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Touchscreen BoomboxPC

leerpm writes "Someone has managed to put together a Touchscreen BoomboxPC. It can function as both a boombox and PC. They mention plans to make it run Linux too, by making it dual-boot to Debian."

104 comments

  1. Broken tape deck by Roland+Piquepaille · · Score: 0
    1. Re:Broken tape deck by Paul+d'Aoust · · Score: 1

      you know, the funny thing is I was thinking of using a Fujitsu Stylist as a stereo... just found out about the machine's existence yesterday, started looking for decent prices on eBay, and... turns out somebody already had the idea! this feels Twilight Zone-y.

      'course, my idea wasn't half as cool as this... tape decks rock...

      --
      Standing at the very edge of my imagination, I peered into the inky void and realised -- I couldn't think up a new sig.
  2. I actually got to the site before it died by HolyCoitus · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And I have to ask... What is the point of the camera mentioned in the article? I can understand USB to some degree, but 4 USB ports seems overkill. If only I could reload the page, eh?

    --
    That's scary.
    1. Re:I actually got to the site before it died by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Dude, you gotta get outta the basement. This thing has incredible in the stripper-for-hire industry. With the cam, this thing is the complete package. Imagine the upcharge for being able to film the festivities. The ROI would be something like 2 bachelor parties and a bar mitzvah.

      2cv, posting AC cuz he can't remember where he wrote down his /. pwd.

  3. w00t by su2ge · · Score: 5, Funny

    Awesome! Where do I sign up? I always wanted a boombox that was capable of compiling code AND playing my MP3'S :D

  4. All I can say is by Roland+Piquepaille · · Score: 5, Funny

    This thing runs Windows 98 with a scan of the original boombox' front panel as background image.

    This is truly ghetto...

    1. Re:All I can say is by HolyCoitus · · Score: 2, Funny

      Since the mistake was made going Windows, that's about the best you can get without having more power.

      --
      That's scary.
    2. Re:All I can say is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Look at the slightly offset '0' on the tape counter. These guys truly care about authenticity!

    3. Re:All I can say is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All I can say is, let's see yours?? Oh wait, that's right, you were too busy posting stupid opinions on slashdot to have time to do anything even 1/2 as cool as that. This is a challenge to all you trolls like Roland. Put up or shut up.

    4. Re:All I can say is by brokencomputer · · Score: 1

      This is truly ghetto. I would have used a good quality (or at least more aesthetically pleasing) boombox and set of speakers. Was this stereo model made in 1990?

    5. Re:All I can say is by gutterslide · · Score: 2, Informative

      1980 ;)

    6. Re:All I can say is by gutterslide · · Score: 1

      that's not a scan, thank you.

    7. Re:All I can say is by noidentity · · Score: 1

      This thing runs Windows 98 with a scan of the original boombox' front panel as background image.

      Running Windows is a good way to make it go "boom!"

  5. Superb anti-theft device by CdBee · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I love these project computers we see, but my reaction is often to think that the owner could never go out with the PC as it would be an instant theft item

    Here's a PC modder who knows what its at - fitting something high-tech and cool into a radio which very much is not.
    I wonder if I could make a boom-box skin for my iPod.....

    --
    I have been a user for about 10 years. This ends Feb 2014. The site's been ruined. I'm off. Dice, FU
    1. Re:Superb anti-theft device by tyleroar · · Score: 2, Funny

      I love these project computers we see, but my reaction is often to think that the owner could never go out with the PC as it would be an instant theft item

      Ha!
      If he was a real geek he'd never go out anyway!

      --
      Portland, North Dakota Puppies
    2. Re:Superb anti-theft device by Ieshan · · Score: 1

      I've got a PC built into a shiny metal briefcase that sits on my desktop and works just fine. But I could never take it anywhere, as being strip-searched over PC components is NOT my idea of a good time. :-\

  6. Image mirror by nuclear305 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Here's a tasty mirror of the images...since everyone loves pretty pictures! Image1 Image2 Image3 Image4 Image5 Image6 Image7 Image8 Image9 Image10 Image11 Image12

    1. Re:Image mirror by Fizzl · · Score: 2, Funny

      It would help if the 'tasty mirror' wasn't running on an 386 over 256k DSL line.

