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Journal haggar's Journal: Crazy idea, but is it doable? 14

Journal by haggar

I got a Thinkpad 600X, which I truly like. It's an outstandingly well engineered computer, taking usability into consideration. I like the keyboard, the TrackPoint, the build quality and the looks.

Now, I use this computer basically only at home. It's connected to a VGA CRT display 99% of the time, and the TFT display is just in the way. So, I thought I would remove it, and use it just to cover the keyboard from time to time. Note that at the moment, the TFT is under the CRT (the ThinkPad is on a scrolling keyboard holder) gathering dust.

But I wonder if anyone has had any experience trying to remove the TFT/LCD display from their Thinkpads, possibly non-destructively?

thanks in advance. If noone did, eventually I'll figure it out myself, but it's much, much better to learn from others.

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Crazy idea, but is it doable? More

Crazy idea, but is it doable?

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  • The only reason I can think of to ever remove a LCD from a laptop is so you can use the keyboard - but that really sounds like a lot of trouble, considering that an extra keyboard costs 20 dollars, wich *real* arrow keys.

    (maybe add 10 bux for a mouse)
    • I'll try to explain this: the Thinkpad 600X has only one PS2 connector without the docking station/port expander, and I don't have this port expander, and even if I had it, I find it incredibly bulky (I had it for a while in use at home). So, if I connect the keyboard to this PS2 port, I have no mouse. Plus, I would end up using a very considerable amount of desktop real estate, while I have limited amounts of that. If I had to use an external mouse (I could, in fact, connect an USB mouse to the laptop, after all), I would be using even more real estate, and I definitely can't afford that.

      With the Thinkpad keyboard I have the TrackPoint, which I grew to like and find it now indispensible. If I ever buy a new laptop, it will have to be a Thinkpad, because of the TrackPoint.

      Do you understand now?

      • hmm that's an interesting predicament.

        I have taken LCDs off Compaqs and Dells but never thinkpads, personally. I think its worth pointing out that the connectors between the LCD and the laptop body is almost always a ribbon cable, and those does not survive many insertions before the conductive coating gives. (I had a keyboard that went away because of this)

        As for the PS2 connector, you can splice it into a keyboard / mouse connector (they sell splitters, I think). But indeed USB mouse would probably save all the trouble.

        I still think it would be easier (since you have a CRT anyhow) to put the laptop under the monitor (get a stand) and use external keyboard / mouse - and you don't risk the ebaybility of the computer later;

        last note: Dell always have the nipples you like - and they are heck of a lot cheaper than IBM. (they also come with full documentation on how to disassemble your laptop too - in case you want to remove the LCD panel etc)

        Can't think of much else - just remember to ground yourself and be careful. Writing down / remembering where each screw goes really helps too.
        • OK, I believe I didn't clarify my situation: I DO have the laptop under the monitor, since it's on a keyboard plane, one of those boards that roll under a table. It's called "pull-out keyboard shelf". The monitor is on the table itself.

          I think I told you that I am not satisfied with this solutions because it's cumbersome (very difficult to access the connectors on the back, and to move the laptop in any direction) and the screen gets a load of dust that's hard to remove (because it's so damn difficult to move the laptop when in this position). In addition to that, there's a lot of dust getting into the keyboard which I now can not cover properly, while I could if the screen was removed. It would then work as a cover. And I must reiterate that I really don't have the room for both the laptot, the keyboard AND the mousepad. That PS2 splitter cable, I had it once and for some reason that I don't recall it didn't work that well. But I wouldn't use it now anyway, because I just can't stand the cables, and avoid them, if possible. And the trackpoint is still more practical than any mouse (for me, in my opinion), because I don't have to move my right hand away from the keyboard when I need to point somewhere.

          I hope I made a good case for what I intend to do :o)

          I have noticed that Dell has the trackpoint, but I am not quite sure if it works the same as the IBM trackpoint, where you have the third button that you can use together with the trackpoint to drag the contents of windows in all four directions. And I noticed that the Dells have the other thingy (touchpad, or what the foot) in addition to the trackpoint, and I'm afraid that it will just be in the way. I don't want to have to watch my thumbs while I use the trackpoint (or whatever the heck does Dell call them... nipples??). Maybe you could elucidate this issue to me, if you used those Dells. They are, as you say, a great deal cheaper than the ThinkPads, and I am, after all, rather poor.

          And now my final paragraph: I did get in touch finally with a chap that removed the LCD from his ThinkPad. He sent me some very basic instructions, however, maybe I don't quite understand what everything he wrote. I'll let you know if I managed to screw up my laptop - or not. Hey, it's still better than the Pink Hello Kitty laptop! ;o))))))))))
          • Well, no talking you out of this one! =)

            As for Dell, indeed both touchpad and trackpoint are included. It hasn't gotten in the way for me, but that's just me. I know for certain that there is no third button, though.

            Dell calls them "pointing sticks" or somesuch. I (and some people I know) calls them nipples. I am sure you can understand why.

