A Classic II/LC III laptop/book….

-SE40-

-SE40-

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New Project!

As I was browsing through Hartmut Eslingers book,
“Keep it Simple”
I wondered how cool it would be to recreate this laptop bookstyle computer into a working machine.

1E2B1D59-4ABC-4187-8BA8-9272D8527147.jpeg


Then (a while back) inspired by Adrian’s youtube video, and how he managed to get a external screen working with RGB to HDMI I thought such a build with my Classic II board should be posible somehow…
But as I have too many projects already I figured to give it some more time.

Until yesterday I could resist, but our member here -retr01- just pushed me over the line in Stephens picopi discussion.

The Classic II board is real compact in its size.
Problably the smallest Apple 68030 board…..(sadly not the fastest)
Combine that with a blue scsi, the display conversion, and a nice display.
As for the keyboard I hope to use the standard CLII with newly made keycaps. Never done that before, so also challenging.
There are the basic components.
For power its a idea to use a 5-10 amps flat battery pack. Cells side by side on the bottom and so only 5mm thick.

Just a few of my thougts….

As my time is limited, it wont be a superfast project.
First step get the components working and sorted oud in CAD. Then working around that to get Hartmut’s design going😇

njoy!
Chris
 

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retr01

retr01

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Yay! :D 👏 Now you have your thread that you can post and talk about your progress with this build.

I am interested, too, especially that it can be a "more portable SE/30" once the FPU is added to the Classic II LB.

Yet, Classic II did not have FPU, so a card in the "proprietary" slot is needed to add FPU. Apple never released that add-on. The RAM max out at 10 MB. 😒

Still, it would be fun lugging that around and playing with it at a coffee shop or cafe compared to the SE/30. 😉

1655738352987.png
 
-SE40-

-SE40-

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Hi there!

Tanks for your help sofar, much apreciated!

Ive used this Classc II board quite a few years.
Indeed, its no racemonster.
With 10 Mb workable.
It depends also which system version
and software is used.

Although its merely for fun, speed is not the purpose. (Suggestions are welcome 👍)
Its the process (re)creating this new- old-design.
Looking forward to that….😇 and the comments here….
 
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retr01

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Draw out your plan for how you can get to Hartmut's design you would like. 🙈🙉

I have the same book I bought from a bookstore in Cologne (Köln), Germany (Deutschland). It is still in shrinkwrap. Hahaha! 😂

I wonder what designs are in there I can deviate from the SE/30. :sneaky:
 
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-SE40-

-SE40-

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My plan is to layout the parts/components into a 3D cad volumemodel that fits the proportions of the model in the picture.
The keyboard size gives away Hartmuts model size (as that did prob not change by much).

First start is to get all parts & components actually working together.
Changing anything afterwards can ruin it all.

The book itself is really nice.
You should open and enjoy it!

As for your SE30, I would not change a thing.
Its perfect as it is….✅
 
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retr01

retr01

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-SE40- said:
My plan is to layout the parts/components into a 3D cad volumemodel that fits the proportions of the model in the picture.
The keyboard size gives away Hartmuts model size (as that did prob not change by much).

First start is to get all parts & components actually working together.
Changing anything afterwards can ruin it all.
Click to expand...
(y)
-SE40- said:
The book itself is really nice.
You should open and enjoy it!
Click to expand...
:geek: 📖
-SE40- said:
As for your SE30, I would not change a thing.
Its perfect as it is….✅
Click to expand...
🤩🥳
 
Trash80toG4

Trash80toG4

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I'll post a fairly current hack that looks a bit like this and how I'm Prototyping it in wood and Plexi rather than CAD. Physical objects were used back in the day for the process. Maybe you'll take a whack at it that way?

The first step would be blocking it out on blank paper using the components and building it up from there. You can then start by doing AI (or CAD) files in 2D, printing them out and mooshing things around on that pasted up template.

Nothing like playing with building blocks in IRL in 3D, actual physical objects in hand. ;)


edit: that particular bit of frog droppings has been on the drawing board I keep in my head for a very long time. Good luck with it!
 
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retr01

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Hey @-SE40-! Good news! A card can be made to add the 68882 FPU to the Mac Classic II! 🥳 🙉

IMG_3247.jpg
IMG_3241.jpg

​
See that this FPU card is perpendicular to the logic board in a regular Classic II case with a right-angle EuroDIN connector of whatever number of pins? Well, swap out for a straight type, resolve clearance and dimensional challenges with the flat floppy disk drive cable and boom! The card could be installed parallel to the logic board. Then, you have an FPU in Hartmut-inspired Classic II Book! :geek:(y):cool:🤩
 
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-SE40-

-SE40-

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@Trash80toG4 , thanks for your input on workstrategy’s….👍

There are various ways to approach this “whack” depending on what you are aiming for.

In this “case” the design has been done and its only a matter of creating a reproducable enclosure, fitting in time relevant combined with some modern parts, just as if this product would have been produced by Apple in the early nineties.

I think it will be fun!
( to me for sure 🍀)
 
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