    2. Re:Image mirror by eille-la · · Score: 1

      the mirror is 16x slower than the original page.
      If this is not called karma whoring, Darl is the one who first wrote the linux kernel before linus steal it.

    3. Re:Image mirror by mobby_6kl · · Score: 2, Informative

      And here's the text:

      Touchscreen BoomboxPC

      Hitachi TRK-8200HR + Fujitsu Stylistic 1200 Color Tablet PC
      currently running win98 (Debian dual-boot when complete) with MediaCar as the default mp3 interface, designing a custom skin for the 480x640 portrait display
      currently 2g hdd, increasing to upwards of 20g
      pcmcia LAN, upgrading to WiFi
      internal webcam
      4 USB (when completed)
      custom wallpaper to keep original aesthetics

      the powersupply for the tablet is internal, and wired into the outlet on the boombox, so you only have to plug in the standard AC wire for both units to get power. the tablet also has a battery for complete portablity.

      functional as both PC and boombox. radio works, but the indicator had to be removed. the built-in mics will feed into the tablet, along with line-in and possibly radio so i can record radio to the harddrive, if i ever wanted to. the line-out of the tablet goes to the line-in of the boombox. the headphone jack on the boombox is unchanged, and the amplified external speaker jacks on the boombox had to be removed to make room for the power switch, standby and restart switches.

      not sure if i'm gonna upgrade the speakers right away. most of what's left is building in the 4 USB ports, some bondoing, and repainting, most likely in shades of silver and grey.

  7. obviously a fake!! by victorvodka · · Score: 5, Funny

    The funderator has too few wires connected to the plasma petulicator, and the quazimemotron could never generate enough jouls of gudzja through 30 gauge copper. But it's a good concept!

    --

    The flag just makes more sense than the constitution. - Judas Gutenberg

    1. Re:obviously a fake!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      One of the first things he had to install is the hard-reset button. It's definitely a real Windows 98.

    2. Re:obviously a fake!! by gutterslide · · Score: 1

      oh nos! i have been exp0zed!

      it's a traveshamockery@!

  8. I still want my.... by 3seas · · Score: 1

    ...flying car..

    You know, so I can take my boomboxPC with me...

    1. Re:I still want my.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      2 reasons a flying car will never work:
      1: cars falling out of the sky is a bad thing
      2 mid air collisions = cars falling out of the sky

    2. Re:I still want my.... by xanadu-xtroot.com · · Score: 1

      3: Cars driving off a cliff == cars falling out of the sky.

      --
      I'm not a prophet or a stone-age man,
      I'm just a mortal with potential of a super man.
  9. What about a car unit? by raistphrk · · Score: 4, Insightful

    While I think this is a novel idea, for most people, carrying around a boom box went out in the eighties, along with Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer. If they want any type of embedded device, it's going to be a stereo.

    There are a few projects that do this already, but I think it would be cool to have the UI from the boom box project.

    I must say though, it would make a lot more sense to use Linux or FreeBSD for a project like that. If you ever wanted to mass produce and sell them, you couldn't if you embedded Windows. You get extra geek points for hacking Linux or BSD properly to work in a car. And, if you care, you won't be violating license agreements. But on the flipside, if you do choose to upload mp3s that you downloaded off the net, you probably don't care about EULAs to begin with.

    To be fair though, I know that the first thing I do when I buy a CD is rip it onto my hard drive so that I always have a copy in case my disc breaks. Uploading all of my discs to a stereo PC would be a good way to archive, and would also mean I wouldn't have to lug around my massive CD case anymore.

    1. Re:What about a car unit? by CdBee · · Score: 2, Informative

      well, you could include Windows actually - Microsoft allow customised builds for embedded projects, it's just that for an essentially stand-alone project the benefits of Windows such as they are, are largely irrelevant.

