manager, is AC'97 based. The video is based on S3. LAN is Realtek. Once I get a HDD hooked up tomorrow, and hopefully install the full Windows XP, I'll submit an update.

heffe2001 · « **Reply #48 on:** October 10, 2007, 08:45:07 am »

Happen to know how much free space is left on the flash drive that is installed on the machines? It'd be pretty easy to connect in to my network and just run the juke software from flash (or network really, so it'd work either way), especially with the ability to drop a wireless network card in one of the PCMCIA slots...

Shipping of those units with batteries (but without the stands), via UPS shoudn't be outrageously expensive (assuming a total weight of 45 pounds). Residential was less than 20, Business address was around 15 (that was to NC where I live anyways). I'd expect just the monitor/powersupply would be more like 15/12 for Res/Business.

igboo · « **Reply #49 on:** October 10, 2007, 10:03:10 am »

Count me in for two as long as they're in the $100 or less range. I'll even come get 'em.

USSEnterprise · « **Reply #50 on:** October 10, 2007, 11:19:23 am »

the flash drive is read only; they are meant to be used as wireless terminals.

heffe2001 · « **Reply #51 on:** October 10, 2007, 01:26:11 pm »

Guess I could always get a IDE CF adapter, and do it that way

. Wonder if I could use the XP Embedded stuff I have (never used it tho), and make a new image for the device with whatever juke software installed? Although a small laptop HD would probably be easier, just not quite as fast at booting. Would probably be MUCH faster on a drive tho (swap file & all if using a regular XP install). Is the IDE connector on it a regular sized one, or one for a 2.5" drive?

ElfShotTheFood · « **Reply #52 on:** October 10, 2007, 01:36:52 pm »

the flash drive is removable? is there possibly a read-only switch on it? maybe inside the casing?

how big is the motherboard? itx size hopefully.

can you access the bios on it?

i wonder if it can boot from a usb flash drive.

does it have a full set of ports? usb, parallel, serial, ps2?

Kaytrim · « **Reply #53 on:** October 10, 2007, 02:13:13 pm »

According to the link he gave us earlier:

Quote

It comes standard with a 10/100 BaseT NIC, (1) PS/2 keyboard port, (2) Type II or (1) Type III PC Card slot, (4) serial ports and (2) standard USB ports. Video capability is provided by a VT8606 Savage4 AGP4x Graphic 8/16/32 MB frame buffer using system memory and a dual 110 MHz LVDS interface. It has an VT82C686A/B built-in sound controller, which is an Intel AC97 compatible audio system with Sigmatel CODEC; it is compatible with Windows Sound System and SoundBlaster.

EDIT****
I did a little digging with google and came up with the manuals. Follow this link and go down to the medical displays. The PDF manuals for the Invitium devices are there.

TTFN

USSEnterprise · « **Reply #54 on:** October 10, 2007, 02:53:03 pm »

Quote from: ElfShotTheFood on October 10, 2007, 01:36:52 pm

the flash drive is removable? is there possibly a read-only switch on it? maybe inside the casing?

how big is the motherboard? itx size hopefully.

can you access the bios on it?

i wonder if it can boot from a usb flash drive.

does it have a full set of ports? usb, parallel, serial, ps2?

Flash is removable. I saw no such switch.

Motherboard is bigger than mATX

Yes, BIOS is fully accessable

I believe you can boot from USB, since it will recognize a USB CD-ROM in the BIOS

Has 4 serial, 2 ps/2, 2 USB, 2 sound, 1 NIC

ElfShotTheFood · « **Reply #55 on:** October 10, 2007, 03:51:43 pm »

cool, looks like i should find that bootable usb flash drive that has advancemame on it.

does it have a secondary ide channel?

maybe try putting the flash in another computer's secondary ide port and see if it is still read only. the embedded xp could be locking it up.

if the mobo is bigger than micro atx then we could in theory put any itx board in there. if we can hack that monitor/audio/touchscreen cable. endless possibilities.....

pefdude · « **Reply #56 on:** October 10, 2007, 04:55:51 pm »

Me too! I'm local so i'd be picking it up.

heffe2001 · « **Reply #57 on:** October 10, 2007, 09:58:06 pm »

According to the PDF's, teh units sound ports are both inputs, no outputs (Microphone in and Line in). Have you tried yours yet to see if either is output or not? It's not a huge deal, as you can always put a USB or PCMCIA soundcard in the unit, just curious if you tried it out. It also for whatever reason shows the video cable output as a video/audio port?

