Always Inovating Mini Book

http://www.alwaysinnovating.com/products/minibook.htm

This is an interesting device, the core of the smartbook, containing a slightly upgraded version of the touchbook 2 board.

I s it likely to be supported on RISC OS? (even if it only works as a touchbook, when plugged into the smartbook.)

The screen resolution is 480×320 which isn’t that different from the old TV modes RISC OS originally used, which should be just usable, if keyboard and mouse support can be sorted out.

AIUI the port could be coaxed into working, taking note of the touchscreen issue you mention. The MID contains the same board as a standard Smart Book

I would think that an adaptor to allow USB mouse and keyboard to be plugged in would be possible, which would mean only screen support would be vital, (along with RO not having problems with the additional hardware.)

I suspect RISC OS might be a tad clunky for extended use on a small touch screen alone.

The MID contains the same board as a standard Smart Book

As I understand it, it is the same device sits inside it.

My questions were basically whether the extra hardware over a touchbook 2 would cause a problem for use in a smartbook, and whether stand alone operation would be possible.

Please keep in mind, that the you should not expect any work to flow into any newer device than the BBXM unless you start working on it yourself :-)

- But apart from that, it might just work (at least partially).

• The MID already has a hdmi-outish port and is based on the XM. The display should be attached the same way as on the later beagleboards (the signal is taken from the lines that feed the hdmi signal serializer) – so it might be possible to get the display working by just choosing the correct Mode timings.
• The keyboard should behave like a normal USB keyboard and the touchscreen should benefit from the work that flows into the touchbook – touchscreen.
• adding standard USB components should be possible as with the existing boards
• differences in the Linux sources should be easily findable by direct comparison with older Linux sources for the Touchbook

Edit: It looks like the touch display is attached behind the serializer for HDMI as the 40Pin Connector of the MID is only carrying the serialized signals. So chances are even higher that the tablet will just show a picture given timings and resolution are correct.

Uwe – are your comments made with reference to the MID wiki page ?

Yep. hope I understood everything correctly – it seems to be a page assembled from different sources – old and new – and yes, I should have given the link :-) Thanks.