      Any OS that can share files with a Windows desktop would be suitable, Linux obviously springs to mind because of good driver support and interface compatibility, but not so long ago the Be OS was being touted for exactly this purpose.
      Be Inc went down after the CEO botched a chance to sell his OS to Apple Computer, but many of its software engineers now work for Palm's Operating systems division.

      Possibly the latest builds of the Palm OS would be well suited also. A media device only really needs a player, codecs, and network & removable storage drivers after all.

      --
      I have been a user for about 10 years. This ends Feb 2014. The site's been ruined. I'm off. Dice, FU
    2. Re:What about a car unit? by raistphrk · · Score: 2, Informative

      A BeOS stereo would be amazing. The thing would boot incredibly fast if nothing else. And since the OS was designed largely for embedded devices, I doubt much customization would be necessary.

    3. Re:What about a car unit? by hawkeyeMI · · Score: 1

      Now that I've had all of my DVDs stolen (recently) I rip every one I buy as soon as I get home so that if it happens again I'm not so screwed.

      --
      Error 404 - Sig Not Found
    4. Re:What about a car unit? by Dogtanian · · Score: 1

      While I think this is a novel idea, for most people, carrying around a boom box went out in the eighties

      Yep. And now the eighties are back.

      Specifically, that style of boombox is more early-'80s, not circa 1990-91 (when MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice were around). In other words, at least 20 years old, and cool if you like that sort of retro.

      --
      "Slashdot - News and Chat Sites Deviant". (Click "homepage" link above for details).
    5. Re:What about a car unit? by I(rispee_I(reme · · Score: 1

      How is a street team going to perform to a laptop anyway?

    6. Re:What about a car unit? by raistphrk · · Score: 1

      How is a street team going to perform to a laptop anyway?

      Daaaaaaamn sucka, you got served! ;)

    7. Re:What about a car unit? by KILNA · · Score: 1

      What happens if they steal your PC?

      --
      Error: PANTS NOT FOUND. Press <F1> to continue.
    8. Re:What about a car unit? by hawkeyeMI · · Score: 1

      I don't leave my PC in such an insecure position as I did my DVDs. With my new experience I won't be doing that, either.

      --
      Error 404 - Sig Not Found
  10. Re:Win98 by raistphrk · · Score: 3, Funny

    Fatal exception error at memory address MC Hammer.

  11. Already done? by Jim+Hall · · Score: 1

    Not to belittle this project in any way, but didn't I see an article about a boombox Linux PC in Linux Journal about a year (or so) ago? Maybe someone on slashdot with more backissues can find it.

    1. Re:Already done? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > ...didn't I see an article about a boombox Linux PC in Linux Journal about a year (or so) ago?

      Yea, and that one even came with a keyboard.

    2. Re:Already done? by gutterslide · · Score: 2, Interesting

      i think you might be referring to the Bass-Station Linux Boombox www.bass-station.net i can't say i wasn't inspired by his work. good stuff.

    3. Re:Already done? by cstangle · · Score: 1

      By the same token, there's a Wired Magazine article pointing to a much cooler version of the same thing. A couple of NYU students did the same thing while using a better boombox and adding WiFi.

    4. Re:Already done? by gutterslide · · Score: 1

      www.bass-station.net with no display, no portability, no radio, missing knobs, and scotch tape covering holes in the front, and duct tape holding the insides in place. much cooler.

    5. Re:Already done? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, it was the Bass-Station and it was in the september issue of 2003.

      Rumor has it that the bass-station project is open-sourcing its code. The system is linux based and uses a mini-itx board. Check out http://cmp.pursuethepulse.org

  12. Before someone ask... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes it does run Linux - and plays your old cassette tapes as well!!

    1. Re:Before someone ask... by Dogtanian · · Score: 1

      Yes it does run Linux - and plays your old cassette tapes as well!!

      I'm having disturbing flashbacks of trying to load programs from cassette on my Atari 800XL.

      "Load Error - Please Try Other Side". Nooo... someone please, make it stop.

      Wouldn't it be sick if they made you boot Linux from a cassette drive- at 600 baud?

