Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (
More info?)
I use my notebook to remote into my desktop all the time. The desktop is not
2 feet away, but it's a lot easier to remote into it than to even use a
switcher. I use my desktop for video games and play on its own CRT monitor,
but when I'm working, I'll use my notebook and remote into my desktop to do
things like rendering, filesharing, run IIS for testing, other server apps.
You can't remote into it to play games though.
-Max
"Rick Wilmath" <wilmath@efn.org> wrote in message
news:bc9il0dsqq7r6hg7bp4q1c8csobc6cs9eq@4ax.com...
>
> You have completely convinced me that grafting a laptop on to a pc
> won't work, however is there a way of using a pc,with all its power,
> in a client/server situation without a monitor for the pc?
> Thanks for your help
> Rick
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 18:04:07 GMT, "Dorothy Bradbury"
> <dorothy.bradbury@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>
>>> I would like to build a "luggable" computer and use my existing PC
>>> as the core. The idea is to use the Pc motherboard and to use a laptop
>>> screen and keyboard if that is possible. Is there a way to use my
>>> existing
>>> ptop for the monitor and keyboard by plugging it in to the pc.
>>
>>That is not how "luggables" are made:
>>o Luggable-Box
>>---- Outer ABS/Alloy Box + Shock-Mounts + Inner Alloy/Steel Frame
>>---- Designed-in Keyboard drops down from the front
>>o Luggable-TFT
>>---- Desktop TFT - Panel-Mount form, normal/daylight-viewable/touchscreen
>>on 1/4"-plate
>>---- Rarely Laptop TFT - requires pricey/dedicated/slow/limited PCI video
>>adapter card
>>o Desktop/Server/Industrial Board
>>---- from M-ATX P3, to E-ATX Dual-Xeon, to Industrial 24-slot PCI
>>backplane
>>o Desktop/Server HD/Optical
>>---- several 10k-rpm WD Raptor (desktop) or RAID 15.3k SCSI array (server)
>>o I/O Ports
>>---- Standard PC I/O backplane or Mil-Spec waterproof style connectors
>>
>>The Luggable-Box/TFT are available off-the-shelf at ~500-1600$US depending
>>on
>>whether you want a basic 15"-TFT or a 19" daylight-viewable touchscreen
>>item ($).
>>
>>You can make a luggable-enclosure yourself:
>>o Luggable-Enclosure
>>---- Case = Flight-Case, Shock-Mounts = Paulstra Diabolo/Evigdom mounts
>>---- Inner-Frame = T-Slot Structural Aluminium Framing (20x20mm, eg, Bosch
>>Rexroth)
>>o Luggable-TFT
>>---- Desktop TFT mounted via rear VESA mount
>>
>>The logic for a luggable comes down to application:
>>o Military/Emergency/Contractor -- Portable Server
>>---- More power & storage than a laptop
>>---- Easier to upgrade with desktop components than a laptop (re TCO)
>>o Industrial -- Data-Logging
>>---- Field usable rugged 24-PCI-card backplane for data-logging
>>---- NASA, GM, Nuclear, R&D, Telco
>>o Rugged -- As rugged as you like, except not waterproof
>>---- ie, from a shock perspective there is more sway-space potential
>>o Multiple PCs
>>---- Nothing to stop you fitting 2-3 PCs inside one
>>---- Remote location on-demand server capability (FEMA)
>>o Temperature
>>---- Laptops are limited to 35oC ambient, since they run hotter
>>---- Many environments require 45oC even 50-55oC ambient operating
>>---- Hitachi do extended-temp 2.5" 20GB drives cheaply, eg, -20oC to +85oC
>>
>>Cooling can be difficult:
>>o Server grade equipment kicks out a lot of heat - and often noise
>>o So 80-120mm fans with careful acoustics - or sounds like a hot-air hand
>>dryer
>>o Even so a luggable with 6x 15.3k-rpm SCSI RAID sounds like hail on glass
>>
>>
>>You CAN use a laptop screen as a PC monitor:
>>o Virtually - using the laptop to thin-client into another PC
>>---- via Ultra-VNC or XP Remote Desktop, older Terminal Server,
>>Winframe/Citrix
>>o Physically - using a special PCI card with output for laptop-TFTs
>>---- absolutely no point re huge card cost, huge laptop TFT cost v cheap
>>desktop
>>
>>I built one (several in fact for various people) for the specific purpose
>>of mobility:
>>o Very powerful laptops are expensive - after 3-4 changes you've spent a
>>huge sum
>>o A luggable carcass will do 3-4 mainboard changes - after which time it
>>has saved 3-4k
>>
>>The more powerful & rugged your requirements, the more expensive things
>>get.
>>The 'luggable' market is very small indeed - and corporate economic
>>buyers.
>