T23/T30 digital picture frame project

[landsmarra]

Hello to all!

Does anyone happen to know if the T23/T30 can be made to boot/operate without the keyboard and trackpoint like the 600/770 series can?

I'd like to make a DPF out of one of these guys but wanted to see if I could find this out before sourcing one.

Thanks!

[rkawakami]

Boot, yes. Operate, maybe; depends on your definition of "operate".

The T23 can power up and boot into an OS without a keyboard installed, and do so without throwing any errors. The easiest way to do this is if you attach it to a port replicator. The port replicator has its own power button which can be used to turn the system on, and if held down, turn it off. If you also attach a USB mouse, then you could control the system that way. I do this all of the time with a stripped down test bed T23 system on a 02K8668 port rep. The challenge is to incorporate the port replicator into the digital picture frame project. A "clean" way would be to tap into the port replicator connector and/or wire an on/off button directly onto the motherboard. I think that there has been some work done in hacking the pinout of the port replicator but I don't know if any useful information exists. Best bet would be to search the archives here or Google it.

I would imagine that the T30 could do the same thing. It can also use the same 02K8668 port replicator as the T2x systems.

[landsmarra]

OK, so if I understand correctly, the T23/T30 cannot operate as a standalone unit (without being somehow connected to a port replicator) without the keyboard/trackpoint like the 600/770 can, correct?

[rkawakami]

Well, when you remove the keyboard from the T23 or T30, the laptop's power button goes with it. That means the only way you can turn them on would be to use the port replicator connector.

edit: Umm... let me correct that last statement... I suppose you could try hacking the keyboard connector on the motherboard and find out where the power button pins are. That way you don't have to use the port replicator.

edit2: And to fully clarify the answer to your question... the T23 CAN operate without the normal keyboard/trackpoint attached. It will not cause any boot or operational errors to occur but your initial problem would be finding a way to, at minimum, turn the system on and off. For that, my initial recommendation of using the port replicator comes into play. To me it's the easiest and safest way of "adding" back that power button.

[schen]

OK, so if I understand correctly, the T23/T30 cannot operate as a standalone unit (without being somehow connected to a port replicator) without the keyboard/trackpoint like the 600/770 can, correct?

Let me give you a different take on this. Have you considered leaving the KB? I've done a bit of research on DPF and most seem to use the KB, but simply find a way to fold it back over the MB and kind of mount it in the assembly. That just eliminates so many issues and being a TP with the trackpoint gives you the mouse functions as well. The reality is that these keyboard just don't take that much space and really just need to be mounted in such a way that they are out of the way.