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Wikimedian and self-described “software program fanatic” Dmitry Brant has a classic Compaq laptop computer with a distinction: its basic Intel 286 guts have been eliminated in favor of a Raspberry Pi single-board laptop, hooked to a full-color show.
“Some time in the past a got here throughout an previous Compaq LTE 286 laptop computer. Sadly this specific unit was just about past restore, and my makes an attempt to revive it to a practical state have been fruitless,” Brant explains of the inspiration behind his stealth construct. “Nevertheless, I noticed that I may do the subsequent smartest thing: take away the heart of the laptop computer and substitute it with a Raspberry Pi!Nevertheless, I noticed that I may do the subsequent smartest thing: take away the heart of the laptop computer and substitute it with a Raspberry Pi!”
This compact Compaq hides a secret: It is really being pushed by a Raspberry Pi. (📷: Dmitry Brant)
Utilizing the Compaq LTE, a tool initially launched within the late Eighties as one of many first transportable computer systems to resemble what would develop into the trendy laptop computer, as a base, Brant set about gutting the system and putting in significantly extra trendy internals.
The guts of the construct is a Raspberry Pi 3 Mannequin B, housed roughly the place the floppy drive would have been on the unique — providing exterior entry, if you happen to’re cautious and outfitted with tweezers, to the microSD card through the unique floppy drive slot. There is a Teensy LC microcontroller board to attach the unique keyboard to the Raspberry Pi, together with an HDMI driver board for a alternative full-color show the place the unique single-color panel lived.
“The closest trendy alternative I may discover is a 9-inch TFT show, ordered from AliExpress for $30, which has a facet ratio of 16:9,” Brant explains of the changed show. “This implies I needed to lower away a few of the plastic to accommodate the additional vertical actual property of the brand new display, however I don’t assume this impacts the aesthetic an excessive amount of.”
The laptop computer has a brand new display (1), keyboard adapter cable (2), Teensy LC (3), HDMI driver (4), USB extension (5), and Raspberry PI (6). (📷: Dmitry Brant)
Externally, bar the broader show, the laptop computer appears roughly authentic — and in surprisingly good condition for its age. Two key modifications supply a touch as to its inner secrets and techniques: a USB connection for powering the Raspberry Pi, plus a panel-mount connector for 3.5mm audio/video connectivity and USB.
“The entire thing works amazingly nicely as a retro gaming laptop computer! My completely satisfied place is taking part in previous DOS video games utilizing the venerable DOSBox emulator, however the state of retro emulation for Raspberry Pi is far broader than that, and this magnificence can deal with all of it,” Brant concludes. “And naturally it additionally works as a general-purpose Linux PC, with WiFi, Bluetooth, and every little thing else you’d count on. Sometime, if I’m feeling notably masochistic, I’ll see if I can let this be my day by day driver for some time!”
Brant’s full write-up is accessible on his web site.
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