The Desktop Computer in a bag, initial configuration The green portfolio bag contains the entire computer-system, LCD monitor, keyboard, mouse, cables, etc. The brown bag with the Tux doll (a contractors field bag from Bucket Boss) contains a standard older laptop with accessories, for comparison. RedHat distro box shown for size.
The portfolio case was the right size to fit both the pizza-box computer case and the small LCD monitor. The monitor was the key, since it had to be small enough in area to fit in a standard bag and have a removable stand, to reduce thickness and height.
Out of the bag: The system unit is under the keyboard on the left, monitor is still in its padded sleeve (which came with the portfolio bag, presumably intended for a slim laptop); USB mouse and pad in foreground. The keyboard is a bit smaller than I would have liked, but I'll try it for a while. There are mini-keyboards with standard-sized keys, but the laptop layout was relatively inexpensive and certainly compact. No, I don't develop for Windows (any more), despite the Paradox manual on the shelf. There are OS/2 books up there, too.
Inside the system: this is a rear quarter view of the Casetronic 2699R case, showing rear panel, fans, 3.5" 80GB HDD, and slim CD-ROM drive with IDE/power adapter. There is a 0.5"x3.5" drive bay on the right, but no floppy port on the VIA C3 EPIA motherboard. Note CPU fan and PCI riser: MB has PS/2, XVGA, parallel printer, S-video, sound, RS-232, 2 USB ports, and one Ethernet port. Case has front sound/USB/Firewire ports, but cables weren't compatible with MB. There is one 512MB memory module installed, with one empty slot (1GB total). There is also a second IDE port, which could be used for a compact flash drive.
Here is the system, fully assembled. The USB keyboard is a standard laptop layout. The monitor stand is fastened to the 14" KOGI monitor with four 4-40 screws and the base and riser disassemble with two screws on the underside for transport. The case comes with two feet for vertical orientation as a microtower, so the system fits comfortably on a vintage typewriter stand. It takes about five minutes to set up, with a #1 and a #2 Philips screwdriver to assemble the monitor stand. The VIA chipset requires the 9/03/03 RedHat 9 CD Disk 1, so it took an extra couple of days to download and burn a new set of install CDs.
Postscript: the system is up and running. After a few days of running it in this configuration, I tried it with the case flat and the monitor on top. Needed to lower the legs on the keyboard to clear the CD drawer, but still enough room for everything on the typewriter stand. There is actually enough room for both the monitor and keyboard to fit on top of the case, for that "almost laptop" look and feel, but I like the ability to adjust the keyboard and monitor separately, and the full-sized mouse.