            While I would never undertake anything similar, I wish you good luck on the endeavor nontheless. (remember to ground yourself! - I cannot emphasize this enough)
            • heh.... btw, can you actyally chose to turn off the touchpad, if so you chose?
              You will never understand my attachment to the ThinkPad's solution, unless you try to use it for a while. You just can't go back anymore. It even beats normal mouse. No, really it does.

              Don't worry about the grounding, I am aware of the static I manage to charge myself with, expecially during these cold winter days, when the air in the apartement is dry like gunpowder (that's how they say it back in my country).

              Perhaps I could make some pictures with a digicam, and publish it on a website... but I'm not sure how useful that would be to the average ThinkPad user ;o)

              • Heh... I never got used to "tweaking the nipple," though I have a Thinkpad T21. I seem to always haul a external mouse around (especially considering they have a lot of really tiny mouse here in Japan). The third button on *my* thinkpad behaves like any other third button on a mouse - so I dunno. maybe you can force the buttons to act as a "third" by pressing them together. (write a module?)

                As for the touchpad - It might be disable-able; and I will tell you if I succeeds in doing it. But if you are willing to take out an LCD, a touchpad is a piece of cake!

                most touchpads rely on one of three technologies - capacitative (your finger's capacitance drains current toward your finger location), resistive (true touch sensitive), and acoustic disdurbance (standing wave on pad, your finger disturbs wave). almost all laptop pads are capacitative, which means that AFAIK, you can cover it with an aluminum foil and it won't work anymore.
                • It's very simple, really: just press the third button (the one with the blue line on it) and drag the TrackPoint: that way you will drag the contents of the window in which is the pointer, in the direction of the dragging. I did not have to write any module to use this feature, it's part of the TrackPoint driver. And it's, as far as I know, the standard behaviour, once the driver is installed. The other behaviour is "magnifying glass", much less if not totally un-useful.

                  Of course, all these features are void if you use Linux on that T21.

                  I really like the T21, if you ever wanted to sell it, let me know, I am definitely interested. Delivery? Well, come over to Europe and we'll discuss that issue ;o)
                  • Hmm I might have disabled the trackpoint driver to save memory so I didn't get the behavior you described.

                    I like the T21 too, only that mine came with sanyo batteries and sanyo makes the worst batteries. ever.

                    Sadly, though - the laptop was provided by my company (in the US) - so no selling; Company in Japan provided me another laptop - and I have my own (dell), plus a compaq that will eventually go to my parents (for a grand total of 4). The sad part is that I never carry any one of them around - and actually end up inconveniencing myself because different application / data are spread through different systems.

                    Maybe I will try the "linux on T21" idea. any pointers?
                    • "Maybe I will try the "linux on T21" idea. any pointers?"

                      I wouldn't do it. I see no added benefit from having Linux installed on a ThinkPad. Why would you want to do such a thing? Note that I am not against Linux at all, in fact I have it installed, by my own choice and action, on my lab computer at work, so I do use Linux every workday.
                    • because the computer is sitting there / will sit there for two whole years gathering dust otherwise. =)

                      And if it prove to be feasible to replace windows altogether, I would prefer to use linux in the corporate environment when I got back to the US.

                      Exchange server has pop / smtp functions too - so while I can't do some calendaring stuff, otherwise I can get by without (company won't pay for it, and I am cheap) Ximian.
                    • Hey, if you're determined to remove whatever WindozeOS is on your laptop, would you please try to install BeOS and let me know how it went? I will take you 20 minutes top, and would provide me with useful info on how well the HW is supported. I expect the graphics and soundcard to work fine. Network, I dunno, you tell me.

                      After that, you can just go on and install Linux... And btw, if you just search for Thinkpad T23, one of the first links in Google is about installing RedHat on a T23 ;o)
                    • Yeah I don't have a problem with that; I don't have BeOS, though - if you can provide me a copy I will be happy to try it out for you.

                      also if I remember correctly, the last version of the TCP/IP stack with a buch of bugfixes was not officially released - if you have that it might be helpful too.
                    • OK, let's start from here:
                      download BeOS 5 PE (personal edition) which installs into a file inside your Windows partition. Dunno if it works with Windows XP, though.
                      download.com, for instance [com.com]

                      Anyway, once you have done that, you can boot into BeOS. Even htough it's just a 500 MB file, it contains all it needs to be a fully functional OS. You can even install applications and drivers there.
                      The next step could be to burn this file onto a CD-R, effectively creating an installation CD for BeOS, with your very own applications and drivers! That's the simplest way to create a distribution.
                      Here's how [betips.net] on the excellent BeTips [betips.net] server.
                      Read more in the"Miscellaneous" section, about installing and multibooting BeOS.

                      As for the new TCP/IP stack, you have to know that it's a kernel-level *BSD-derived TCP/IP stack, and it's apparently very fast but I personally don't use it, and I am not sure how supported it is - the traditional Network Kit worked and still works for me just fine. If you are interested, you can immerse yourself in the community at www.begroovy.com or www.beosjournal.org. If you're into music, you'll find yourself at home with BeOS: it has lots of high-quality, actually USEABLE musical software for free, like Sequitur and XRS. Check out www.lebuzz.com, for BeOS/music related news.

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