Lcd Photo Frame or DPF (yet Another!)
by arte.sano in Circuits > Computers
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Lcd Photo Frame or DPF (yet Another!)
Nothing new here, just a different approach to an old trick.
Hoping to give it a better use to a lazy pressario 305 laptop.
Hoping to give it a better use to a lazy pressario 305 laptop.
The Machine and the Frame
I inherited an ancient Compaq pressario 305 laptop, 64M Ram and 8G hard drive, running Xp.
I try different ideas in how to transform the machine into a DPF. In my first intent I messed up the inverter trying to extend the video and the power cables, so I went and replaced it with a used one from eBay, (no that bad $23.00).
With that bitter beginning I decided no to touch the laptop (meaning dissembled the electronics) and leave the machine intact. I try with a big custom made frame out of wood, not so good idea btw. It was too big. Later on I try with different photo frames, but it was to complicated and I wanted something more simple.
(the two openings at the bottom were made to put a couple prints, no so good idea either.)
As usual in my projects all the material are reused.
I try different ideas in how to transform the machine into a DPF. In my first intent I messed up the inverter trying to extend the video and the power cables, so I went and replaced it with a used one from eBay, (no that bad $23.00).
With that bitter beginning I decided no to touch the laptop (meaning dissembled the electronics) and leave the machine intact. I try with a big custom made frame out of wood, not so good idea btw. It was too big. Later on I try with different photo frames, but it was to complicated and I wanted something more simple.
(the two openings at the bottom were made to put a couple prints, no so good idea either.)
As usual in my projects all the material are reused.
Buidl the Frame
I went ahead and build the frame, very simple and straight forward as shown in the pictures. After my first attempt I cut the frame in half to fit the dimensions of the laptop. I used some pieces of cedar for the frame and Mdf of 1/8" for front.
I also painted the front with black matte paint.
I also painted the front with black matte paint.
Reconfiguration
I was mentioning that the original idea didn't went well, so I cut the original frame to fit a better configuration. Basically a custom made frame for the size of the lcd screen.
I disassemble the laptop, without getting into the electronics and with a little of intervention I was able to disconnect the hinges of the lcd screen and place it back to back with the rest of the laptop (back of the lcd screen against the keyboard/controllers) and reconnect the video and power cable, luckily for me the pressario 305 has a dock that comes off (where the floppy and cd-drive goes) I took it out and the thickness of the laptop back to back was reduced.
I disassemble the laptop, without getting into the electronics and with a little of intervention I was able to disconnect the hinges of the lcd screen and place it back to back with the rest of the laptop (back of the lcd screen against the keyboard/controllers) and reconnect the video and power cable, luckily for me the pressario 305 has a dock that comes off (where the floppy and cd-drive goes) I took it out and the thickness of the laptop back to back was reduced.
Final Product
Looks much better doesn't?. The Laptop is a Presario 305, 64mb ram, 8Gb of memory and Win Xp pro, I can load pictures over the network (wi-fi), or via Usb, and placed them in the screensaver or use irfanwiew or windows slide show to view the pics, or I can go online and use flicker too in slideshow mode. The machine is very slow and takes a while to start and/ or connect to the network, but once is running works great.