Overview Features Coding ApolloOS Performance Forum Downloads Products Order Contact

Welcome to the Apollo Forum

This forum is for people interested in the APOLLO CPU.
Please read the forum usage manual.
Please visit our Apollo-Discord Server for support.



All TopicsNewsPerformanceGamesDemosApolloVampireAROSWorkbenchATARIReleases
Documentation about the Vampire hardware

Vampire Laptoppage  1 2 

Obetto Sannala

Posts 61
18 Aug 2017 13:50


Is anyone already working on a Vampire Laptop?

For example like this: EXTERNAL LINK 

If no one ist working on it, I'll start the project, as soon as I can buy the standalone version.

Otherwise I'm happy to help someone else.


Gunnar von Boehn
(Apollo Team Member)
Posts 6207
18 Aug 2017 13:53


Obetto, nice idea!


Vojin Vidanovic

Posts 770
18 Aug 2017 14:02


Obetto Sannala wrote:

  Otherwise I'm happy to help someone else.

You ll have to try. Standalone will offer all that is needed.

What can we say, when thieves steal Alices.



Obetto Sannala

Posts 61
18 Aug 2017 14:02


What is the average power consumption of the standalone?

Do you already know?


Roy Gillotti

Posts 517
18 Aug 2017 14:34


I have some plans of doing a similar project. I have two plans, but not sure which one I'll implement.
 
  My first idea is to utilize a dead 80's Nec laptop, I figured out how to decode the signals out of the keyboard's micro-controller I will just need to figure out how to translate it to USB or something the vampire can use. There is plenty of room to put the Vampire Standalone and perhaps another single board computer and a large battery. I also found a 720p DIGITAL-VIDEO/VGA screen that can run off 5Volts that should fit into the LCD lid.
 
  The other idea is for a slim version with 3D printed parts, this may be the easier path if I had any 3D design skills which I can say is lacking. 


Pedro Cotter
(Apollo Team Member)
Posts 308
18 Aug 2017 14:48


Do it and take my money!!!!


Obetto Sannala

Posts 61
18 Aug 2017 14:59


I would like to make an Open Solution, so that everyone can build his own Laptop. A Standard Laptop Shell, Drivers and some good Instructions should be fine.


Thierry Atheist

Posts 644
18 Aug 2017 23:47


Roy Gillotti wrote:
I have some plans of doing a similar project. I have two plans, but not sure which one I'll implement.

My first idea is to utilize a dead 80's Nec laptop,....


Hi Roy Gillotti,

While that is AWESOME on so many levels!!!! it would be better to find a currently manufactured case as a solution..... unless you really are ready to put in the work on an old case....

You'll be a SUPERSTAR STANDOUT at any shows, THAT'S FOR SURE!!!!!

using a new, easily available case, others could copy what you did (if it doesn't bother you).


Thierry Atheist

Posts 644
18 Aug 2017 23:53


Obetto Sannala wrote:
Is anyone already working on a Vampire Laptop?

For example like this: EXTERNAL LINK 
If no one ist working on it, I'll start the project, as soon as I can buy the standalone version.


Hi Obetto Sannala,

I really hope you do this...

The Apollo Core and ([BoXer]... NatAmi-->) Vampire computer journey is LIKE NO OTHER in computing history that there ever could possibly be!!!!

Everything we're doing, everything, we were told IS IMPOSSIBLE.... and yet, "you are here".


Vojin Vidanovic

Posts 770
19 Aug 2017 11:34


Thierry Atheist wrote:

  The Apollo Core and ([BoXer]... NatAmi-->) Vampire computer journey is LIKE NO OTHER in computing history that there ever could possibly be!!!!

This one would be beating the "Suzane" EXTERNAL LINK 
And having a real Amiga laptop, unlike emulation box like Alice, introduced in 2015 but never out.

Surely, AmiKit X can be run on any laptop, but hey, nativity is reality.



Roy Gillotti

Posts 517
19 Aug 2017 20:31


Thierry Atheist wrote:

  While that is AWESOME on so many levels!!!! it would be better to find a currently manufactured case as a solution..... unless you really are ready to put in the work on an old case....

I don't think I can make a production quality device with my 3D modeling skills. And the old Laptop idea is my own selfish project and I've done a bit of leg work on starting that project.


Edgar Fink

Posts 47
22 Aug 2017 22:14


I have a Thinkpad 240 lying around for a project just like this! Great idea.
   
