This is the first "blog" of any kind I've ever had, so it's probably not the greatest...
Just a little snippet about me:
I'd like to consider myself relatively tech-savvy; obviously I use Linux (Arch to be precise; K.I.S.S. FTW), and I enjoy learning new things about computers in general (both software and hardware-related).
This blog is mostly just for whenever I feel like telling the world about my experiences with computers/Linux (or just life in general), or just posting for the hell of it.
Just a little snippet about me:
I'd like to consider myself relatively tech-savvy; obviously I use Linux (Arch to be precise; K.I.S.S. FTW), and I enjoy learning new things about computers in general (both software and hardware-related).
This blog is mostly just for whenever I feel like telling the world about my experiences with computers/Linux (or just life in general), or just posting for the hell of it.
An Old Toy
Tags electronics
I was wrong about my Arch lappy being my first laptop...I found an old toy "laptop" of mine that was laying around in some boxes of my old toys from when I was in my single-digits/early tweens. It's one of those "educational/learning" toys...
Here's a shot comparing my real lappy with the toy:
Unfortunately, however, it doesn't work anymore.
I had done some (more recent) circuit-poking with it and accidentally severed (well, pulled off 
) the power lines from both the battery compartment and the DC input. The thing really isn't all that complicated on the inside:
My guesses as to what the circled components are (some of them I actually know what they are, but w/e):
1. CPU + I/O bridge
2. "Smart Card" I/O pins (you could get little expansion cards for it with extra games/activities/etc.)
3. Caps Lock LED (directly under the key; all the keyboard keys are translucent)
4. External mouse port
5. Power button base (I think the small transistor there may be for switching power between AC/battery when it's plugged in/unplugged, but I'm not entirely sure)
I'm probably wrong about at least one of those things, but whatever. It was still fun to poke around with.
I think I accidentally busted it when I was messing around with the circuit board while it was on (don't worry the thing doesn't use much power, so no zapping
), bridging CPU and I/O pins together (just by touching between them with a metal paperclip) to see what bizarre ways it would glitch out in (yeah so I'm weird ), and I had accidentally pulled the bottom cover too far out and yanked the wires leading from the battery compartment to the +/- power pins on the main circuit board straight off the compartment. I don't remember how I busted the wires from the DC input...
Anyhow, I would try soldering the battery wires back on, but I don't exactly have the equipment for that. *sigh*
I just thought it was cool that I still had the thing.
Here's a shot comparing my real lappy with the toy:
Unfortunately, however, it doesn't work anymore.
I had done some (more recent) circuit-poking with it and accidentally severed (well, pulled off ) the power lines from both the battery compartment and the DC input. The thing really isn't all that complicated on the inside:My guesses as to what the circled components are (some of them I actually know what they are, but w/e):
1. CPU + I/O bridge
2. "Smart Card" I/O pins (you could get little expansion cards for it with extra games/activities/etc.)
3. Caps Lock LED (directly under the key; all the keyboard keys are translucent)
4. External mouse port
5. Power button base (I think the small transistor there may be for switching power between AC/battery when it's plugged in/unplugged, but I'm not entirely sure)
I'm probably wrong about at least one of those things, but whatever. It was still fun to poke around with.
I think I accidentally busted it when I was messing around with the circuit board while it was on (don't worry the thing doesn't use much power, so no zapping
), bridging CPU and I/O pins together (just by touching between them with a metal paperclip) to see what bizarre ways it would glitch out in (yeah so I'm weird ), and I had accidentally pulled the bottom cover too far out and yanked the wires leading from the battery compartment to the +/- power pins on the main circuit board straight off the compartment. I don't remember how I busted the wires from the DC input... Anyhow, I would try soldering the battery wires back on, but I don't exactly have the equipment for that. *sigh*I just thought it was cool that I still had the thing.
Total Comments 7
Comments
-
Fix it, and install Slackware.Posted 10-26-2010 at 04:35 AM by brianL 
-
Or Debian.
Posted 10-26-2010 at 08:28 AM by peonuser
-
Actually, I've decided I'm gonna take it completely apart and see how everything fits together.
It's not like I'm gonna use it again, so I figure "hey, why not?"
Posted 10-26-2010 at 07:50 PM by MrCode
-
I say fix it, install Debian on it, take it to work/outside/wherever, and outperform everyone using a toy.
You could still take it apart, just put it back together without breaking something afterward.Posted 10-26-2010 at 10:15 PM by PehJota
-
I'll take this as a jokeQuote:I say fix it, install Debian on it, take it to work/outside/wherever, and outperform everyone using a toy.
...it's really just a simple little thing with a small set of programs, i.e. you wouldn't be able to get a Linux running on it. There's no optical drive or ports (other than the mouse port, which is built like an ethernet port but with more pins , and a small ⅛" jack for a serial connection), and the CPU is prolly some obscure RISC architecture; I couldn't even guess, and it doesn't say/give any hints on the chip package.
It really is just a toy, LOL.Posted 10-26-2010 at 11:44 PM by MrCode
-
No, it's a supercomputer.Quote:Originally Posted by MrCode
It really is just a toy, LOL.
Think I've found the desktop version:
http://www0.epinions.com/VTech_Power...ay_~full_specs
Not much information in the "full specs".Posted 10-27-2010 at 05:32 AM by brianL
-
The nslu2 only has 32 meg of memory and can run linux. That being said, you would be surprised what will run bsd.
Posted 10-31-2010 at 10:18 PM by peonuser
