Motorola atrix lapdock - for those who don't know

LiqwdE

I want to see if there is a way to 3d print a base or lid cover that I can put a pi into it. Make it an actually reprogramming laptop inside of 2 pieces

moosepr

@LiqwdE why not just squeeze a zero inside like this guy did

http://www.h-i-r.net/2015/12/raspberry-pi-zero-inside-lapdock-100.html?m=1

LiqwdE

@moosepr

That's pretty nice. But how does the pi zero compare to pi2 on emulators? I imagine nes and stuff runs fine. But what about newer rom sets like mame2014?

moosepr

@LiqwdE I'm not sure actually, my zero only has 2 buttons so mame was out of the question really, I will have to try it next time I'm hooked up to a keyboard

LiqwdE

@moosepr

That would be great! Got a pi2 with 64gb shoved into my tankstick. Just received my pi3 with 64gb sd (85mg/s) gonna try to get some n64, ps1, and equivalent up and running (or see what works lol).

Would love the option of taking just the lapdock, but would love it better if I could still have street fighter alpha and such

moosepr

@LiqwdE i just tried Banjo Kazooie for the N64 and it kinda runs, but the keyboard becomes non responsive so i dont think N64 on a zero is a go. I have access to a stack of mame roms, but if im honest, i have no idea where to put them!! cant find the roms folder in the mame-libretro or in the mame-mame4all folders (bit of a mame n00b!!)

if you are feeling brave, you could get a pi3 (or 2) and desolder the usb/ethernet/camera/screen connectors, and pop that inside the casing instead. You will have the same thickness as a zero, but with the grunt of a big pi, the only issue would be cooling, but im sure sticking a bit of a copper shim onto the cpu, then a bigger metal plate onto that would heap spread some of the heat out. Could be a fun project.

my only issue with the lapdock, is that im not so fond of the keyboard (though im rocking an oldskool thinkpad, so im spoilt as far as keyboards are concerned!!)

LiqwdE

@moosepr

The keyboard is tragic, but I use controllers. Just like having there for setup/debugging.

I like you thought process. I might buy another pi and lapdock and start tinkering. Would love to "move" the ether net to the side wall of the lapdock and punch through... hmm. I smell another project lol

But if the zero even kinda runs the n64 it should handle mame just fine.

The 4.1 retropie you just jam the roms in the libs mame folder. As long as it doesn't need a chld folder (only a handful do). Mame is easy once you get into it

moosepr

@LiqwdE i dont even have a libs folder!!!! ha ha ha i need to read more into mame, get some proper games on the go!!!

connecting the zero is a breeze with the right cables

lapdock

please excuse the badly lit phone photos, there isnt a massive amount of thickness with the lapdock, i think the ethernet would have to be a cable out of the side, the casing is only just thick enough for usb!!

LiqwdE

@moosepr
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How do you share photo from Google?

I was think expandable port, about the size of usb but open when you plug in. If I can order one. Or rip one of old laptop.

I have the same cable lol. You have controllers hardwired to the gpio spots? I don't know diddly about that stuff. What are the other 2 components?

moosepr

@LiqwdE I think I know what you mean. The type of connector that used to come on the old PCMCIA laptop cards back in the day.

My little pi zero is flanked by a microcontroller and a lithium battery protection board, you can read the whole project here

https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/2089/yet-another-pi-zero-portable

I normally make my photos backup to my Google drive then just right click and copy the image URL from photos.google.com seems to work ok