Windows 8 Tablet

I'll show you how to build a windows 8 tablet using an (old) laptop and a touch screen kit.

The idea behind this build is windows 8 with its new metro interface and new apps is more focus towards touch screen interfaces and as I wanted to try out windows 8 (developer preview) on a touch screen but didn't have I thought I'd build one, as I had some parts left over from my macbook pro tablet.

While I wanted when I started this project to create a functional and Beautiful device I think I ended up with more of a Lindsay lohan type of device, as it works and it would scrub up nice but its a bit ruff around the edges.

Step 1: What you need

What you need

A laptop that meets the minimum specs of windows 8
A touch screen kit ( I used egalax resistive touch screen)
A copy of windows 8 (develops preview/Beta)

Comments

[instructamaker]

What anoit the power button.

[instructamaker]

Can this be done with a windows 7 computer

[claudiopolis]

Dear "hackitbuildit",

You should mention from the very start that the resistive touch screen kit you use & deem necessary only offers single touch and it's not HID-compliant therefore Win8 will never see it as a touch device but as a mouse.

This means no swipe or other goodies Win8 brings to the table will be available. In my opinion you can not advertise your work as a win8 "tablet" because it lacks the very core feature of a win8 tablet - touch experience. The E-galax kit will not make it a truly "touchscreen".

I bet you can't get the onscreen keyboard to automatically display whenever you touch an input field. I know because I'm using the same thing in one of my instructables. It's a driver problem. One that does not work in Win7 let alone Win8. And no future updates will be available, that I'm sure.

[salexandridis]

Dear "hackitbuildit",
I'd like to truly thank you for making this instructable! I am also trying to turn an old netbook of mine into a tablet. Your tutorial gave me 2 wonderful ideas! First, the operating system and last but not least, the placement of the screen.
I was trying to place it over the motherboard, but the display able wouldn't help at all. I was considering extending it, but this would be way too risky. I was completely desperate. But when I watched the video, I figured it out. I would "open" the netbook like a book and flip the screen at the bottom side of the motherboard! Apart from solving the placement problem, the heat problem is solved too! You see, in case I placed the screen over the board, it would be right above some processors which was previously heatshinked. Now they are completely "free" and a can install a thin metal plate which will do the job!
Thank you again and again!

P.S. I've visited the site about the touch screens but I couldn't find a way to purchase one. Can you suggest me a cheap solution for a 10'' monitor. I prefer capacitive ones, but if there aren't any under 80$, resistive wouldn't bother me.

[jlawrie]

@Salexandridis

I found 14.1" Capacitive touch screen kit here:

http://kingtouch.en.made-in-china.com/product-group/LMVmWwobnARS/-HOT-Capacitive-Touch-Screen-catalog-1.html

It is however a Chinese supplier but after exhausting all of the USA Suppliers I was refereed to them by a company called North American Semiconductor.

I will be posting my Tablet build after i get all of the other components collected. Am having a hard time finding a way to Encase it all after.

Like how this guy did his, but i just don't know...

http://carbontablet.blogspot.ca/

[The nerdling]

make an instructable when you build it if you do

[eli6093]

Where did you get the touchscreen overlay? I looked everywhere and couldn't find it.

[hackitbuildit]

I got it off ebay

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/ewwtnet/Laptop-Accessories-/_i.html?_sacat=31530&_sasi=1&_sid=427464972&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

[Pavliko]

Thanks but this is just not enough, I'm going to try and make a convertible screen on my laptop, that way I will still use my laptop in the classic way

[hackitbuildit]

I'd like to see what you come up with. I'm trying to make a convertible laptop/tablet at the moment out of a macbook air. Hopefully I'll have finished in a few weeks. I will be doing a instructables when i've finished it.

[Pavliko]

Lets see who finishes first :)

[rdallas]

Great instructable i did this a couple days ago and was wondering about the touchscreen. I used a dell inspiron 1545 and just modified the hinges so that the screen was on the outside and was still able to flip up so that i could set it somewhere to play games also was able to keep the bezel around the screen which was a plus for me. Touching on the screen is there a software you could run in order to use it or do you suggest getting the windows 8 os?

[hackitbuildit]

I'd suggest windows 8 as it's build with touch in mind, and it's much better than windows 7 and windows XP when using a touch interface.