GP32 Design your own GP32

[newbiedumbass]

With all this talk of modifying the GP32, what would people really like Gamepark to build if they made a second gen GP32? Keep your suggestions real world (ie a 1gz 256mb ddr ram GP32 is never gonna happen - well not in this lifetime), and bear in mind space restrictions of the handheld format. I know its probably never going to happen but just treat it as an interesting intellectual excercise.

Personally i dream of a 400mhz strong Arm processor ( like in the ipaq ), 32/64 mb ram (32mb is do-able on the gp32 now), CF/microdrive storage (would be a bit bulky though), intergrated wireless (the wireless dongle is majorly ungainly) and more buttons ( 2 main action and 2 trigger buttons are a bit limiting) perhaps a PS type arangement ( 4 main buttons and 4 triggers). An Li-ion battery would be the icing on a nerds wet dream.

Stick that in your pipe and smoke it N-Gage!

 

[zboy9]

instead of removable storage why not like a 10gig (or something like that) hd like the iPod?

 

[newbiedumbass]

too big surely? the size of ipod is small cos other components not needed. if "GP32" 2 was to use an ipod style hd the unit would be pretty hefty or the features and other components would have to be reduced. anyhoo 1gb/gb of microdrive storage is enough surely???

 

[Zider]

instead of removable storage why not like a 10gig (or something like that) hd like the iPod?

Built-in storage would mean I have to connect my gp32 to the PC to transfer files to it. No thanks, I want removable media, preferrably CF since it doesn't have any moving parts in it (microdrive is totally crap).

 

[newbiedumbass]

I've never used a microdrive device before (got an HD pased Xclef HD500 mp3 player) so i dont know about skipping errors ect. I suggested it cos solid state memory is limited in capacity to about 512 meg at the moment (last time i checked) and even if it were possible to get 1GB / 2 GB Cf cards the price would be absurd cos solid state is so expensive (not that microdrive isn't).

good ideas we've got going here though, good to get the old techie brain working

 

[rcx21000]

CPU: ARM11 300MhZ
RAM: 64MB DIMM + Virtual Mem from internal HD (optional)
STORAGE: 1GB internal HD, and 1CF card slot
WIRLESS: Bluetooth w/ switch to turn off
EXT: 1USB port (powered, with switch), 1headphone, 1DC in, 1a/v out w/ adapter to conect to TV
GFX/SOUND CARD: Best thing that would fit, I dunno what they are...
SCREEN: 480x320 3.7"
BATTERIES: Li-Ion, charges through the DC in port, and is replacable (you can have 2-3 batteries, and replace once one runs out)
BUTTONS: Left: Control Stick, Start & Select Right: A, B, X, Y Shoulder: L, R

The PC should communicate to GP32 through the USB port on it, and the switches to turn on/off the Bluetooth should be a software menu, but there is a button that immediatly brings up a menu then closes it again (the button also turns on the GP32 if it's off). The menu should be:

On/Off Bluetooth
On/Off USB Power
On/Off GP32

Oh, and it needs a fingerprint check so I can block my bro from the GP*whatever number*

 

[count zero]

Very nice one. But do u hava to go to this menu to switch of the gp?

congrats to 800!

 

[newbiedumbass]

I like your ideas rcx2100

Best of both worlds with intergrated and removable storge. I wonder how small an intergrated hd could be made whilst avoiding skipping?

USB 2 or firewire hmmmm....

GREAT idea about the replaceable batteries (kind of like e.digital's Treo 15 mp3 player).

how about a bundled baseball bat to beat your brother with instead of a fingerprint scanner (overly high tech methinks)

v nice screen (backlit or front lit???)

AV out good.

CF slot could accomodate plug in modules like GPS or TV tuner if ppl wanted

proprietary os or adapted from WinCE or Palm???

 

[firepika]

well a notebook hd is pritty small if you ask me. i have 3 of them little buggers running round my house somewhere. and as for the gfx sound cards it would be really nice if nvidia made a card just for the gp like maby a all around chip that does both gfx and sound. :lol:

 

[TheGatesofBill]

The menu should be:

On/Off Bluetooth
On/Off USB Power
On/Off GP32

Why not just have a normal power switch, and then let the software handle switching on and off USB and Bluetooth?

 

[Skeejay]

how about a 2nd joystick on the right, like all the newer consoles have... that way you can play shooters decently (otherwise looking up/down is hellish)



[edit]

and an extra shoulderbutton (beside the L+R) would be nice... only on 1 side (gamecube style) that usually functions as a "shift" button so you get even more action button functions...

 

[Azure]

CPU: ARM11 300MhZ
RAM: 64MB DIMM + Virtual Mem from internal HD (optional)
STORAGE: 1GB internal HD, and 1CF card slot
WIRLESS: Bluetooth w/ switch to turn off
EXT: 1USB port (powered, with switch), 1headphone, 1DC in, 1a/v out w/ adapter to conect to TV
GFX/SOUND CARD: Best thing that would fit, I dunno what they are...
SCREEN: 480x320 3.7"
BATTERIES: Li-Ion, charges through the DC in port, and is replacable (you can have 2-3 batteries, and replace once one runs out)
BUTTONS: Left: Control Stick, Start & Select Right: A, B, X, Y Shoulder: L, R

The PC should communicate to GP32 through the USB port on it, and the switches to turn on/off the Bluetooth should be a software menu, but there is a button that immediatly brings up a menu then closes it again (the button also turns on the GP32 if it's off). The menu should be:

On/Off Bluetooth
On/Off USB Power
On/Off GP32

Oh, and it needs a fingerprint check so I can block my bro from the GP*whatever number*

That's what I'd like, but maybe a little more stronger CPU, maybe 350mhz.

