LCD/touch panels

On Jul 1, 12:57=A0pm, Don Y <nowh...@here.com> wrote:
> On 7/1/2011 9:42 AM, 1 Lucky Texan wrote:
>
> > Maybe something like a navigation device?
>
> > or find out where these 6.5" panels come from;
> >http://www.winsystems.com/products/Index_PPC_Openframe.cfm#
>
> That's too big. =A0Think in terms of a 2-gang junction box
> (light switch, etc.). =A0These are intended primarily as
> little "control pads" to turn things on and off or view
> status of *specific* things (i.e., you won't have 15
> different "things" displayed simultaneously).
>
> Or, think in terms of a "universal remote control" that
> is GUI based. =A0I.e., right now, it is configured to
> allow you to control your DVD player. =A0Later, it might
> be configured to control your FM radio, etc.
>
> As you get larger, it detracts from the device's utility
> (because of the temptation to put more cruft on the screen).
> It also becomes impractical to use/deploy (e.g., imagine
> 10" diagonal screens placed at the entry to each room
> in your house... they start to take up lots of wall space
> and draw too much attention to themselves).
>
> 5" seems a good size. =A0Maybe 4" would work as well -- it
> depends on how "intimate" you have to become with the
> panel in order to interact with it. =A0Ideally, you want it
> to be a casual interaction (like the way you interact
> with a light switch) instead of a more *intense* interaction
> (like the way you interact with a *spreadsheet*).
>

I can get you 4.3" or 5" 800x600 LCD, but i don't know if they will
ship less than 100.  My previous customer got 4.3", but i think they
can make 5" as well.

On Jul 1, 12:57=A0pm, Don Y <nowh...@here.com> wrote:
> On 7/1/2011 9:42 AM, 1 Lucky Texan wrote:
>
> > Maybe something like a navigation device?
>
> > or find out where these 6.5" panels come from;
> >http://www.winsystems.com/products/Index_PPC_Openframe.cfm#
>
> That's too big. =A0Think in terms of a 2-gang junction box
> (light switch, etc.). =A0These are intended primarily as
> little "control pads" to turn things on and off or view
> status of *specific* things (i.e., you won't have 15
> different "things" displayed simultaneously).

Switch to 3-gang (I have several in my house).  The 120mm x 76mm
(800x480) LCD would fit exactly right.

On 7/1/2011 2:11 PM, hamilton wrote:
> On 7/1/2011 1:57 PM, Don Y wrote:
>> On 7/1/2011 9:42 AM, 1 Lucky Texan wrote:
>>
>>> Maybe something like a navigation device?
>>>
>>> or find out where these 6.5" panels come from;
>>> http://www.winsystems.com/products/Index_PPC_Openframe.cfm#
>>
>> That's too big. Think in terms of a 2-gang junction box
>
> Sounds like a 2.8" display is all you can fit.
> Mounting will take up some room on the back of the panel.

Sorry, I'm not taking the necessary time to explain myself
better.  :<

I meant, "look at a 2G box on/in your wall -- as it appears
to someone walking through your (finished) home (i.e., NOT
as the carpenter/plumber and electrician see it while
*building* your home)".  Consider the space it occupies on
the wall.  If that "fixture" (a 2G box with two switches/outlets
in it and a typically sized face plate) was much larger,
you would start to consider it as obtrusive.  It commands too
much wall space for what it *does*.

I.e., imagine a piece of "display glass" similarly sized.
Now, imagine that display glass being 50% larger.  Or, 100%.
Pretty soon, it takes on a life of its own instead of
being regarded as "just part of the house".

> I found some LCDs on the DX web site.
> ( I spent way tooo much time "just looking" )

Would you agree their search engine *sucks*?  :<

> From your later comments, they seem to be reliable and deliver what they
> say they are going to deliver.

Pretty much.  See below...

> Are the products you have purchased very good quality ?
>
> The prices are cheap, but are the products also cheap ?

It's pretty much what you would expect for those prices  :>

My purchases to date have deliberately been low dollar amounts
and things that they couldn't *terribly* screw up.  In particular:

I had several PSP1000's in various states of disrepair.
I purchased "screen protectors" for them (little more than
a sheet of plastic film to overlay the display), some
spare batteries, some replacement caps for the analog joystick
(apologies to those unfamiliar with the PSP), a few replacement
analog joysticks, a WiFi power switch and a bag of replacement
*screws* (assuming I would bugger some of the screws as I was
disassembling the devices... easier to buy more than to try
to find a local supplier!).

