MBF

Description

Laptop computer hardware has now become disposable. We use devices for 1-3 years and are forced to upgrade entire hardware systems. We also can't upgrade component parts any more as they are often soldered in place. I want to change that by leveraging single board computers as the core of a modular laptop platform. With the miniaturization of components we have the opportunity to create a better ecosystem of laptop hardware.

Details

09-03-19

This project already has some legs as I started working before I decided to make the project page. I want to finish the laptop by the end of the year and have it capable of operating as an off the shelf laptop.

1. Working. Including but not limited to...

2x USB A 2.0
Keyboard
Trackpad
Display
Sound
Battery with normal external plug for charging
Fully supported Operating System
- Going to start with Raspi 4
  - Lots of support
    - Ubuntu Mate 18.04
  - Good value

2. Reflect and re-evaluate purpose and the meaning of life

3. Improvements/ customizations

Screen controller
- need to find a more reliable solution
Battery upgrade (14650 cells? pouch cells? Bigger?
New frame/ chassis (last)
- aluminum
- plastic
- cfsmg
Keyboard?
- not 100% on current solution, but going to work it out with a teensy
Trackpad
- Looking for options (I have a macbook pro trackpad that doesnt work with the pi...yet)
- (I could use some help on this. If any one wants to join on that has knowledge I would appreciate it)
(I could use some help on this. If any one wants to join on that has knowledge I would appreciate it)
Cooling
- make a mount that fits to the pi to the cooling. spring-y? steel mount with 3d print locater
Ethernet (just because its there)
Antennas
USB C Hub Adapter

I believe eventually the single board computers will be good enough to use with just the USB C/ Thunderbolt connection, however this project is always about a modular, upgradable laptop.

Files

IMG_20191004_171324.jpg

JPEG Image - 2.29 MB - 10/08/2019 at 08:08

Preview

IMG_20190929_205531.jpg

Original LCD assembly

JPEG Image - 1.47 MB - 10/08/2019 at 08:08

Preview

IMG_20190925_135056.jpg

Old heavy, low res tft lcd. Farewell!

JPEG Image - 1.56 MB - 10/08/2019 at 08:08

Preview

IMG_20190925_135200.jpg

1080 16:9 IPS LCD. Couldn't find

JPEG Image - 1.11 MB - 10/08/2019 at 08:08

Preview

IMG_20190911_121942.jpg

JPEG Image - 804.89 kB - 10/08/2019 at 08:08

Preview

Components

1 × 2008 Macbook Pro A1278 A great platform to start from. The tech is outdated and time for a refresh.

1 × BOE 13.3 inch IPS LCD 16:9 ratio which is "smaller" than the stock 16:10 lcd.

1 × Raspberry Pi 4 Quad Core Arm V8 with Linux support and 4k output

1 × Teensy 3.2 Keyboard controller

1 × USB-C Battery Pack Powah!

Project Logs

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Keyboard and trackpad controller
Elliot • 05/31/2020 at 20:22 • 0 comments

5/31/20

Made some minor progress in working with an engineer on doing the keyboard and track pad circuitry. Not done yet, but still hacking away!
Trackpad woes
Elliot • 10/12/2019 at 03:15 • 0 comments

Got an older macbook 2008 polycarbonate top case. Wired up the keyboard to usb and was able to get the keys working but not the trackpad...
USB Headers
Elliot • 10/08/2019 at 08:32 • 0 comments

This week the headers for the usb extensions arrived. I went with common 2.54mm pitch double stack header pins. I put 90 degree pins on the board and 2x 4 wire jumpers with 4 pin connectors carry the signal to the ports for the external USB. I also sourced a flexible cable for the monitor. This was a decent hurdle as the original cable was ffc which is flat, but doesn't work well for the laptop hinge. After a few wrong orders, I found the cable that worked for this project came from an inspiron 7000 series. It's an eDP 30 pin to ffc 30 pin 0.5mm pitch. I have a hunch that I can get an older macbook polycarbonate keyboard/trackpad to work so I'm ordering that. Another hackaday member, RRPrime has a good trackpad hack that might be usable for this project, and would be fun to keep as much original as possible. I understood about half of what he wrote o.O

View all 3 project logs

Discussions

Tom Nardi wrote 10/09/2019 at 02:48

Very interesting project. It's incredible how these small single board computers are allowing people to create their own computers that don't conform to the traditional designs. It's definitely a very exciting time.

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