Portable White box/Bulky batteryless "laptop"

[somebody]

I would have good use for a portable, full power desktop computer with
generic interfaces.

What I sort of have in mind, is a briefcase featuring a ATX/BTX power
supply, mainboard, AGP/PCIE graphic card, 3.5 in hd and DVD/CDRW
combo. And integrated (at least to some extent, for carrying
convenience) LCD screen and mini keyboard & mouse.

Sort of bulky laptop without batteries, but with a lot of power.

Ordinary laptops don't hack it, as far as I'm concerned. I have
absolutely no use at all for their exclusive feature of an hour or two
battery time at some 200MHz. They're expensive, wimpy, and non
upgradable.
OpenGL performance is deplorable and keyboard terrible to work with.

As long as it's not to thick, and banging and bruising my leg, when
I'm carrying it, I would be ok with a bit of bulk. It doesn't have to
be as slim and light as laptops. I'd rather have it more convenient
and pleasant to work with. And I'd also like to fit my own standard
components.
It should be perfectly feasible. I mean, how heavy can a
ATX-board&PSU, hd, cd, screen and keyboard in an aluminum box be?

It's not a piece of hiking equipment. It's only going to be carried to
some car or through some terminals.

Now to my questions to the group:

Does anything like that exist?

Am I the only one interested in a product like this?

I'm not selling software, but it would be perfect for that category of
people too. As well as the performance problems, they always seem to
be screwed by some driver issue with their laptops.
And what about all you LAN party goers?

It at least _seem_ to me, there should be a healthy market for this.
Let me hear your thoughts.

ancra

 

[Sooky Grumper]

I would have good use for a portable, full power desktop computer with
generic interfaces.

What I sort of have in mind, is a briefcase featuring a ATX/BTX power
supply, mainboard, AGP/PCIE graphic card, 3.5 in hd and DVD/CDRW
combo. And integrated (at least to some extent, for carrying
convenience) LCD screen and mini keyboard & mouse.

Sort of bulky laptop without batteries, but with a lot of power.

Ordinary laptops don't hack it, as far as I'm concerned. I have
absolutely no use at all for their exclusive feature of an hour or two
battery time at some 200MHz. They're expensive, wimpy, and non
upgradable.
OpenGL performance is deplorable and keyboard terrible to work with.

As long as it's not to thick, and banging and bruising my leg, when
I'm carrying it, I would be ok with a bit of bulk. It doesn't have to
be as slim and light as laptops. I'd rather have it more convenient
and pleasant to work with. And I'd also like to fit my own standard
components.
It should be perfectly feasible. I mean, how heavy can a
ATX-board&PSU, hd, cd, screen and keyboard in an aluminum box be?

It's not a piece of hiking equipment. It's only going to be carried to
some car or through some terminals.

Now to my questions to the group:

Does anything like that exist?

Case modders make them all the time.

Am I the only one interested in a product like this?

Case modders make them all the time...

 

[Richard Kawamura]

Try this website;

http://www.bsicomputer.com/portable/portables.htm


Richard

 

[somebody]

Case modders make them all the time.

Well, what I had in mind, would take an awful lot of 'modding'. But
are there any aluminum modular case parts available, that would start
you off?

Case modders make them all the time...

Ok, does that mean that it is easy to disassemble a LCD monitor, and
mount the screen in a home made chassis?

ancra

 

[somebody]

Try this website;

http://www.bsicomputer.com/portable/portables.htm

Too expensive and a bit old tech for all that money. And while the
military might consider them portable... That was sort of what I was
thinking of when I considered bruises... Bulkier than a tower with
bolted on handle. And 40lbs! - Ouch, I'd hoped to do much better.

No, I'd like something slimmer. But thanks anyway.

ancra

 

[Al Dykes]

I would have good use for a portable, full power desktop computer with
generic interfaces.

What I sort of have in mind, is a briefcase featuring a ATX/BTX power
supply, mainboard, AGP/PCIE graphic card, 3.5 in hd and DVD/CDRW
combo. And integrated (at least to some extent, for carrying
convenience) LCD screen and mini keyboard & mouse.

Sort of bulky laptop without batteries, but with a lot of power.

Ordinary laptops don't hack it, as far as I'm concerned. I have
absolutely no use at all for their exclusive feature of an hour or two
battery time at some 200MHz. They're expensive, wimpy, and non
upgradable.
OpenGL performance is deplorable and keyboard terrible to work with.

As long as it's not to thick, and banging and bruising my leg, when
I'm carrying it, I would be ok with a bit of bulk. It doesn't have to
be as slim and light as laptops. I'd rather have it more convenient
and pleasant to work with. And I'd also like to fit my own standard
components.
It should be perfectly feasible. I mean, how heavy can a
ATX-board&PSU, hd, cd, screen and keyboard in an aluminum box be?

It's not a piece of hiking equipment. It's only going to be carried to
some car or through some terminals.

Now to my questions to the group:

Does anything like that exist?

Am I the only one interested in a product like this?

I'm not selling software, but it would be perfect for that category of
people too. As well as the performance problems, they always seem to
be screwed by some driver issue with their laptops.
And what about all you LAN party goers?

It at least _seem_ to me, there should be a healthy market for this.
Let me hear your thoughts.

ancra

There have been protable computers describes as "bricks". These had a
full-power CPU, memory, disk, standard plugs and jacks, and of course,
a PSU in a custom form-factor cube maybe 3x4x9 inches. The ones I've
seen were designed to be knocked around.

The idea was that you could have a kbd, monitor and mouse at home and
at the office. At the end of the day you'd toss the thing in your
briefcase or backpack and take it home.

I don't recall a floppy, or a CD cdrive built in. Last seen about 10
years ago. At the time this was comparable to the desktops, and
laptops were nosebleed expensive, heavy, underpowered, and had crappy
battery life.

"Brick" was the brand name for one of them.

 

[Sooky Grumper]

Well, what I had in mind, would take an awful lot of 'modding'. But
are there any aluminum modular case parts available, that would start
you off?

Have a look around online and post a url. Modders mod for the fun and
challenge of it, but if you want to commission a case, then I'm sure
you'll get a few takers. Better yet, you can build it yourself and make
it exactly how you want it.

Ok, does that mean that it is easy to disassemble a LCD monitor, and
mount the screen in a home made chassis?

Easier than with a CRT Have a search around the Internet and look at
different case mod display sites/pages. Modders install all sizes of LCD
displays in their mods. I've seen a few with LCDs inside remote control
cars even.