From the sounds of it, upgrading a Pismo that much isn't worth it. However, I think the OpenPandora idea is still the way to go. The thought that comes to mind at this point is to make a new laptop with all the Pismo's advantages and none of its defects. Advantages to this plan:
No need to design a motherboard around a laptop shell (big $$$ saver). Lighter, thinner design, but with just as much allure as the original Pismo. Could employ Intel's new Light Peak fiber optic interface, which would mean no more cable upgrades… EVER! Would be open-source (more big $$$ savings) Disadvantages… Need a skilled design team. Need funds Need sanity My idea for it would be: Take two thin tablets, each with a high-power-efficiency motherboard, and add hinge connectors to them, so that they can attach and detach at will. Create an interface capable of spreading the CPU load between them (using both CPUs), like with the PowerBook Duo and Duo Dock. With motion sensing, whichever tablet senses it's at the top will become the display/touchscreen, and the other will become a keyboard/trackpad (if needed). The displays take up so much of the surface area that they can touch at the inner gaps (just above the hinges of each), meaning that it can become a continuous tablet when laid flat (through use of a suspension system in the hinges that keeps the displays touching). When turned on its side, it arranges itself into a book format. Then, add two expansion bays to EACH tablet, making each able to take a battery + optical drive or HD, or up to three batteries in the whole unit (preferably using a two-battery system in the bottom unit and a two-drive unit in the top). It will not have an onboard HD (big space saver), but will be able to boot from a CF card, or use the expansion HD(s). It would feature a row of Light Peak ports on each tablet (something like four or five each), capable of using adapters for a particular format (Ethernet, VGA, Mini-DV, USB, FireWire, Audio in/out, etc). As to externals, the body would be black polycarbonate matte plastic (the Pismo legacy), and the whole dual-unit laptop would be no bigger than a 24" iMac display (upon physical inspection [with a Pismo held up over a 24" iMac display), that would be roughly the same size as a Pismo from the top of the display to the bottom of the body) It sounds far-fetched at this point, but with the right designers, the right programmers, and the right price, it could happen tomorrow (cliché). So, who wants to build it? -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Books, a group for those using G3 iBooks and PowerBooks (we run a separate list for G4 'Books). The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To leave this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g-books Support for older Macs: http://lowendmac.com/services/
