Super-micro-pin-cab idea..

[Rawd]

I was thinking about the possibility of building a very small micro-cab. I think it would be really neat to make it at around 5 inches wide X 8 inches long x 8 inches tall. I could use small radioshack buttons for flippers, and I would build it with small wooden and metal parts to make it look like a scaled down replica. The PC would obviously have to be seperate from the unit.

Does anyone know if it would be possible to run HP/VP/FP on two 7-inch 800×480 monitors? Will the software display properly at that resolution?

Here is the monitor I am refering to.. (or something like it)

http://technabob.com/blog/2008/12/01/nanovision-mimo-7-inch-mini-monitor-hands-on-review/

I noticed that the monitors plug in via USB.

Anyone have any ideas?

[wonderpuddle]

That's funny Rawd, I was thinking about something similar as I was finishing up pin city. My idea was to build a very small table top machine, but I would use a 7-10 inch mini monitor as the backbox and a laptop screen as the playfield. That way you wouldn't have to leave the computer outside of the box. I don't see why it wouldn't work out, but before investing in the parts, I'd probably want to test it out.

[szantak]

that's so funny!
friday we talked about this with my friend!!!
and we stucked at the pc question. how do we put a pc inside the cab? :D
we need a minipc but how to do the two monitors thing...
probably we need a second videcard somehow...

[Rawd]

I don't think there are many mini-pc's that would run FP in all its glory. The size I am thinking is much too small to fit even a mini-pc anyways. Basically it would just be the two monitors, the ipac, some wiring, buttons, and maybe a light inside the small box. Real metal legs and edging. The ipac cord, and monitor cords would have to come out the bottom or back and lead to the pc.

I was thinking of building it out of 1/8" or 3/16" thick wood, mini screws, thin plexi for the glass and backglass. I could probably print my own graphics and stick them on. Any ideas for a coin door?

My only problem is the monitors. I am not sure whether these USB ones would work? I also have 2 old psp's that I would love to pull the screens out of and use them, but the resolution is pretty low, and there are no obvious inputs.

This is just a long term idea anyways. I don't have the cash for the monitors right now, but if I knew which ones to buy, and the dimensions, I could start working on the cab.

[ACE]

Give it a couple more years.... the processing power will be smaller faster cheaper. Nothing cooler than picking up a mini pinball machine and taking it to a friends house for show (anywhere ya' go). I don't like the separate CPU idea - It's gotta be one unit - plug it in and plunge in!!!

[sp3ctr3]

I thought about doing this too. You could use those small PSone screens. I believe they are 7" screens, but they are hard to come by. For pc, I would use a bundle from http://www.mini-itx.com/. Those babys can play PS2 emulators and new'er FPS games so I think it would be able to run VS and FP.

[szantak]

I know nothing about FP, I use only VP, but those minipc should be ok for vp!
backglass monitor is something else...

[oooPLAYER1ooo]

if you can wait you might be suprised by the next gen of embedded pico-pc
i have one for testing and i will try vp out on it if i get a chance
5" x 3"
up to 4 gb ram dual moniter support built in vga/dvi
2.8ghz cpu
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt203/oooPLAYER1ooo/24082009001.jpg
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt203/oooPLAYER1ooo/24082009002.jpg

[Rawd]

That is pretty amazingly small! I'd love to see what it is capable of!

[szantak]

do you know anything about the price?
please test vp on dual monitor with that small beauty :D