Two PB 1400s are just asking for rebirth. Any thoughts? I was thinking of hacking one into a mobile wireless access point/server. Put it in a rollie tool box, add a monster cantenna and wherever there is a power outlet and some sort of wireless signal, I'm golden. Any one heard of anything like this?

http://www.evolution.com/

This company makes robotic sensors that interface with a laptop. I'm sure its for windows only, but how about some sort of mobile robot rig that can drive itselft around a room. I know I've seen it somewhere on the net, but I can't find it.

OS 9 had speakable items (i think). Imagine either a robot or a stationary "network node" that could listen, go online and check email, etc. by voice command alone.

You are correct. Technically this is possible in OS9. :-D

Anything over OS 7.6.1 is going to be pretty unbearable on a 1400. 8.6 might be just bearable but anything on top of that will bog it down. OS 9 with speakable items enabled will be about as fast as a sloth.

There isn't even that much WiFi software for the classic OS. The only classic war-driving software is from Alksoft and that requires the Apple drivers. The Orinoco drivers are pretty useful, and they can actively scan for open nets, so I guess all isn't lost. Plus there are versions of it compatible down to 7.5 IIRC If you want to make a email node then its possible, but websurfing with it will be really slow.

For a robot there used to be some mac robotics sites out there. There used to be some serial controllers as well, but they're really rare. If you can get one of those and have some decent programming skills then you could be able to pull off a mac based robot. There have been attempts at it but I've never seen one completed.

Personally I'd go for a Digital picture frame if you get one with an active matrix display. I hate to break the bubble, and I love older systems, but there isn't a whole lot you can do with a 1400.

Yeah. I'd agree about the digital picture frame.

I've always had a soft spot for embedded linux applications. You can load YellowDog on there and there are tons of resources around for interfacing external hardware for stuff like controlling a robotic platform. Plus installing linux allows for a great deal of customization to the speed of the system by removing kernel components that are unneccisary. Just a thought.

I've already read a few sites on making digital frames out of old laptops. I have an old PB5300c that I am working on making into a wireless digital frame. Has anyone else had success in created a digital frame from a PB? How about wireless?

Linux doesn't play with systems that don't support PC Card or PCI, and the 1400s only do PCMCIA. The only *nix that will come close to working on a 1400 is BSD, and even then it will take a whole lot os shoehorning. IIRC the version that supports the 1400 is a half step up from the 68k distro.

Any Mac with a card slot can support wifi, Orinoco has a great driver floating around the web. You'll want something like FTP server or VNC (maybe) to load images onto it but it should work fine.

I have an old 5300 as well. I would love to see your mod when done. Will you be posting it?