The screen protectors appeared to be about 1mm too skinny
for the PSP1000.  Perhaps they were mislabeled and actually
intended for the PSP2000, etc.?  (you have to read the
reviews carefully for clues to these sorts of problems...
but, ignore *most* of what the reviews say as they are
seriously skewed -- nothing is ever "bad"  :-/ )

The batteries worked but didn't hold a deep charge.  I figure
a $4 battery that works for an hour or two is much better
than a $20 battery that works for 4 hours!  :>  It doesn't
cost much to recharge a battery...

The replacement joystick caps were cast from molds that
hadn't been sized properly.  I.e., some were ~1mm too
small in diameter (cosmetic).  Others (different style)
had way too long of a *stem* (so they floated too far above
the game console -- no problem, soft plastic is easy to
"correct" with a file!).

The mounting hole for the replacement joysticks was in the
wrong place by "just a little".  Again, relatively easy
to work around but annoying -- and a testament to their
quality.

[I get the distinct impression that they just *copy*
existing items -- even if they *claim* they are "OEM".
So, measurement errors creep into the reproductions.]

I didn't mangle any of the screws so I have no idea on
how good those replacements are.

And, I haven't yet replaced the WiFi switch in the one
PSP (a fair bit of work) so I can't attest to that, either.

In the original shipment, one of the batteries was replaced
by the wrong item (transposed digits in the part number).
But, when they saw that the error was theirs, they didn't
hesitate to ship the replacement (without requesting the
"wrong item" back from me -- perhaps because it was such
a low dollar amount.  I am now the proud? owner of a
genuine facsimile of "My Precious" from LOTR -- magnetized,
no less  :-/ )

I also took the opportunity to purchase some data+charge
cables for some iPods (like $1.50 ea) as well as A/V cables
for the same.  Again, I figured there isn't much that can go
wrong here that wouldn't have been very obvious to all
*previous* purchasers (e.g., if the connectors didn't *fit*
into the iPod, etc.).

Delivery times are frustratingly long.  But, probably not
unduly so, "considering".

However, I would be hesitant to purchase a high value item
or item of considerably more complex design -- e.g., wireless
tablets, etc.

I would also be hesitant to purchase anything that would
be in any way related with foods or beverages entering
my body!  (why is it that damn near everything -- even
christmas lights! -- made in china has *lead* in it??).  I.e.,
the potential downside (illness) far outweighs the savings
achievable, IMO!

Caveat Emptor.

On Jul 1, 3:57=A0pm, Don Y <nowh...@here.com> wrote:
> On 7/1/2011 2:11 PM, hamilton wrote:
>
> > On 7/1/2011 1:57 PM, Don Y wrote:
> >> On 7/1/2011 9:42 AM, 1 Lucky Texan wrote:
>
> >>> Maybe something like a navigation device?
>
> >>> or find out where these 6.5" panels come from;
> >>>http://www.winsystems.com/products/Index_PPC_Openframe.cfm#
>
> >> That's too big. Think in terms of a 2-gang junction box
>
> > Sounds like a 2.8" display is all you can fit.
> > Mounting will take up some room on the back of the panel.
>
> Sorry, I'm not taking the necessary time to explain myself
> better. =A0:<
>
> I meant, "look at a 2G box on/in your wall -- as it appears
> to someone walking through your (finished) home (i.e., NOT
> as the carpenter/plumber and electrician see it while
> *building* your home)". =A0Consider the space it occupies on
> the wall. =A0If that "fixture" (a 2G box with two switches/outlets
> in it and a typically sized face plate) was much larger,
> you would start to consider it as obtrusive. =A0It commands too
> much wall space for what it *does*.