      Sod that- I'm saving my pennies for the 120KB-capacity floppy drive...

      --
      "Slashdot - News and Chat Sites Deviant". (Click "homepage" link above for details).
  13. Re:Win98 by sumdumass · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    as aposed to the new windows xp virus haven? outside of email i'm not aware of any windows 98 virus that will infect and screw your computer up with no interaction from the user. At least with win98 he doesn't have to worry about getting msblaster, sasser or what ever the latest craze is this week when walking from one wifi area to someoen elses as he goes to the parl. I would think that was important because it says he is upgrading to wifi soon.

  14. Clearly ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I want a Beowulf cluster of those!

  15. Re:Win98 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    > It runs Windows 98

    You wouldn't expect someone with an IQ above 30 to walk around with a boombox, would you?

  16. Media Car by anonicon · · Score: 4, Informative

    While this little project is interesting enough, I caught a link from this piece to Media Car:

    Media Car (mostly in French, but the screenshots do it justice)

    It seems to be a do-it-all for multimedia software, but it looks bleeding edge enough to warrant wariness. I'd be interested in this if it could run on BSD or Linux and supported a remote.

    1. Re:Media Car by CdBee · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Add Wi-fi and a convoy of cars - for example on a motorway - can share media. Hit-and-run filesharing, love to see the RIAA stop that

      Some software tweaking gives the option of a car stereo that hunts down Mp3 tracks as you travel...

      --
      I have been a user for about 10 years. This ends Feb 2014. The site's been ruined. I'm off. Dice, FU
    2. Re:Media Car by yomegaman · · Score: 1

      What you want is MythTV. You can use it without a capture card as a media jukebox, in fact that's how I do it. Play music, movies, get TV listings, check the weather, browse the web, etc, and it's designed from the ground up to with a remote.

      --
      ...wearing a skin-tight topless leather jumpsuit, with cutaway buttocks and transparent crotch panel.
    3. Re:Media Car by gutterslide · · Score: 1

      MediaCar is good, solid software. it does the job, and does it well. Info & Forum

    4. Re:Media Car by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    5. Re:Media Car by anonicon · · Score: 1

      Hey Y,

      Thanks for the tip, I'm especially checking out its features and background at the mythtv.com web site. Here's to hoping that this works out for him since he also just got a new job.

      Chuck

    6. Re:Media Car by pdoelle · · Score: 1

      Cory Doctorow wrote about this concept in eastern standard tribe. The novel is available for download (free!) here.

      --
      He who has a why to live can bear with almost any how. -Frederick Nietzsche
  17. I've got something like this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've got an old etch-a-sketch that I took the screen out of and replaced it with a laptop screen. It's got all the rest of the components duct-taped to the back. Right now it runs Windows for Workgroups 3.1, but I'm considering running Linux, really I am. I'm thinking I'll dual boot since I don't understand linux, and so I won't really have to run it, but I can claim I do.

    Is this Slashdot worthy? Should I submit an article?

    1. Re:I've got something like this by gutterslide · · Score: 1

      etch-a-sketches rock. pics?

    2. Re:I've got something like this by Laebshade · · Score: 1

      Nah, not up to snuff. Come back when you've got the etch-a-sketch working with the rest of it. </sarcasm>

  18. Stylus by j235 · · Score: 4, Informative
    What he fails to mention is that you need the stylus to touch the screen.

    I have one of these Tablet PCs, and only the stylus can register clicks.

  19. Hey I know you! by twoslice · · Score: 1, Funny
    This is truly ghetto...

    You're the guy who called the tech support hotline!

    --

    From excellent karma to terible karma with a single +5 funny post...
    1. Re:Hey I know you! by ipjohnson · · Score: 1

      That was awesome where did you find that? anymore?

    2. Re:Hey I know you! by twoslice · · Score: 0
      --

      From excellent karma to terible karma with a single +5 funny post...
  20. But the burning question is.... by lxt · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...does it play OGG?

