http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3698&item=5114120232&rd=1
I've noticed this item, which is an integrated PC/flat panel combo. The interesting thing about it is that it's a hybrid of DT / portable technologies (3.5" HD, PC-66 SDRAM).
The LCD controller is a C&T 69000, which from what I've been able to find out, works with both LCDs and VGA.
Now if this machine is built like a TAM with the VGA -> LCD controller on a daughtercard, it's a darn sight cheaper to buy this than a dedicated controller.
But is it a daughtercard, and will it really work as a Holy Grail "can I use my laptop screen with my desktop" device? Anyone know more about this item?
I would bet my favorite nickel that the motherboard in that system is essntially lifted straight out of a laptop. No daughterboard, no seperate VGA->LCD controller.
(The C&T 6900 is a *VGA Chipset* which natively supports LCDs. Why would they put in a seperate VGA->LCD daughterboard if they're already using an LCD-capable VGA chip?)
--Peace
. . . I downloaded and peeked at the manual, take a look, it's a very interesting system. There's a slot for what looks like a standard vertical DIMM, they've got a big heatsink on the CPU and weren't worried at all about battery life from the looks of things.
However, you are almost certainly correct in assuming that the LCD controller is on the mobo, the only provision for a daughtercard looks like it's for the optional touchscreen board. Looks more like a custom vertical market board for the likes of a cash register from what I could see . . . but, given the form factor, there's bound to be a LOT of laptop influence in the design for sure.
jt
p.s. anybody look for the mfr's site yet? I'll bet there was a writeup in Pen Computing on this sucker too . . . but I'm already bored . . . =8-/
I'm with eudi on this one, it makes no sense for this kind of a semi-ruggedized vertical market workstation to be anything like the TAM. One was meant to be nothing but functional and reliable in a fairly extreme environment. Just a few sales to hospitals, at a MUCH lower price point, would put it far over the TAM's intended limited production run.
IMHO, the TAM was aimed at AppleDesignAesthetes®, Dealers and Collectors with a lot more money than computing requirements (or good sense) right from day one. Which is why they probably used a gee-whiz-TV/FM/Video System equipped descendent of the Quadra 630 with a Custom LCD Adapter board rather than a PowerBook for TAM's MLB.
The things they REALLY got right on the TAM was in making provisions for installing a second PCI card with the optional "BackPack" bulge and by using a machine with an L2 cache slot for lengthening its useful lifetime.
A very nice little package of VERY expensive fluff, that TAM!
jt ::)
Yep! Looks like they've gone out of the market for such devices. I couldn't find links to the Clear Screen directly from their site, other than a few drivers, but that manual linked from the auction is actually hosted on Planar's site.
It was the few internal photos in the manual that got me excited, because as you note it's not just a lappy board like the PB5300 tablet. I just wish there were more photos so I could actually see what's what with the video.
It's still tempting. Heck, for the price it's still pretty good (at least for a 266MHz laptop, and the ability to use standard hard drives and RAM make it cheap to upgrade. And don't forget that a 15" LCD is going to be about the same size as a 17" CRT picture.
ruggedized, compact, cheap . . .
seems a shame to strip it for parts, it's a nicely integrated package, very useful as-is. With a touch-screen it'd be a nifty car-audio-player/etc. computer.
for an LCD controller, see my other thread:
http://www.applefritter.com/node/view/2399
Dan K