3 ms·

The X500 Plus computer case (2013)

44 points by indigodaddy 4y ago

csixty4 4y ago
That was a cool project. I'm currently waiting for a freshly molded A500 case from an Indiegogo campaign that support a Raspberry Pi as well as an actual Amiga motherboard. I have a mechanical Amiga 500 keyboard waiting to go in the case when it arrives, and that came from another crowdfunded project. It's amazing how accessible this sort of manufacturing is these days compared to what we were doing ten years ago like this project.
- dasloop 4y ago
  I had an Amiga 500, I love the computer very much. The problem with these projects is that you end up with a keyboard at an angle that is not ergonomic at all.
causality0 4y ago
That form factor with chiclet keys is so, so wrong. I do wonder why there aren't more retrocomputer raspberry pi project boxes. Would be cool to have an IBM 5100 on my desk.
- trynewideas 4y ago
  Here's the X500 Evo with a mechanical keyboard: http://www.mfilos.com/2014/08/x500-evo-arrived.html?m=1 http://www.mfilos.com/2014/08/x500-evo-arrived.html?m=1
  - ComputerGuru 4y ago
    It's so much better like that!
  - rob74 4y ago
    There are also more pics in the "updates" section of the Kickstarter page. If I would have got one, it would have probably been the beige version for maximum nostalgia factor (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/505470364/the-x500-plus-computer-case/posts/961622 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/505470364/the-x500-plus...). But I actually like detached keyboards that you can move around on the desk.
- kjs3 4y ago
  There was a guy on YouTube 3D printing exactly that. There are staggering numbers of retroPi cases out there.
Synaesthesia 4y ago
Recently saw an Apple patent for a computer entirely inside a keyboard. With their M1 chips they could actually do this. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/apple-patent-mac-built-in-keyboard https://www.tomshardware.com/news/apple-patent-mac-built-in-...
- jimktrains2 4y ago
  Hasn't that been a thing for a while? That's exactly what the raspberry pi 400 is. Also, isn't that what a laptop basically is, but with an attached screen?
  - StrictDabbler 4y ago
    Apple IIc, BBC Micro, C64, Sinclair ZX-81. Arguably even the Apple I. So the oldest prior art is from about 1976-1977 and it's Apple's invention. Apple put through a new patent to protect against patent trolls. If the PTO will (incorrectly!) accept a new patent for this very, very old invention then Apple is vulnerable to nuisance lawsuits from trolls so they'd rather be holding the new ridiculous patent themselves. They do with this every new product they're even considering developing.
- marssaxman 4y ago
  Once upon a time, they did it with a 6502.
trynewideas 4y ago
Now that we have screen casting, bring back the eee Keyboard PC: https://bit-tech.net/reviews/tech/peripherals/asus-eee-keyboard-pc-review/1/ https://bit-tech.net/reviews/tech/peripherals/asus-eee-keybo...
- uni_rule 4y ago
  I wonder if you can cram that and a smartphone battery into a Pi400 relatively easily
netule 4y ago
Nice, but the keyboard doesn't look quite right. Personally, I would love to have my PC housed in an IBM 5150-style case with a big red power switch.
Koshkin 4y ago
I wish someone build a PC into an electric typewriter (even with the paper being the only console medium)! The keyboard in this one looks perfect: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Royal-Scriptor-13-Portable-Electronic-Typewriter/663936352 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Royal-Scriptor-13-Portable-Electr...
sobkas 4y ago
The beauty of Commodore 128D(CR) is astonishing. If only there were reproductions of this chassis and it was possible to cram modern (and rather beefy 7950X, so no dinky arm boards).
bodge5000 4y ago
Tried to do a similar thing with an old thinkpad (x250) a few months ago, basically just removing the screen so you have a computer, keyboard and trackpoint/trackpad in one. Turns out it wasn't just as easy as removing the screen, and I after a lot of messing around I only just managed to get it to boot, though the display ports didn't work and it kept beeping out error codes.