No, it's not.  My wall is widescreen.  My TV is widescreen.  My switch
(3-gang) is widescreen.  Actually, a 2-gang switch box would be out of
place

On 7/1/2011 3:23 PM, linnix wrote:
> On Jul 1, 12:57 pm, Don Y<nowh...@here.com>  wrote:
>> On 7/1/2011 9:42 AM, 1 Lucky Texan wrote:
>>
>>> Maybe something like a navigation device?
>>
>>> or find out where these 6.5" panels come from;
>>> http://www.winsystems.com/products/Index_PPC_Openframe.cfm#
>>
>> That's too big.  Think in terms of a 2-gang junction box
>> (light switch, etc.).  These are intended primarily as
>> little "control pads" to turn things on and off or view
>> status of *specific* things (i.e., you won't have 15
>> different "things" displayed simultaneously).
>
> Switch to 3-gang (I have several in my house).  The 120mm x 76mm
> (800x480) LCD would fit exactly right.

No, I'm not interested in putting the panel *in* a J-box.
Rather, I was commenting on the "appearance" (size-wise)
of a typical 2G box on the wall in a home.  It's large
enough to be useful (imagining a display/panel much smaller
would be tedious) yet not too large to "attract attention".

E.g., the 10" panels that I currently have are eyesores.
You *immediately* focus on them.  And, their size invites you
(The Software Developer) to clutter them up with lots of
"stuff" (displays/indicators/controls) instead of keeping them
"clean" and "focused"  (do you *really* need to see the
outside temperature displayed on a control panel in the
*bathroom*?)

We are trying hard to get rid of "signs of technology", here
(curiously, by adopting *more* technology!  :> ).  To make
things more "homey" and less "techy" (while still catering to
all of that technology)

On 7/1/2011 3:07 PM, linnix wrote:
> On Jul 1, 12:57 pm, Don Y<nowh...@here.com>  wrote:

>> 5" seems a good size.  Maybe 4" would work as well -- it
>> depends on how "intimate" you have to become with the
>> panel in order to interact with it.  Ideally, you want it
>> to be a casual interaction (like the way you interact
>> with a light switch) instead of a more *intense* interaction
>> (like the way you interact with a *spreadsheet*).
>
> I can get you 4.3" or 5" 800x600 LCD, but i don't know if they will
> ship less than 100.  My previous customer got 4.3", but i think they
> can make 5" as well.

As this is a "one off" (I really don't worry about others
trying to reproduce it, later... let *them* place whatever
constraints they want on their choice of display panels!),
I want to do it "on the cheap".  Else, I could just buy some
tablets, gut them and add whatever other kit I need to make
them fit my purposes (which would make it unnecessarily hard
for anyone else to reproduce)

Hence, looking for some*thing* that has what I need and
can either purchase at surplus *or* buy and gut *just*
for the displays/touchpanels using my own hardware.

On Jul 1, 4:47=A0pm, Don Y <nowh...@here.com> wrote:
> On 7/1/2011 3:07 PM, linnix wrote:
>
> > On Jul 1, 12:57 pm, Don Y<nowh...@here.com> =A0wrote:
> >> 5" seems a good size. =A0Maybe 4" would work as well -- it
> >> depends on how "intimate" you have to become with the
> >> panel in order to interact with it. =A0Ideally, you want it
> >> to be a casual interaction (like the way you interact
> >> with a light switch) instead of a more *intense* interaction
> >> (like the way you interact with a *spreadsheet*).
>
> > I can get you 4.3" or 5" 800x600 LCD, but i don't know if they will
> > ship less than 100. =A0My previous customer got 4.3", but i think they
> > can make 5" as well.
>
> As this is a "one off" (I really don't worry about others
> trying to reproduce it, later... let *them* place whatever
> constraints they want on their choice of display panels!),
> I want to do it "on the cheap". =A0Else, I could just buy some
> tablets, gut them and add whatever other kit I need to make
> them fit my purposes (which would make it unnecessarily hard
> for anyone else to reproduce)
>
> Hence, looking for some*thing* that has what I need and
> can either purchase at surplus *or* buy and gut *just*
> for the displays/touchpanels using my own hardware.

Getting 10+ screens in a specific size at surplus would not be easy.
However, you might get lucky.  I just check the list from my
supplier.  They have a 120mm x 76mm (4.8"x3.0") (800x480) screen
listed.  That means they made them before and still have the tools to
make them without too much cost.  However, they are not going to make
just a few.

