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Journal jawtheshark's Journal: The first ever JawPaq (Updated twice) 23

Journal by jawtheshark
I am writing this entry on the first ever JawPaq. The deed is done, my sister can have her new computer now. First of all, I need to tell you that the "plexiglass" project failed miserably. I'm lousy at designing cases.

However, I am also inventive when I have to. So a new idea sprang to my mind: why not install this damned thing in a cupboard? So, last saturday, me and my dad went hunting for a cupboard (preferably on wheels) that was big enough to hold the motherboard and its weird powersupply. After four shops we found such a thing for 50Euro. A nice litte cupboard with a door and a drawer. While assembling the thing, we screwed to motherboard to the bottom and added a holes on the back (for the cables), and finally added a shelf where I screwed the harddisk, CD-RW and floppy on the underside.

The final result is a working P-II 350 Mhz with 128Meg RAM, 6Gig HD, 1.44Meg floppy and a CD-RW, space enough on the little shelf to put stuff and plenty of space in the drawer to put CD's or whatever you would like to have near your computer. The only drawback that I found is that the plug to connect the audio cable for the CD on the motherboard seems to be nonstandard. My sister will not be able to play Audio CD's on it.
Oh, and a plus: this thing is very silent as long as you close the door ;-)

Pictures will be up soon, because I bought the camera for my cellphone just for the occasion. It just looks like, uhm, a cupboard.... ;-)

Updated 17/10/2003 00:04CET
You can find the pictures on my server. The page is quick 'n dirty. Some pics are a bit blurry due to me moving. A nice feature of my cellphone is that it both stores the thumbnails and full-size pics, so I didn't have to resize them myself. All in all: enjoy....
Uhm... Have I earned my Nerd Badge yet?

Updated 17/10/2003 19:45CET
A coworker of my dad traded one of my 256Meg 133Mhz RAM sticks for a 256Meg 100Mhz RAM stick which works in this machine. Yeah, I know it is a trade at loss for me. This upgrades the machine to a grand total of 320Meg RAM.
I also found a cable that connects the motherboard to the CD-Rom, so that she now can listen to Audio CD's. I think that cable came with my old Soundblaster AWE64....
Currently downloading iTunes for Windows. My sister loves that program on my iBook, so now she'll have her own version ;-)

I'll be gone for the weekend. I'll reply to your comments as soon as I can.

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The first ever JawPaq (Updated twice) More

The first ever JawPaq (Updated twice)

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  • The nonstandard CD connector, is it one of the three prong with little ridges? I've only come across those a few times, but I have a cable for them.
    • Nope it has 4 connectors, but is just a little smaller than the regular plugs. I just looked in my collection of cables and I have found one that just might fit.
  • I've toyed with installing my computer in my desk for years! I think when I do get a little more free money and upgrade the next time, I'm gonna go for one of those Small Form Factor computers with a flat panel, just to make it easier to "dissappear". Back in high school, I often wanted the biggest case I could afford, but now I want the computer without a case there.

    Anyhow, I eagerly await pics of how you mounted the components and such in the cabinet.
    • Reload my friend, reload....

      I have to admit I am pretty proud of the result.

      • From the outside, it would be impossible to tell that it was a pc. If you braced the power button correctly, you could set it up so that you could turn it on by pushing on the door front a little bit (as long as it has the "hold 10 seconds to power off" feature - otherwise you may find it turning off accidently very often). Anyhow, much better than the original Compaq case.
        • If you braced the power button correctly, you could set it up so that you could turn it on by pushing on the door front a little bit

          That would only work if the door was a little loose. The hinges don't allow such a thing. I had thought about it. For the moment, this would not be a solution. I think my sister will manage to open the door, click the microswitch and startup ;-)

          Anyhow, much better than the original Compaq case.

          I can only agree.... Even though it looks kinda lame (no neon, no plex

          • Just saw in the update that you loaded the windows iTunes on there. How's that working out? Is it as smooth and slick as the Apple PR would have me beleive?
            • I'm importing a Simple Minds CD right now.... It plays perfectly during the import even though it uses 100% of the CPU (this is the JawPaq). I'll try to burn the CD later in order to test if the CD-RW works with it....

              It looks really sweet now... I can't use the shop as you know. :-(

            • I've thought about building a computer into a desk for some time as well. I got as far as sketches...

              iTunes is pretty sweet. This applies to Mac & PC verions, really. I like the organization of the Library, breaking it down into artists OR albums OR genres OR any combination. The Smart Playlists are nice, but do lack some features [slashdot.org]. I'm not terribly affected, though, because I don't spend that much time making playlists, and the ones I do make aren't "I wan't all the five-star songs that aren't in my Cl
          • Is the computer going to sit somewhere that one side will be facing the user? If so, are the wires on the power switch long enough to sink it into the side of the case so it sits flush or slightly inset?
  • I thought you wrote a journal about the new iPaq you bought (which doesn't make sense since you dislike MS). I like the idea of PC in a cupboard. Maybe you should submit it to slashdot.
    Is it venitlated well enough?

    And about the CD playback, in windows media player you can do digital CD playback through the IDE cable if you check an option in the media player. Same with CDex.
    • I thought you wrote a journal about the new iPaq you bought

      Bloody unlikely... I had a Psion and was delighted with it. It crashed in the beginning of the year...which resulted in me converting to pen and paper.

      Maybe you should submit it to slashdot.

      Me? Not likely. I only have a 8kbps upload link which would be killed by slashdot in a microsecond. If you submit it, I will personally come over to Israel to break your neck!

      about the CD playback

      That is a non-issue by now :-) CDEx is part of

  • So, how much for me to order one in green? ^_~
  • ...otherwise yours may be the first computer in history to be taken down by woodworm. :-)

    MT.
    • Treated? It is not even real wood. I don't know how this stuff is called. It is made of pulp-wood mixed with glue. It's not real woord at all. It just looks like it.

      Liked the joke though... You're jealous, eh? You wouldn't make these kind of jokes if you weren't jealous ;-)

      • Liked the joke though... You're jealous, eh? You wouldn't make these kind of jokes if you weren't jealous ;-)

        You forget I have the joy of Wi-Fi in my house, plus I use USB 2.0 for all my peripherals now, so the only things I might need are an extra hub... ;-)

        MT.
  • my favorite thing about it is that you took the time to connect an LED to indicate power on. nice touch. bummer about the CD connector; i hope the thing you found works.

    the project reminds me of the old vacuum tube (huge) radios. they were big, so they were designed to look like a piece of furniture. you've sort of done it the other way around, re-designed a piece of furniture to contain technology. your sister better appreciate the work you put into that.
    • my favorite thing about it is that you took the time to connect an LED to indicate power on

      I did not really do that. The whole thing is so propietory that the "power on button", the "harddisk led" and the "power led" are just one connector. I have however though of drilling two holes on the side to plug in the leds so you can see them. Essentially, the fact that the leds were there was only a consequence of the fact that I needed the power button ;-)

      re-designed a piece of furniture to contain tec

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