Remember Matt's replica Altair 8800 build from a while back? It should come as no surprise that he's a fan of the retro electronics (see also: Project Hawthorne, Project Essex, and Project Pripyat), but due to lack of space, he keeps mainly portables and smaller form factor devices. Even at a reduced size, the Altair replica didn't sit quite right because it still required a full-sized terminal to function properly. So, in this project, Matt converts the desktop Altair into a self-contained laptop replete with emulated green phosphor screen, toggles, and glorious blinkenlights all in a handsome aluminum case that would not have been out of place during the disco era!
Supplemental Content:
- Ben Heck's Apple 1 Laptop:
- Original Altair Replica Build (Project Wumpus):
- Project Pripyat:
- Project Essex:
- Say Hi to Plasma:
Bill of Material:
| Product Name | Manufacturer | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Development Board, Arduino Due, AT91SAM3X8E MCU, 54 3.3V I/O, 12 Analogue Inputs, With Headers | ARDUINO | 1 | Buy Now |
| Toggle Switch, (On)-Off-(On), SPDT, Non Illuminated, 1MS4T1B1M1 Series, Through Hole, 5 A | Multicomp | 8 | Buy Now |
| Toggle Switch, On-On, SPDT, Non Illuminated, 1MS Series, Panel Mount, 5 A | Multicomp | 17 | Buy Now |
| LED, Red, Through Hole, T-1 3/4 (5mm), 10 mA, 2.1 V, 650 nm | Multicomp | 36 | Buy Now |
| Bipolar (BJT) Single Transistor, NPN, 40 V, 300 MHz, 625 mW, 600 mA, 35 hFE | ON/Fairchild | 36 | Buy Now |
| Through Hole Resistor, 10 kohm, LR Series, 250 mW, ± 1%, Axial Leaded, 200 V | TE | 37 | Buy Now |
| Through Hole Resistor, 150 ohm, MCMF0W4 Series, 250 mW, ± 1%, Axial Leaded, 250 V | Multicomp | 37 | Buy Now |
| Ribbon Cable, Spectra Zipr Planar | AMPHENOL SPECTRA-STRIP | 1 | Buy Now |
| Premium Female/Male Extension Jumper Wires, 40 x 6" (150mm) | Adafruit | 2 | Buy Now |
| USB Connector, USB Type B, USB 2.0, Receptacle, 4 Positions, Through Hole Mount, Right Angle | Multicomp | 1 | Buy Now |
| D Sub Connector, Right Angle, HD15, High Density, Receptacle, 15 Contacts, DE, Solder | Multicomp | 1 | Buy Now |
| DIN Audio / Video Connector, 6 Contacts, Jack, PCB Mount, Through Hole Right Angle | AMP/TE | 1 | Buy Now |
| IC & Component Socket, 28 Contacts, DIP Socket, 2.54 mm, 7.62 mm, Phosphor Bronze | TE | 1 | Buy Now |
| Crystal, Through Hole, 8 MHz, Through Hole, 10.3mm x 5mm, 50 ppm, 18 pF, 30 ppm, AS Series | Ralton | 1 | Buy Now |
| Microcontroller PIC/DSPIC, PIC32 Family PIC32MX Series, 32bit, 40MHz, 128KB, 32KB RAM, SDIP-28 | Microchip | 1 | Buy Now |
| Fixed LDO Voltage Regulator, 2.3V to 6V, 178mV Dropout, 3.3Vout, 250mAout, TO-92-3 | Microchip | 1 | Buy Now |
| LED, Red, Through Hole, T-1 (3mm), 30 mA, 2.1 V, 625 nm | Multicomp | 1 | Buy Now |
| Ceramic Disc Capacitor, 27 pF, 1 kV, 561R Series, ± 5%, C0G / NP0, 6.4 mm | Vishay | 3 | Buy Now |
| Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor, 0.1 µF, 50 V, MC Series, ± 20%, Radial Leaded, Y5V | Multicomp | 2 | Buy Now |
| Tantalum Capacitor, 10 µF, 16 V, MCTA Series, ± 10%, Radial Leaded, 5 mm | Multicomp | 3 | Buy Now |
| Through Hole Resistor, 82 ohm, MCCFR0W4J Series, 250 mW, ± 5%, Axial Leaded, 250 V | Multicomp | 1 | Buy Now |
| Through Hole Resistor, 220 ohm, MCF Series, 250 mW, ± 5%, Axial Leaded, 250 V | Multicomp | 1 | Buy Now |
| Through Hole Resistor, 470 ohm, MCCFR0W4J Series, 250 mW, ± 5%, Axial Leaded, 250 V | Multicomp | 1 | Buy Now |
| Through Hole Resistor, 4.7 kohm, MCCFR0W4J Series, 250 mW, ± 5%, Axial Leaded, 250 V | Multicomp | 4 | Buy Now |
| Through Hole Resistor, 100 kohm, MCCFR0W4J Series, 250 mW, ± 5%, Axial Leaded, 250 V | Multicomp | 1 | Buy Now |
| Electrolytic Capacitor, 10 µF, 16 V, MCGPR Series, ± 20%, Radial Leaded, 5 mm | Multicomp | 1 | Buy Now |
| DC Power Connector, Socket, 4 A, Cable Mount, Screw | Velleman | 1 | Buy Now |
| DC Power Connector, Plug, 4 A, Cable Mount, Screw | Velleman | 1 | Buy Now |
| Jumper (Busbar), Jumper, TSW, MTSW, TLW, DW, EW, ZW, HW, & TSM Series Headers, 2 Positions, 2.54 mm | SAMTEC | 2 | Buy Now |
| Matrix Board, 1.2 mm, 160 mm, 100 mm | Multicomp | 1 | Buy Now |
| PCB, Pad-per-hole, Epoxy Glass Composite, 1.57mm, 152.4mmx228.6mm | Vector | 1 | Buy Now |
Additional Parts:
| Product Name |
|---|
|
header pins: right angle & straight |
|
ps2/usb adapter |
|
USB 84-key mini keyboard |
|
briefcase style laptop case |
|
acrylic |
|
8-inch 4:3 LCD VGA monitor |
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