Tayklor, You're not the ony one. I have been to so many websites and read about touchscreens, controllers, drivers and I'm totally confused. I have seen recently more drivers showing up for OSX. I have checked out e-bay for a dead screen iBook or Powerbooks and decided I didn't know enough to try this project. Not yet anyway!
I'm wondering if it would be easier with a singe core Intel processor. Wacom supports a lot of PC Tablets and Apple with their Cintq and Wacom tablet you get full INK functions.. I have seen a lot of Mods where guys have put touch screens in their cars and they work but they don't have pen capabilites just touch screen. I want to have full use of INK which you don't get from Troll and other manufacturers. I have looked at Joseph DeRuvo's mod so many times and contacted him and he suggested I take the screen from my Fujitsu tablet but it wouldn't even give me the same HWR I get from my 2 Newtons. I have considered buying a new Macbook and since you can get Windows through Bootcamp or Parallels and load up the drivers for the touchscreen but I would rather walk on hot coals than try loading up drivers in XP again. But it may be the only way to get some decent alternative HWR software from MSN developers.
One day someone will post the best hardware solution with drivers, controllers, touchscreen with step by step instructions. Apple has some good pictures with step by step instructions to replace parts but you need to know what to replace it with and be sure it is compatible. Maybe this post will get some people talking again.
I have been trying to build a tablet into a laptop screen for several months. The main challenge is the lcd itself. The wacom reads fine behind the glass portions of the screen but not the circuit portions. The touchscreen is easier because it simply sits atop the screen.
this one has drivers for OS X and cost $165 total so much better than Troll Touch and a whole lot friendlier.
I posted another listing about a CF Card drive setup, does anybody have any ideas?
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iBook G3 OS X 10.4.8 / Ubuntu Dapper Drake 6.0 Mac Mini Intel Core Solo 1.5 GHz OS X 10.4.8 / Vista RC1 (testing) Coming Soon: Mac Mini G4 1.42 OS X Server 10.4.8
Okay I too have been pondering a tablet Mac. I have a few ideas as to things that might be useful. First a wacom style tablet is easily the best way to go. Second wacom supply tablets for most of the tablet PC's out there and I have found 2 at veryreasonable prices. The toshiba Portege 3500 caught my attention because it has a 12" screen and mine will be based off a 12" PB 1.33. I believe the interface is an internal usb using a proprietary connector. If I could figure the pinout for that digitizer it should work straight off the bat by mounting it underneath the circuit board for the display (between the display and circuit). I wouldn't have the faintest clue how to work out the pinout for one of these. OS X and ink recognise wacom tablets ithout drivers so even if the standard wacom drivers (which is basically the same driver across the product range) don't work you would still have click, mouse and HWR.
Anyone have any info on these as this is the direction I will be working in and am also looking at a desktop equiv.
Registered: 09/18/06
Posts: 16
Loc: Washington, DC
Good to hear abou the wacom tablets not needing the drivers to be recognized. I just ordered an old tablet of ov ebay for $20! Any idea if they need the pen as well or could you just use a stylus in the mean time. I am considering a dual imput setup. the screen would be essentially a touch pad and the tablet part an input for ink. Ideas?
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iBook G3 OS X 10.4.8 / Ubuntu Dapper Drake 6.0 Mac Mini Intel Core Solo 1.5 GHz OS X 10.4.8 / Vista RC1 (testing) Coming Soon: Mac Mini G4 1.42 OS X Server 10.4.8
Good to hear abou the wacom tablets not needing the drivers to be recognized. I just ordered an old tablet of ov ebay for $20! Any idea if they need the pen as well or could you just use a stylus in the mean time. I am considering a dual imput setup. the screen would be essentially a touch pad and the tablet part an input for ink. Ideas?
You need the pen, sorry. Wacom tablets are active as in they dont use a passive touch screen surface like the ones used on most PDA's etc. I have thought about dual input where I'd just replace the keyboard with a tablet and maybe use a passive touchscreen. Wacom have a tablet called a biztab or something like that. It is very small and cheap and could be intergrated quite easily.