44 points by indigodaddy 4y ago

That was a cool project. I'm currently waiting for a freshly molded A500 case from an Indiegogo campaign that support a Raspberry Pi as well as an actual Amiga motherboard. I have a mechanical Amiga 500 keyboard waiting to go in the case when it arrives, and that came from another crowdfunded project. It's amazing how accessible this sort of manufacturing is these days compared to what we were doing ten years ago like this project.

dasloop 4y ago
I had an Amiga 500, I love the computer very much. The problem with these projects is that you end up with a keyboard at an angle that is not ergonomic at all.

causality0 4y ago

That form factor with chiclet keys is so, so wrong. I do wonder why there aren't more retrocomputer raspberry pi project boxes. Would be cool to have an IBM 5100 on my desk.

trynewideas 4y ago
Here's the X500 Evo with a mechanical keyboard: http://www.mfilos.com/2014/08/x500-evo-arrived.html?m=1 http://www.mfilos.com/2014/08/x500-evo-arrived.html?m=1
- ComputerGuru 4y ago
  It's so much better like that!
- rob74 4y ago
  There are also more pics in the "updates" section of the Kickstarter page. If I would have got one, it would have probably been the beige version for maximum nostalgia factor (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/505470364/the-x500-plus-computer-case/posts/961622 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/505470364/the-x500-plus...). But I actually like detached keyboards that you can move around on the desk.
kjs3 4y ago
There was a guy on YouTube 3D printing exactly that. There are staggering numbers of retroPi cases out there.

Synaesthesia 4y ago

Recently saw an Apple patent for a computer entirely inside a keyboard. With their M1 chips they could actually do this. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/apple-patent-mac-built-in-keyboard https://www.tomshardware.com/news/apple-patent-mac-built-in-...

jimktrains2 4y ago
Hasn't that been a thing for a while? That's exactly what the raspberry pi 400 is. Also, isn't that what a laptop basically is, but with an attached screen?
- StrictDabbler 4y ago
  Apple IIc, BBC Micro, C64, Sinclair ZX-81. Arguably even the Apple I. So the oldest prior art is from about 1976-1977 and it's Apple's invention. Apple put through a new patent to protect against patent trolls. If the PTO will (incorrectly!) accept a new patent for this very, very old invention then Apple is vulnerable to nuisance lawsuits from trolls so they'd rather be holding the new ridiculous patent themselves. They do with this every new product they're even considering developing.
marssaxman 4y ago
Once upon a time, they did it with a 6502.

trynewideas 4y ago

Now that we have screen casting, bring back the eee Keyboard PC: https://bit-tech.net/reviews/tech/peripherals/asus-eee-keyboard-pc-review/1/ https://bit-tech.net/reviews/tech/peripherals/asus-eee-keybo...

uni_rule 4y ago
I wonder if you can cram that and a smartphone battery into a Pi400 relatively easily

netule 4y ago

Nice, but the keyboard doesn't look quite right. Personally, I would love to have my PC housed in an IBM 5150-style case with a big red power switch.

Koshkin 4y ago

I wish someone build a PC into an electric typewriter (even with the paper being the only console medium)! The keyboard in this one looks perfect: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Royal-Scriptor-13-Portable-Electronic-Typewriter/663936352 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Royal-Scriptor-13-Portable-Electr...

sobkas 4y ago

The beauty of Commodore 128D(CR) is astonishing. If only there were reproductions of this chassis and it was possible to cram modern (and rather beefy 7950X, so no dinky arm boards).

bodge5000 4y ago

Tried to do a similar thing with an old thinkpad (x250) a few months ago, basically just removing the screen so you have a computer, keyboard and trackpoint/trackpad in one. Turns out it wasn't just as easy as removing the screen, and I after a lot of messing around I only just managed to get it to boot, though the display ports didn't work and it kept beeping out error codes.