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Posted By

MIK
on 2012-09-09
19:09:45

Re: ZX Spectrum laptop conversion - possibilities for the Plus/4?

Ref: C116 on UK ebay.

Haha 14 bids and the reserve was still not met when it finished. I would of guessed at least £200 as the reserve for that C116 but more than likely if it does not go back up, it was some one showing off that they actually have one. If that was the case, sad muppet lol.

Very nice but in the real world a Commodore 16 is a better machine in the 16k class and better for replacements if the worst should happen. If you have a C116 then enjoy as it is smart, but if it was to be bought as a stand alone machine to be used 24/7 then no way. A very nice trophy machine tho that would have to come out for special occasions mind.

Posted By

MMS
on 2012-09-09
15:39:30

Re: ZX Spectrum laptop conversion - possibilities for the Plus/4?

yeah you covered the two main possibilities. Let me tell you the main challenges:
1) PC in the original housing+emu: my preference. With specific boot menu may start as a real one,with lot of other possibilities, like built in SD Card reader, IEC connector. Problems:too low housing for +4 make almost impossible to choose a potent motherboard+cpu+cooler. Best case 4cm height, but still only integrated (weaker) VGA, small profile fan do not let quad core cpu. Connecting the original keyboard is also a big challenge. So the system is ok for emu,but forget the rest.
So I think currently only in C16 house it is possible to build a competent PC. In plus/4 housing only fanless (rather weak) CPUs can be used. Some miniITX boards with integrated Cpu look promising on 17x17 cm size like amd zacate + E350, or the very promising and cheap Biostar Viotech 3200+ on 22x17cm (though it has a puny viachrome Vga, it has PCIx16, with riser cable you can sit a low profile VGA and 2.5" Hdd)

Posted By

MIK
on 2012-09-02
20:56:00

Re: ZX Spectrum laptop conversion - possibilities for the Plus/4?

Just to add with the ZX Spectrum theme in mind.

ebay.co.uk
Link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Commodore-116-16kb-vintage-computer-psu-ULTRA-RARE-mint-264-Series-plus-4-LOOK-/261091014176

Tho I wouldn't even think about putting a PC inside this one.

Posted By

retroscener
on 2012-09-02
18:21:03

Re: ZX Spectrum laptop conversion - possibilities for the Plus/4?

It would be very cool, I doubt it's been done yet though. Who knows, I'm maybe wrong.

Anyway, the speccy is alright but more for the older games, and isometric and vector games. The color and sound limitations put me off though.

I haven't seen a custom built Commodore laptop, but Commodore-USA has released the C64x, a PC in the style of the old breadbin.

http://www.commodoreusa.net/CUSA_C64.aspx

I wouldn't mind one, but it comes with it's own custom Linux operating system so you'd need to install Windows separately.

I've come across this the other day though, some guy who built an actual C64 into a laptop, no emulation.

http://benheck.com/04-05-2009/commodore-64-original-hardware-laptop

Now that I do want. It even has the cartridge slot at the front.

Posted By

Bjartur of Summerhouses
on 2012-09-02
17:34:51

ZX Spectrum laptop conversion - possibilities for the Plus/4?

Hello, one and all!

It feels very good to return to this forum for a quick browse (no matter how brief) after another week of lo-o-o-o-o-ng working days... This place gives me such a rush of nostalgia, and the contributors here are all so friendly and welcoming, that it really is becoming one of my favourite places on the 'net!

Anyway, a few Google searches have led me to blogs where people have discussed laptop PCs which they have built inside ZX Spectrum cases. I don't know how popular the old Speccy is around these parts, but I think that these look incredible! I will definitely consider putting one together when my current computer conks out. Here are links to a couple of blogs - http://srimech.blogspot.co.uk/2007/10/zx-spectrum-laptop.html
http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2188

Further exploration showed a few C64 conversions, which are gorgeous things, but no Plus/4s as yet. Does anybody know whether this has ever been done with a Plussy? It would certainly look cool, although it would not be a Plus/4 any more. Still, it might be a great way of putting a "dead" one to use!

I hope that you enjoy the articles, and most of all I hope that you are all enjoying your weekends.

Best, all,

Peter