The Raspberry Pi is a “credit-card sized computer that plugs into your TV and a keyboard. It’s a capable little PC which can be used for many of the things that your desktop PC does, like spreadsheets, word-processing and games. It also plays high-definition video.” I also love their aim “We want to see it being used by kids all over the world to learn programming.”
But without a monitor/TV and keyboard, Raspberry Pi has the potential to just languish in my drawer. I did not have a spare monitor – so I held off buying a Pi. When resistance finally proved futile, I started searching for a relatively inexpensive HDMI monitor – but most were over £100. I also needed a keyboard and mouse etc.
I found quite a few people had connected the Motorola Atrix Lapdock to a Pi. The lapdock was originally made as a ‘dumb terminal’ for a smartphone – using the computing power in the phone it, in effect, turned the combination into a laptop. I don’t think either the lapdock or the associated smartphone are still manufactured, but there seems to be some stock of lapdocks still. The lapdock has an eleven inch HDMI display, a keyboard, trackpad, twin speakers and battery. And it’s rather slim. Ideal.
I took my inspiration from the Instructables web site. I bought the bits – some had long lead times – and then set to making my own Pi Computer.
Here’s how I did it, the results and some bits I learnt on the way plus things I’d have done differently.
- Time required: about one hour.
- Tools: craft knife, hacksaw
Motorola Lapdock for Motorola ATRIX – with travel adaptor.
Close up of the micro USB and micro HDMI male plugs. See how close they are!
There was no way the micro USB (left) and micro HDMI (right) adaptors were going to fit side by side!
The HDMI adaptor was whittled.
But it was still too big.
The plastic casing for the micro USB adaptor was slit.
And its gizzards removed.
The HDMI cable was also whittled to get a better fit. Still a bit wonky though.
Taking off the “fit plate” gives more room behind the plugs. (I discovered this *after* whittling).
The USB3.0 Male-A Male cable needed to connect to a male plug. So with the help of a responsible adult, the metal casing was hacksawed off one end.
And it slipped into place – shown here halfway
USB cable connected to the USB adaptor, connected to the lapdock.
Both USB and HDMI cables connected to the adaptors and to the lapdock.
SD Card inserted into Raspberry Pi.
USB and HDMI cables connected to Pi and lapdock.
The power cables were attached to the lapdock and Pi. Then there was a small amount of faff required to set up the software (it isn’t a Mac that works just out of the box). Everything has to be on and powered up before the Pi is plugged in. But now, I have a fully functional Raspberry Pi.