mwm@raven.relay.pa.dec.com (Mike (My Watch Has Windows) Meyer) (12/01/90)
Yeah, I'm going to ask for features to be added to the Amiga for a
future machine. Actually, I'm going to ask for features to be removed,
but you'll see...
Consider the following machine dimensions (all in inches):
Width Height Depth
14.6 3.9 15.6
14.6 4.3 15.6
14.6 4.5 15.5
Two are lifted from the spec sheet for high-end Toshiba portables,
including a 386 processor, 387 socket, expansion slots, 40-200 Meg
hard disk, and a VGA display (either color or b&w). One is my
measurements for an A3000 (couldn't find this information in spec
sheets).
At this point, what I want should be obvious: an Amiga 3000 CPU board
+ HD & floppy wedged into one of those cases, along with the keyboard
and VGA display that's already there.
Obviously, the crowd that never sleeps could design such a system. But
that would mean I have to buy another system. I'd rather take a crack
at doing the hack myself. I just don't know enough. Outstanding questions:
1) The A3000 motherboard uses all the width & depth of the case. Does
the T5200 do the same?
2) Can I get the specs on the expansion daughterboard so it can be
made to vanish (it takes up to much room)?
3) Is there a power supply that will feed the A3000, but fit into the
new case along with everything else?
4) Is it possible to redesign the accessory tray (or whatever you want
to call it) to mount things "sideways" to more room. Details:
The current A3000 looks like so (assuming you've Done The Right Thing,
and moved the floppy to where it belongs):
Ports, etc
+--------------------+
| .HD .Power |
|Empty . .supply|
| Air . . |
| . . |
| . . |
|(exp. ............|
|boards .air .FD |
|fill . . |
|this) . . |
| . . |
| . . |
+--------------------+
Front
It'd be nice if you could use the accessory tray and cram the
keyboard/display into the space reserved for expansion slots. However,
the CPU is less likely to fit that way, and that leaves the various
ports hanging off the side of the machine. That does improve the
possibility of leaveing a slot (or two) in the thing.
However, it's more likely to work if things get done this way:
Ports, etc
+--------------------+
|Power . Floppy |
|Supply . |
|....................|
|HD . Floppy? |
| . |
|....................|
|Keyboard & display |
|Fill this space |
| |
| |
| |
+--------------------+
Front
Or something like that.
So, am I off my rocker (probably - hardware is anytthing I can kick,
and I don't design it)? Could this be done without major work on the
cpu board? Can anyone provide missing answers (please!)? Would anyone
be interested in helping with this project - an A3000 sized box with
all the standard ports (including keyboard & mouse!), but a keyboard &
display built in so you can take it with you _easily_?
<mike
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