Convert a PC Drive Bay to a Docking Station

Anonymous Coward writes "The Screen Savers are featuring a case mod worth looking at. This article describes how to create a docking station for your PDA out of a PC drive bay. The instructions are little hard to follow but looks feasible and the finished product is pretty slick."

Comments

Use that display

[philipsblows]

Why hide a perfectly good display on the PDA? Yes, this mod is slick, but I personally would like to see an attached display device show me info... much like LCD and other serial/parallel display case mods do now on the case itself.

Similar to this product, a PDA attached to a desktop machine (and a charger) could and should extend the usefulness of both. Maybe a game controller like that linked product, maybe a desktop clock, maybe weather updates, stock tickers, an mp3 playlist interface, etc etc.

Like I said, a slick mod, but seems slightly counterproductive. Not that there are many satellite display apps that work with many PDAs available presently, but I'm hopeful. With bluetooth catching on, it might happen.

Re:Use that display

[Brento]

Similar to this [massworks.com] product, a PDA attached to a desktop machine (and a charger) could and should extend the usefulness of both. Maybe a game controller like that linked product, maybe a desktop clock, maybe weather updates, stock tickers, an mp3 playlist interface, etc etc.

There's plenty of apps like that out there. If you'd like an MP3 remote control for Windows there's Jukebox, or for Linux try GiantDisc. There's several others, but those are the best two - I've been doing a lot of research lately, since I'm building a in-car computer that uses my Kyocera 6035 combo Palm & phone as its remote control & main display.

Other suggestions for conversion

[Taco Cowboy]

1. The conversion of mouse to paperweight.

2. The conversion of old computer to doorstop.

3. The conversion of mousepad to non-skid, multipurpose pad on top of dashboard.

Anymore suggestions ?

Re:Other suggestions for conversion

[sharkey]

2. The conversion of old computer to doorstop

This one's easy:

1. Set BIOS to boot from CD.
2. Open CD-ROM.
3. Insert Windows XP CD.
4. Boot PC and follow on-screen instructions.

OMG?.. Selfish waste of resources.

[Peridriga]

Who the hell has an extra drive bay to waste??

Re:I love the pictures they show.

[Gravital.net]

Dammit man! I dont' have time to be clicking on links. If the pictures aren't embedded in the article I'm not going to see them! =)

Re:Subtle Flaw

[CaptCosmic]

Not all of the Palms have this style cradle. The older palms had a simple drop in cradle which did nothing to lock them in. I know, I've knocked my Palm out of the cradle while it was syncing before.

The new palms (at least the m130 and m550) *do* lock into the cradle. They slide straight in and metal locking clips hook on to them. In order to get them out, you have to pull it forward to release the locking clips, then pull it out of the cradle.

Using this mod on one of the new Palms would be difficult, if not impossible.

Great idea!

[Jethro]

I've been waiting for my Palm IIIc to die for AGES so I could upgrade to a Clie, but the damn thing's rock solid, even though I overclocked it to 40MHz! I figure if I overclock it, stick it in a really hot PC case right between two 7200RPM drives (docked so it doesn't turn off) and then do a find / -print, that might do it!