    1. Re:But the burning question is.... by gutterslide · · Score: 2, Informative

      yep. it plays midi, too. if you were curious. ;)

  21. This shouldn't have been posted to Slashdot yet. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Note on the last picture that the pretty UI is actually just a background. When I first saw it, I was excited because I thought the guy had written some sweet code.

    I also would of really liked to see a mini-itx motherboard as opposed to a tablet PC.

    No offense to the guy, I am glad that he found a cool project, but I guess I expect a lot work to be done before finding it on the frontpage of Slashdot.

  22. uhh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "by making it dual-boot to Debian"
    So, it only playes oldies ?

  23. So how does ya know by Phidoux · · Score: 2, Funny

    when da man has bin shot in da head?

    He has a hole in his boombox PC!

  24. I'm not impressed... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The image on the touchscreen is a non-functional background image? The user accesses the player through the Windows' Start Menu? Now, if those VU meters actually moved (maybe as a WinAMP or XMMS plugin) and the buttons actually selected functionality and the "tape" spun indicating approximate time remaining on the playlist, then I might be middling impressed. Such functionality would have jumped the described project into the realm of a homebrew embedded system with some innovation. As it is: this "device" is only a case mod and not a particularly impressive one as such mods go.

    1. Re:I'm not impressed... by gutterslide · · Score: 2, Informative

      the touchscreen is not, non-fuctional. the icons you see are on the desktop, and functional. the start menu is displayed simply for the sake of the pic. this is a work in progress, i had no idea it would get spread all over the web this fast. the type of animation you're talking about is in the works. i'm working with another guy who is better at skinning than i am. the tape spinning is a good idea. and since you posted anonymously, i guess there's no reason i can't steal the idea from you. :D thanks!

    2. Re:I'm not impressed... by Cpt_Kirks · · Score: 1

      While pondering what to do with my nano-itx board (when they finally come out), I thought of building a PC into an old boombox. Do you have any problems with the magnetism of the speakers? That was my main worry.

      I am currently scouring yard sales for a nice old boombox, working or not...

  25. Why Dual Boot? by R.Caley · · Score: 2, Funny
    The true boombox feel would be to run the OS from bootable CDs. You can walk down the street with the box and a case of music and OS CDs, and when you hang about on the corner with your mates have conversations like:
    Seen that new XP CD?
    Yea, got it here
    [click] [clunk] [whirrrr]
    Oh, that's crap manufactured stuff, here, stick this in, it's a bootleg HURD CD from an unadvertised release in a small club in Cambridge...
    (passer by)
    Bloody kids today, why can't they play real software with a file system you can hum along to!
    --
    _O_
    .|<
    The named which can be named is not the true named
  26. I can see why they would pick Debian by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Old shitty boombox with an old shitty distro.

  27. boombox? by maxbang · · Score: 2, Funny

    Who the hell came up with the name? Meatwad? On the otherhand, he does got the money, see, so he can afford a tablet pc. Rumor has it the original version was made from an empty box of Cheerios and a strawberry until Frylock intervened. I don't have any proof of this because Shake ruined my proof with his anger.

    --
    I also reply below your current threshold.
    1. Re:boombox? by anakin876 · · Score: 1

      No No NO! It is a Jambox Not a boombox. Sheesh Igninoc and Err were right, this earth is a primitive place. The Moon Rulez #1!

    2. Re:boombox? by maxbang · · Score: 1

      I hope you can see this because I'm doing it as hard as I can.

      --
      I also reply below your current threshold.
    3. Re:boombox? by Flunitrazepam · · Score: 1

      Meatwad has a jambox, not a boombox

      --
      1) Your analysis is based on bad assumptions so your result is way off. 2) You're a sick bastard for fucking a horse.
    4. Re:boombox? by anakin876 · · Score: 1

      Behold! More Corn!

  28. it had to be said... by Laebshade · · Score: 1

    Yeah, and the flux capacitor is broken too.

  29. Using unshielded speakers by base_chakra · · Score: 1

    "not sure if i'm gonna upgrade the speakers right away" says the builder of the boombox.

