Connecting a TabletPC screen and digitizer to a Desktop PC (Like the Wacom Cintiq)

[ward1e]

Hi,

I was wondering if anybody here had managed to dismantle a Tablet PC and find out what the pinout was of the internal vga/dvi connector, power supply for the screen and the usb/serial connector for the digitizer?

The reason I ask is that it if it is possible to find these 2 things out some of the slate tablet pc's such as the TC1100 could be used as an alternative to a Wacom Cintiq Digitiser which would be very useful with a desktop PC.

I currently own 2 tablet pc's: the Dell Latitiude XT and previously a HP TC1100 both of which I have been really impressed with (apart from a few software errors with the digitizer on the Latitude XT and the 3D performance) but it would still be nice to have the functionality of the tablet pc on my desktop without paying the overinflated price of a Wacom Cintiq.

I have already found a website on a DIY Cintiq from a display and a Wacom digitizer at bongofish.co.uk but why bother trying to put all the relevant parts together yourself if you can get the screen and digitizer already integrated in a second hand tablet pc on ebay for relatively small amounts of money.

Any suggestions/input would be much appreciated.

Ben

[Ride wind]

I was wondering if anybody here had managed to dismantle a Tablet PC and find out what the pinout was of the internal vga/dvi connector, power supply for the screen and the usb/serial connector for the digitizer?

The reason I ask is that it if it is possible to find these 2 things out some of the slate tablet pc's such as the TC1100 could be used as an alternative to a Wacom Cintiq Digitiser which would be very useful with a desktop PC.

Why would you want to do even that when your tablet screen already is its own computer?The reason professionals pay so much for cintiq is because of its much higher pen resolution and sensitivity. No Tablet PC come close to that high professional level.

[Insaa]

I've got my TC1100 sitting beside me here but I'm using my desktop because the greater screen real estate is such a plus. But... if I were able to add little drawings easy to my Mind Manager mindmaps via the tablet then that would be awesome!

In other words, being able to link it in to my main computer system would let me get around some of the disadvantages that tablet pc has while making its advantages more valuable.

So, I'm keen as well to hear any ideas on how to do this.

[Ride wind]

In other words, being able to link it in to my main computer system would let me get around some of the disadvantages that tablet pc has while making its advantages more valuable.

If you're keen to create your cintiq-mini, I cannot help. For my 2 cents worth, I actually think just networked the tabletpc to the main computer is the best way because that way you got a dedicated CPU for tablet-based work and another more powerful CPU for data-intensive work. It sounds to me like you would want the power for the desktop CPU for better 3D performance but a tablet-based screen. But seriously if you're doing such fine work then maybe the tablet resolution may not be enough.

On a side note, if you want to dismantle the screen part and connect to the desktop, I think it is possible because all the tablets which I know actually use pretty standard and GPU 1 or 2 generations behind the latest desktop so the signal output are most likely analog VGA which should be able to solder as a VGA connector. Unfortunately, my tabletpc is almost my livelihood which I will not take apart to experiment. One way to start could be to find an old AGP based graphic cards and compare the pins.