  Look at this beauty:
  http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:240
 
 
  Edit:
  After reading a bit on the subject, it seems that retrofitting a Thinkpad keyboard to a modern board is no simple task at all. :)


Rob M

Posts 60
23 Aug 2017 20:18


I saw this on Amigaworld.net and suggested a V4 would be the ideal Amiga board to put in the case.  I did check out a few reviews and both mentioned that the keyboard isn't great to use.

The V4 has about the same footprint as a 3.5" drive so it wouldn't be a big deal getting it into most laptop cases.  DIGITAL-VIDEO to LVDS boards are readily available (@£10 for the cheapest on Ali Express) and a quick google search brought a number of links for converting laptop keyboards to USB so it should be too difficult to get the input devices connected.  It just needs a charging circuit for the battery and USB power.  Looking on Ebay I found a working laptop with no drive for £40.  So with a little more effort it should be easy to get something a lot nicer for much less.

I might have a go at this myself when the V4 is available and I have sufficient funds.


John William

Posts 563
23 Aug 2017 23:08


Roy Gillotti wrote:

I have some plans of doing a similar project. I have two plans, but not sure which one I'll implement.
 
  My first idea is to utilize a dead 80's Nec laptop, I figured out how to decode the signals out of the keyboard's micro-controller I will just need to figure out how to translate it to USB or something the vampire can use. There is plenty of room to put the Vampire Standalone and perhaps another single board computer and a large battery. I also found a 720p DIGITAL-VIDEO/VGA screen that can run off 5Volts that should fit into the LCD lid.
 
  The other idea is for a slim version with 3D printed parts, this may be the easier path if I had any 3D design skills which I can say is lacking. 

I am not lying when I say this. If you have the laptop kit (i.e, case, screen, keyboard, battery, power supply, etc...and empty inside to fit a v4) and the holes for the case is designed to fit and match the v4 with just sticking cables and wires into it...then by all means I will buy one from you and I will buy another v4 and turn that as laptop!



Obetto Sannala

Posts 61
07 Sep 2017 13:28


From what I've seen so far, the Vampire Laptop with pi-top (https://pi-top.com/products/pi-top) shouldn't be that difficult to realize.
 
  I went through all the tech specs and I'm pretty confident to get it to work. If needed I'll write some drivers for the Trackpad or Keyboard.
 
  The only thing wich is still unclear to me is the power supply.
 
  What connector and what voltage is used on the standalone V4?
 


Ian Parsons

Posts 230
08 Sep 2017 06:43


Same as the raspPI, 5V over microUSB AFAIK


Nicolas Sipieter
(Needs Verification)
Posts 115/ 1
08 Sep 2017 07:33


if it's powered by micro-usb, (as the raspberry) then it's quite good.
it means it will be possible to power it through portable solar panel with portable battery kits. coupled with 12v screens that can also be powered by same solution.



Obetto Sannala

Posts 61
08 Sep 2017 08:03


Well, that's really cool!

So, now I don't see any big issues getting the pi-top to work with the Vampire standalone.

I'll probably write some tools for Screen Brightness control, Shutdown, Energy Management, etc, if they do not already exist.

What do you think: What OS should I start with? ApolloOS?



Nicolas Sipieter
(Needs Verification)
Posts 115/ 1
08 Sep 2017 10:17


apolloOS is just amigaos3.9 packaged with all the correct libs and needed stuffs, to work out of the box on vampires.
  but yes it's good to use that as base for test and devel.
 
  it's good to hear you're offering to create tools for screen and touchpad. i'll probably end up buying that amiga-vampire-pitop solution too if it works.
 
 


John William

Posts 563
08 Sep 2017 20:01


Obetto Sannala wrote:

From what I've seen so far, the Vampire Laptop with pi-top (https://pi-top.com/products/pi-top) shouldn't be that difficult to realize.
 
  I went through all the tech specs and I'm pretty confident to get it to work. If needed I'll write some drivers for the Trackpad or Keyboard.
 
  The only thing wich is still unclear to me is the power supply.
 
  What connector and what voltage is used on the standalone V4?
 

When can I buy it and how much it cost and when can I do an preorder for the laptop kit? Will there be a manual or something with pictures and details of instructions when you own your own v4 to put it in the laptop case kit? I am thinking if this can work and you can at least 4 hours battery life span...I may consider turning my v4 as a permanent laptop instead of a standalone tower case computer. I would love to take it around with me and listen to mp3 on it instead of my ps vita and watch movies on it and browse the net on it and play cool Amiga games!

Damn!!!!!

I WANT THIS! Plus I can have a disk drive port to use real Amiga external disk drive if I wanted too.........eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


posts 39page  1 2