    It's difficult to tell from the photos how the hard drive is mounted and protected, but I assume the builder had the foresight to magnetically shield it in some way since he's still using the original speakers, which are most likely unshielded.

    1. Re:Using unshielded speakers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's a Tablet PC, not some home-brew with a Mini-ITX board and an LCD screen.

    2. Re:Using unshielded speakers by Hubert_Shrump · · Score: 1

      i'd be more worried about impack/shock. good place for a CF mounted RO.

      seriously, it'll take a rather large field to mess with the drives.

      speaking of which though - do LCDs get bent by magnets? i haven't had a chance to 'play' with one yet...

      --
      Keep your packets off my GNU/Girlfriend!
    3. Re:Using unshielded speakers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      harddrives already use very power neodymium magnets as part of the read/write head acutator arm. LCDs are not effected by magnetic fields, they're not shooting electrons across a vacuum. However they do respond to pressure. Applying mild pressure with your finger tip causes color shifting from ripples in the liquid crystal.

  30. Dual-boot mishap by amacedo · · Score: 1

    They mention plans to make it run Linux too, by making it dual-boot to Debian. Since Fedora clearly isn't an alternative.

  31. Re:Win98 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why is this a troll? It is ON TOPIC.. Sheesh, whoever modded this a troll didn't RTFA

  32. NYU Students. by BenTheDewpendent · · Score: 1

    A coupel NYU students did this with a mini-itx and 802.11B it in last months issue of wired. it also allowed people to add tracks via the net/802.11b and runs linux.

    1. Re:NYU Students. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who gives a shit? NYU is a second-rate school for students who couldn't get into any other private university.

  33. How about the Bass-Station? by siliconjunkie · · Score: 1

    While this boombox is pretty interesting, there is a way cooler version with 802.11b (allowing people in range to download from the boxes library of songs, upload a new song and manipulate the queue). Plus, it's built into a Lasonic TRC-931 (the 80's breakdancer's dream machine). I saw it on page 090 of the May 2004 Wired Magazine, you could read about it here, and see photos here.

    1. Re:How about the Bass-Station? by gutterslide · · Score: 1

      really? btw, the Conion C-100F was/is king of the ghettoblasters.

    2. Re:How about the Bass-Station? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      oh yeah! I like that Lasonic TRC-931 ! Much better than the new crappy looking boomboxes.

    3. Re:How about the Bass-Station? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Bass-Station *is* way cooler - and check this out, they're open-sourcing their code so you build off what they made.

      They've also got another cool project: http://cmp.pursuethepulse.org

  34. Feel free. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You could always credit "anonymous poster on Slashdot", but your thanks is enough. Not everyone knows John Le'Brecage and I'd rather not everyone did.

    Note, I didn't say the touchscreen was non-functional. I said that the image on the touchscreen was not functional - a crucial difference. Meaning, exactly as I elaborate, that the image is not the UI. Glad to see you're working in that direction though! When you're done, then maybe I'll be impressed.

  35. Linux Touchscreen? by dbc001 · · Score: 1

    What is the price range for Linux-supported touchscreen hardware these days? Is it very difficult to get them to work? I'd love to experiment with this sort of thing but online info is sparse at best...

    1. Re:Linux Touchscreen? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can get an LCD touchscreen for $300-$500, depending on the size you want, then attach it to a mini-itx computer that costs about $250, like the ones you can get from synertrontech. Voila. The touchscreen support comes from X, not from Linux, although the 2.6 kernel seems to have touchscreen routines built into it, which is a redundant (as in bad) idea.

  36. photshop? by moojuece · · Score: 1

    is it just me or do those pics look a little photochopped?

    1. Re:photshop? by LqqkOut · · Score: 1
      Yea, those USB ports looked waay faked!

      j/k - best of luck on completing the project!

      --

      -- In Soviet Russia, radio listens to YOU!

  37. Re:This shouldn't have been posted to Slashdot yet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The original project is the Bass-Station and it *does* run linux and uses a mini-itx board.

    The project is open-sourcing their code and has another cool project going on.

    Check out http://cmp.pursuethepulse.org