On 7/1/2011 5:39 PM, linnix wrote:
> On Jul 1, 4:47 pm, Don Y<nowh...@here.com>  wrote:

>> As this is a "one off" (I really don't worry about others
>> trying to reproduce it, later... let *them* place whatever
>> constraints they want on their choice of display panels!),
>> I want to do it "on the cheap".  Else, I could just buy some
>> tablets, gut them and add whatever other kit I need to make
>> them fit my purposes (which would make it unnecessarily hard
>> for anyone else to reproduce)
>>
>> Hence, looking for some*thing* that has what I need and
>> can either purchase at surplus *or* buy and gut *just*
>> for the displays/touchpanels using my own hardware.
>
> Getting 10+ screens in a specific size at surplus would not be easy.
> However, you might get lucky.

I wasn't necessarily looking for "pristine, NIB screens" but,
rather, overstocks and/or the complete devices that they are
intended for (to *gut*).  This makes it a lot easier.

(e.g., that's how I ended up with the 10" screens/touchpanels)

If, for example, I was looking for something smaller, I'd
just start looking for discarded/overstocked *obsolete*
phones...  much easier to come by than the actual *screens*
they contain!

On Jul 1, 6:40=A0pm, Don Y <nowh...@here.com> wrote:
> On 7/1/2011 5:39 PM, linnix wrote:
>
> > On Jul 1, 4:47 pm, Don Y<nowh...@here.com> =A0wrote:
> >> As this is a "one off" (I really don't worry about others
> >> trying to reproduce it, later... let *them* place whatever
> >> constraints they want on their choice of display panels!),
> >> I want to do it "on the cheap". =A0Else, I could just buy some
> >> tablets, gut them and add whatever other kit I need to make
> >> them fit my purposes (which would make it unnecessarily hard
> >> for anyone else to reproduce)
>
> >> Hence, looking for some*thing* that has what I need and
> >> can either purchase at surplus *or* buy and gut *just*
> >> for the displays/touchpanels using my own hardware.
>
> > Getting 10+ screens in a specific size at surplus would not be easy.
> > However, you might get lucky.
>
> I wasn't necessarily looking for "pristine, NIB screens" but,
> rather, overstocks and/or the complete devices that they are
> intended for (to *gut*). =A0This makes it a lot easier.
>
> (e.g., that's how I ended up with the 10" screens/touchpanels)
>
> If, for example, I was looking for something smaller, I'd
> just start looking for discarded/overstocked *obsolete*
> phones... =A0much easier to come by than the actual *screens*
> they contain!

It's unlikely to have phone that big, or DVD player that small.  One
thing i can think of in that size range is perhaps ATM machines;
however, they are B/W only.

On 7/1/2011 6:47 PM, linnix wrote:
> On Jul 1, 6:40 pm, Don Y<nowh...@here.com>  wrote:
>> On 7/1/2011 5:39 PM, linnix wrote:
>>
>>> On Jul 1, 4:47 pm, Don Y<nowh...@here.com>    wrote:
>>>> As this is a "one off" (I really don't worry about others
>>>> trying to reproduce it, later... let *them* place whatever
>>>> constraints they want on their choice of display panels!),
>>>> I want to do it "on the cheap".  Else, I could just buy some
>>>> tablets, gut them and add whatever other kit I need to make
>>>> them fit my purposes (which would make it unnecessarily hard
>>>> for anyone else to reproduce)
>>
>>>> Hence, looking for some*thing* that has what I need and
>>>> can either purchase at surplus *or* buy and gut *just*
>>>> for the displays/touchpanels using my own hardware.
>>
>>> Getting 10+ screens in a specific size at surplus would not be easy.
>>> However, you might get lucky.
>>
>> I wasn't necessarily looking for "pristine, NIB screens" but,
>> rather, overstocks and/or the complete devices that they are
>> intended for (to *gut*).  This makes it a lot easier.
>>
>> (e.g., that's how I ended up with the 10" screens/touchpanels)
>>
>> If, for example, I was looking for something smaller, I'd
>> just start looking for discarded/overstocked *obsolete*
>> phones...  much easier to come by than the actual *screens*
>> they contain!
>
> It's unlikely to have phone that big, or DVD player that small.  One

Exactly (though a DVD player would be a bad choice as it
wouldn't typically have a touchscreen overlay).  A "digital
picture frame" (small) might be a good choice.

I've seen some "large PDAs" that are also candidates

> thing i can think of in that size range is perhaps ATM machines;
> however, they are B/W only.

Yup.  I ended up with several nice, inexpensive panels... that
were mislabeled as *color* but were, in fact, monochrome.  :<