Date: Tue, 02 Dec 2003 12:53:31 -0500 From: "Lewin A.R.W. Edwards" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [LIB] CPU Motherboard
> I'm very interested in the projest of one person here to create a new > mainboard for an old Toshiba Libretto. I think it would make much better sense to use an XScale and forget about trying to build a new x86-based motherboard. You could probably fit an existing XScale module right in the housing, and interfacing to the keyboard and other peripherals isn't outrageously difficult. Most important, you would have decent battery life and no thermal problems. For instance, look at www.compulab.co.il - they have very reasonably priced XScale CPU modules with most of what you need integrated, and all you would need to do is design a baseboard that would fit in the Libretto's internal cavity. Other vendors, such as Advantech (www.advantech.com) have off-the-shelf XScale-based SOM products with similar form factor to Compulab's. Going this route you leverage someone else's hard work engineering all the really difficult high-speed parts, and more important you ride their higher-volume pricing. > build in GPS and GSM devices. I want to have them integrated > internally, best somewhere on the mainboard, and have a custom BIOS If you attempt to integrate a GSM subsystem, unless it is a preconstructed sealed module, you will need to submit the entire device for type approval (figure ~US$10,000 for testing fees, plus several giveaway units). The only way of getting GSM connectivity without requiring this is to use an off-the-shelf module, which will have its own self-contained operating system independent of the computer. -- Lewin A.R.W. Edwards (http://www.zws.com/) Learn how to develop high-end embedded systems on a tight budget! http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0750676094/zws-20 ************************************************************** http://libretto.basiclink.com - Libretto mailing list http://www.silverace.com/libretto/ - Archives -------TO UNSUBSCRIBE------- Reply to any of the list messages. The reply mail should be addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Then replace any text on the message's subject line: cmd:unsubscribe --------TO UNSUBSCRIBE DIGEST------ Do above but with this on subject line: cmd:unsubscribe digest **************************************************************
