Re: Touchpad Extending & Media Players

["Andy Laurence" <andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Andy Laurence wrote:
> I've got a cosmetically damaged laptop that I plan to use as the AV
> interface in my kitchen.  I've pulled the screen off and can easily
> mount that.  However, I plan to use the touchpad as the input device,
> and have pulled that off.  I plan to surface mount it on one of the
> units to allow simple control of the laptop inside one of the unused
> units.  My main issue is that the cable is not long enough.  It's
> just a simple 4-core cable connecting the touchpad PCBs to the
> motherboard.  Before I get the soldering iron out, does anyone know
> if this cable will be sensitive to changes in length?

For those who were wondering, yes you can extend a laptop touchpad.  Mine
is
now a foot away from the laptop (CAT5 can do *anything*).  However, I would
like to point out to people as silly as me that it's a good idea to tape
down loose wires.  Sometimes loose wires can short out the touchpad you
just
spent half an hour soldering :-/

> My other issue is which media player to use.  I want something that's
> easy to use, and requires no more user input than mouse movement, and
> left-clicks (ie. the touchpad).  I'd preferably like to use something
> that will work with WinXP, as it's quick to install, and I have lots
> of projects with little time!  Is this something Xlobby is good for?
> Free is around my price ;-)

I've had a play with this, and it looks ideal.  Well recommended!  If only
I
had a pointing device to select things with :-/

Cheers,
Andy (looking for a USB/serial/PS2 touchpad to dismantle)
--
http://ha.andylaurence.co.uk
http://projects.andylaurence.co.uk