TheDriver · « **Reply #58 on:** October 11, 2007, 03:39:28 am »

Nice idea for a compact cab project. Incidently I work with the health service in the uk and our IT dept took delivery of 200 of these last year, they are very,very expensive so if the price was going to be just above the 100 mark then it is an absolute bargain.

Regards.

mountain · « **Reply #59 on:** October 15, 2007, 04:58:40 pm »

Quote from: USSEnterprise on October 09, 2007, 10:19:47 pm

Well, I have the whole thing running on my dining room table, sans the 60 pound cart and the 10 pound batteries. Once the batteries are removed, the power supply is relatively lightweight. Maybe 35 lbs total shipping weight. The two 12v sealed lead acid batteries add about 10 lbs, and, if new and fully charged, will supposedly run the system for 14 hours. The audio, according to what I saw in device manager, is AC'97 based. The video is based on S3. LAN is Realtek. Once I get a HDD hooked up tomorrow, and hopefully install the full Windows XP, I'll submit an update.

Any luck yet?

Kaytrim · « **Reply #60 on:** October 18, 2007, 12:06:58 pm »

Any progress to report? Looking forward to getting my hands on one of these little toys.

Barry Barcrest · « **Reply #61 on:** October 21, 2007, 06:58:10 pm »

If you wanted to, you could probably run freebox on these things. I run mine on a P700mhz with 128mb of ram so these with 256mb should do the trick. I run my audio across a network too without much trouble.

ElfShotTheFood · « **Reply #62 on:** November 01, 2007, 03:49:33 pm »

any more info on these things?? or has the real-life flu got you?

srabelpawz · « **Reply #63 on:** November 02, 2007, 02:27:54 pm »

whatever happened with the last batch of touchscrren computers that everyone here bought like a year or 2 ago?

CheffoJeffo · « **Reply #64 on:** November 02, 2007, 02:34:12 pm »

Quote from: srabelpawz on November 02, 2007, 02:27:54 pm

whatever happened with the last batch of touchscrren computers that everyone here bought like a year or 2 ago?

I actually pulled mine out and started playing with it again ... it still works fine ... I just need to find some juke software that will run well on it (IIRC, it's a Celeron 400 with 64Mb RAM).

srabelpawz · « **Reply #65 on:** November 02, 2007, 02:44:42 pm »

Quote from: CheffoJeffo on November 02, 2007, 02:34:12 pm

Quote from: srabelpawz on November 02, 2007, 02:27:54 pm
whatever happened with the last batch of touchscrren computers that everyone here bought like a year or 2 ago?

I actually pulled mine out and started playing with it again ... it still works fine ... I just need to find some juke software that will run well on it (IIRC, it's a Celeron 400 with 64Mb RAM).

i found mine as well but don't know much about computers to mess with it though. i wanted to see if anyone could help me with it so i'll pm you as to not crap up this guys thread anymore

Encryptor · « **Reply #66 on:** January 24, 2008, 05:49:56 am »

Any news on these?

Encryptor

srabelpawz · « **Reply #67 on:** January 25, 2008, 07:06:25 pm »

i have one of the "old ones" if you are interested. the one's everyone ordered like a year or so ago

Encryptor · « **Reply #68 on:** January 26, 2008, 08:31:49 pm »

srabelpawz - Do you have the specs or model number of the one you have?

What would you be looking to get for it?

Encryptor

srabelpawz · « **Reply #69 on:** January 30, 2008, 08:51:36 am »

i sent you a PM


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