Just as the title states. I would like to make something like the noteslate. I want to use the E-Ink, wifi, browser, speaker, sd slot, etc.... I know a little about hardware on a PC. But it has been a long time since I have built a computer. Does anyone have any insight?
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Making a Tablet
- Thread starter lo99tahoe
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I know I need a manufacture, etc... I need info on what motherboard, pcb, etc...
heatlesssun
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One of the problems you're going to have is getting parts, you simply can't buy a lot of this stuff like desktop parts off the shelf and you have to buy whole retail machines and then cannibalize them.
You can probably do it with a lot of work but it won't be cost effective at all.
You can probably do it with a lot of work but it won't be cost effective at all.
What type parts do I need to look into? Buy other tablets and hack them?
you would need to contact places like Wacom for screen parts, somewhere to get the IPS, and the rest of the hardware, as been said you will need to caniblize already made products to get the parts you need since htey are custom parts for the most part
e-ink screens are good for ebook readers (static images/pages), but look like an early 1990s LCD when using it for moving graphics.
You don't list out any requirements for architecture or performance, size or battery life. Are all those things supposed to work themselves out?
If your goal is to get a tablet PC (x86) that has a long battery life, there are a couple of choices available now. If the goal of an e-ink screen is to have daylight readability, regardless of how bad it is as a general use display, check out the tablets with a Pixel Qi display instead. I'm not sure there are any x86 models yet.
IMO, unless you're an engineer, you're probably wasting your time trying to build a tablet.
You don't list out any requirements for architecture or performance, size or battery life. Are all those things supposed to work themselves out?
If your goal is to get a tablet PC (x86) that has a long battery life, there are a couple of choices available now. If the goal of an e-ink screen is to have daylight readability, regardless of how bad it is as a general use display, check out the tablets with a Pixel Qi display instead. I'm not sure there are any x86 models yet.
IMO, unless you're an engineer, you're probably wasting your time trying to build a tablet.
No.
I simply want to build a real noteslate.
e-ink screens are good for ebook readers (static images/pages), but look like an early 1990s LCD when using it for moving graphics.
You don't list out any requirements for architecture or performance, size or battery life. Are all those things supposed to work themselves out?
If your goal is to get a tablet PC (x86) that has a long battery life, there are a couple of choices available now. If the goal of an e-ink screen is to have daylight readability, regardless of how bad it is as a general use display, check out the tablets with a Pixel Qi display instead. I'm not sure there are any x86 models yet.
IMO, unless you're an engineer, you're probably wasting your time trying to build a tablet.
I was actually thinking about using Linux for the os.
I think his goal is to get the engineering work done here, for free. Then he can buy the pieces and have his tablet.
Yep, I came on here to get free engineering. I simply came on here ask for help. Like a guidance on what to do. I need a engineer. Thanks for making hardforum look unclassy.
Who do y'all recommend for the engineering aspect?
so you want to build a tablet from scratch?
as it stands now, using linux is a horrid idea, it has virtually zero support for inking note......your better off paying the $100 for the new note pad thing coming out, cant remember what it was called
as it stands now, using linux is a horrid idea, it has virtually zero support for inking note......your better off paying the $100 for the new note pad thing coming out, cant remember what it was called
Out of everything mentioned, that's your only requirement?
I meant it above... using an e-ink display for a general use computer is a horribad idea. Unless of course you like displays with 200ms pixel response time.Just buy a Notion Ink Adam tablet with the optional Pixel Qi LCD. It's a pretty mediocre tablet, but much better integrated than anything a non-engineer amateur could build: http://www.notionink.com/techspecs.php
An Ubuntu option is supposedly coming if you don't like Android.
edit: i'm beginning to think you's trollin'.
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mycomputersucks
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i think he's just underestimating the complexity of his project.
OP, just buy a prebuilt. tablets aren't just pc parts jammed in a case. besides, "notepad" implies a pen input/handwriting recognition of some sort. i'm not aware of any linux distros w/ that support built in.
heatlesssun
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There is some support for handwriting recognition under Linux but if you're really serious about good HWR then Windows 7 is your only option. As poor as Windows is considered by many as a touchscreen OS its inking abilities are light-years ahead of anything else at the moment.
Red Squirrel
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It would be interesting to see this done, though from a realistic point of view, it would cost a lot. Keep in mind that most (or all?) tablets today are mass produced, which costs less per unit, and not only that, but they are mass produced by Chinese slaves, the labor costs are pretty much null. We're talking maybe dollars per day, and they probably make a few million in a day. I'm just guessing on stats here, would be interesting to see the real thing, but either way as an individual it would be hard to pull off.
