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The Amazing Lego DAT Tape Changer

lizardboy writes: "This is for the Lego loving computer geek with large backup needs. The Lego DAT Tape changer. It can be interfaced with any platform supporting Lego mindstorms. I have used it with OSX and Linux using dump and NQC with some custom shell scripts. It also works under a Mac OS 9 using Retrospect and RCX."

12 of 217 comments (clear)

  1. Ah, but the best RCX creation of all time is ... by J.D.+Hogg · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ... the lego Rubik's cube solver : that thing was so cool !

  2. Yah, but can it reboot the Lego Webserver? by Com2Kid · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Can it be setup to hit the reboot key on the Lego Webserver?

    That'd be mighty spiffy. :)

    Anybody else remember those old computerized Lego sets for the AppleIIs? I wonder if those could be interfaced to the mind storms, I know of a school that has quite a few of those lying around, it is just that all of their AppleII interface boards died.

  3. Missing something by BlueJay465 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Where are the little Lego people? This is cool, but it seems a more effective presentation would include the little lego figures into this contraption. Put some on the lift, some with construction gear, some at the base with the control unit in lab coats working on mini control panels. Some at the local coffee machine or guiding a tour, etc.

    Still a very cool way of setting up a changer, but it would be more fun to add some realism to it :P

  4. Its got a few problems... by thogard · · Score: 4, Funny

    The color scheme is something no marketing department will ever agree to. He should have used more beige blocks.

    I also think that it should have some of the littel lego men standing around looking at the thing. Also needs more flashing lights.

  5. Extra functionality by Nathdot · · Score: 5, Funny

    From the looks of this thing it also loads a DAT tape of the inventor snoring, and waves a fake arm around in the bed, if his Mom turns his bedroom door handle when he's taking a day off...

    ...Oh god how many Matthew Broderick references can slashdot handle in a single day!

    :)

  6. Re:That's cool and all... by bbh · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah, but that one is a DDS-2 and it is limited to a 4 tape cartridge. His is scalable as far as he wishes to go with it. He can change the tape drive (go for a DDS3)or number of tape drives without any concern for the size of a cartridge for tapes, or the type of tape that it takes given it is 4mm and can be hooked the way he's grabbing tapes.

    That said, I know some idiot will probably trip over his autoloader one day and he'll have to answer for the downtime to put the lego system back together. That will be one impressive interoffice memo (yes, our data recovery system is crippled until we can bring in some third graders to reassemble it...).

    bbh

  7. Legos Rock by iomud · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Wouldnt it be cool if lego made actual tools that werent marketed towards kids. Such that they would be designed to do things of this nature, all purpose reusable engineering kits. Not that I'm too cool for lego's or anything...

  8. Legos need love too! by No_Slacks · · Score: 5, Funny
  9. links to the images by rehannan · · Score: 5, Informative
  10. Sorry about iTools by lizardboy · · Score: 4, Interesting
    I was in a hurry to post the pictures. I have changed the page. Hope it helps. I will now go back to my bucket of legos and work on the CD changer/ duplicator.

    Lizard Boy

  11. A Lego compiler by Polaris · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Lego is obviously good for prototyping these sorts of products, but it would be cool if there was a Lego compiler that would scan the completed model and produce parts by eliminating all but the minimum number of inter-connections required for efficient assembly, and replacing the Lego connectors with more permanent ones.

  12. Re:Free Time :: Lego by radish · · Score: 4, Informative

    Except their not latin. Lego is danish (I belive it translate's as "play well"). Don't know about Duplo, could be danish as well. There is no plural of Lego:

    I play with Lego.
    He plays with Lego.
    Look at all that Lego.
    Look at all those Lego bricks.
    Eeek! There's a load of Lego in my server room!

    --

    ---- Den ene knappen er powerknapp, den andre er Bender voice knapp "Bite My Shiny Metal Ass"