But I'm sure it's doable, but it won't be cheaper or better, but a hell of a cool project to show friends. Or if you actually want to go commercial and mass produce, well if you put your heart to it, anything is possible. That's how Steve Jobs and Bill Gates started.
As far as Linux, go for it. Just because it does not have support does not mean it can't do it. That's the beauty of open source.
But I'm sure it's doable, but it won't be cheaper or better, but a hell of a cool project to show friends. Or if you actually want to go commercial and mass produce, well if you put your heart to it, anything is possible. That's how Steve Jobs and Bill Gates started.
As far as Linux, go for it. Just because it does not have support does not mean it can't do it. That's the beauty of open source.
I do not want to buy a tablet. I want to a make tablet that no one has. IE that noteslate.
The reason I was thinking about linux, is that it is light OS. Doesn't take alot of ram or resources. I was looking into putting cellwrite and openoffice draw on it. Plus be able to save the document.
I have the money to get it made. It is hit, I may make a lot and sell them. I'm just not sure where to turn to.
If I do use windows 7 for the os, do I need a license if I sell the tablet? I'm clueless.
Dangman
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Specs wise, this link should give you an idea of the more common hardware architectures used in the many tablets out there:
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_tablet_PCs"]Comparison of tablet PCs - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]
For the engineering aspect, you're gonna have to do the legwork yourself there. As you can see above, many companies are already making or in the process of making and producing tablets.
Now, why not just invest your money into the Noteslate? Also, what exactly would your tablet have that no other tablet, at least listed in the above link, would not have?
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_tablet_PCs"]Comparison of tablet PCs - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]
For the engineering aspect, you're gonna have to do the legwork yourself there. As you can see above, many companies are already making or in the process of making and producing tablets.
Now, why not just invest your money into the Noteslate? Also, what exactly would your tablet have that no other tablet, at least listed in the above link, would not have?
heatlesssun
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You're talking BIG TIME money to make a device of this nature, you are going to need to need first class engineering and production resources to make something like this.
It sounds to me like you need to do some more independent research, then come back and ask questions. There are a lot of smart people on here, but it's hard to offer meaningful advice for such broad questions. It's not really clear to me what your goal is.
It's not a matter of whether you can or can't build your own tablet; it's how badly you want to do it (and how much you're willing to spend).
I would agree that it could cost millions of dollars if you're designing something from the ground up; especially if you plan to setup tooling for mass production.
If you're just trying to build a "one of a kind" prototype, then that's different. I'm not the kind of engineer that designs tablets, but I'd take an educated guess that a single prototype could cost you anywhere from $5000 to $50000, and that's assuming you're using parts that already exist.
It's not a matter of whether you can or can't build your own tablet; it's how badly you want to do it (and how much you're willing to spend).
I would agree that it could cost millions of dollars if you're designing something from the ground up; especially if you plan to setup tooling for mass production.
If you're just trying to build a "one of a kind" prototype, then that's different. I'm not the kind of engineer that designs tablets, but I'd take an educated guess that a single prototype could cost you anywhere from $5000 to $50000, and that's assuming you're using parts that already exist.
If you're not the type that can do a hardware mod, how are you gonna build a tablet prototype? Have you done anything at all that shows that you can handle a soldering iron?
Are you just looking for someone to finance?
If you're looking to experiement, you can get one of those cheap china tablets and take them apart so you can check the serial numbers. They have the same basic components.
There are also sites that dismantle electronic hardware like this one
http://www.talkandroid.com/20616-under-the-hood-archos-101-android-tablet/
They also post high res pictures of the individual components and shows you who manufactured each one.
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heatlesssun
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I'd like to build my own unicorn.
beat that!
I'd like to build a nuclear powered unicorn!
Your looking at complete custom fab. for that......the noteslate is a purpose designed device that is a long time coming to the market.....you wont be able to fab it yourself mate.
@RedSquirll....yes linux is all opensource, and that is the beauty, but unless youve got programing skills and handwriting recognition skills, your SOL on tablet use in linux, unless something has changed in the last few months since i was using it as a 24/7 on my tablet
@RedSquirll....yes linux is all opensource, and that is the beauty, but unless youve got programing skills and handwriting recognition skills, your SOL on tablet use in linux, unless something has changed in the last few months since i was using it as a 24/7 on my tablet
I do not want to buy a tablet. I want to a make tablet that no one has. IE that noteslate.
The reason I was thinking about linux, is that it is light OS. Doesn't take alot of ram or resources. I was looking into putting cellwrite and openoffice draw on it. Plus be able to save the document.
I have the money to get it made. It is hit, I may make a lot and sell them. I'm just not sure where to turn to.
If I do use windows 7 for the os, do I need a license if I sell the tablet? I'm clueless.