 

[Dozer]

Also an infrared port would be nice so you could use it as a remote. Touch screen would be good. maybe an optional password screen incase u loose ur gp. A docking cradle that acts as a charger and the firewire/usb2 etc transfer. Easy conection to a tv/monitor. If this was a total dream then it would come with its own projector that ran from the bluetooth. there would be a powered port (not crappy ext.) so you could attatch harddisks/keyboards/camera. It could also record directly from the tv. Like that harddisk media player. Well it would b nice...

 

[STRIDER_YUZO]

300mhz - with overclocking abilities. ram 32/64mb. Maybe you could omit the blue tooth alltogather. It would keep cost down. The use of laptop harddrives is the best idea ever. Maybe the unit could come with a 500mb one. Again, that would keep cost down. this way, we could swap them out for a 6gb or 20gb if we wanted. Remember the nomad jukebox when people figured a way to swap out the 6gb with a 40gb? Brilliant. Keeping the unit as a flu may keep cost down also. Ram- why not use removable laptop ram? That may provide an upgradeable solution. And maybe we could keep using the smc format- Backwards compatibility is always a good thing.

I estimate the unit would cost around 275$ I think. I would hate to spend over 300$ on the next gp32.

Cheers
yuzo.

 

[STRIDER_YUZO]

Ultimately, take the exhisting gp32- add 500mb harddrive (that one can remove)- Beef up the processing power to 300mhz- add 2 more buttons with the A and B buttons - use the same screen size and resolution- and make the ram something you could remove- but keep in a similar gp32 package i.e usb/headphones/speakers ect.- This way, the next gp32 would be totally affordable and much more upgradeable. I would be in heaven if GamePark did this!!

Cheers,
yuzo

 

[Zider]

Has anyone considered the power consumption on all those bloated extras you want? Hard drives uses quite a lot, even 2,5" (not to mention the space it would take), and I gather a 300MHz CPU would drain a lot too, not to mention a GPU. And stuffing in a fat battery would just make it way too heavy for carrying in your pocket.

But that's just my opinion I guess. All I want basically is CF instead of SMC, and maybe extra control buttons, like ABCD and double sholder buttons.

 

[rcx21000]

You could use a "GamePark 5KG Battrey Backpack (tm) -- Gives 5 hours of battrey life on the GP64 (Special Bonus, add a KG and an hour of life for free!)" Or mabye this would be a bit better:

Internal memory is a 1GB Card-Type thing so there are no moving parts and takes less power (optional, could also just have none, cuz it would add $$$ to price)
You can turn off/on RAM in increments of 4MB, so a prog that loads a 20MB ROM could just turn on 24MB RAM instead of the whole 32/64MB (Is that possible?)
CPU is 40MhZ - 350MhZ, only super emus are going to need the whole thing
GPU/SPU can be on/off (possible?)
The bluetooth/wirless & powered USB port are on/offable
Big fat powerful Li-Ion battrey (not built in like zodiac, so you can switch)
And mabye some will-keep-gp32-on-for-10sec capacitors so you can switch battries w/o turning it off

 

[Evil_Cartman]

CPU: ARM11 300MhZ
RAM: 64MB DIMM + Virtual Mem from internal HD (optional)
STORAGE: 1GB internal HD, and 1CF card slot
WIRLESS: Bluetooth w/ switch to turn off
EXT: 1USB port (powered, with switch), 1headphone, 1DC in, 1a/v out w/ adapter to conect to TV
GFX/SOUND CARD: Best thing that would fit, I dunno what they are...
SCREEN: 480x320 3.7"
BATTERIES: Li-Ion, charges through the DC in port, and is replacable (you can have 2-3 batteries, and replace once one runs out)
BUTTONS: Left: Control Stick, Start & Select Right: A, B, X, Y Shoulder: L, R

The PC should communicate to GP32 through the USB port on it, and the switches to turn on/off the Bluetooth should be a software menu, but there is a button that immediatly brings up a menu then closes it again (the button also turns on the GP32 if it's off). The menu should be:

On/Off Bluetooth
On/Off USB Power
On/Off GP32

Oh, and it needs a fingerprint check so I can block my bro from the GP*whatever number*

just my idea. exept i would like 400MHz.

And that the system could handle bluetooth.

And usb hsrddisk support.

 

[Zayfod]

Ok my expanshion on what has been previously suggested.

CPU - 300Mhz CPU, this is a good speed for the next few years...

RAM: 128MB 200pin SODIMM 333Mhz DDR (a readily avalible type of laptop RAM)

STORAGE: 10GB internal HD (cheaper than a 1gb because they are produced in greated numbers) , and 1CF card slot, with supplyed CF-SMC adaptor

Comms - Bluetooth, and/or backcompatable RF, with ON/BT/RF switch.
1xUSB2 upstream port low power devices only (keyboards, webcams, etc.), 1xUSB2 downstream port (PClink), 1xstereo mini-jack, 1C in, TV out with splitter cable to S-video and L/R sound.

Seperate graphics and sound subsystems, to take load off the processor

SCREEN: 640x480 4" VGA/NTSC resolution slightly less than PAL, but if people are wanting to output onto TVs...

BATTERIES: Lithium Polymer battery, lighter, thinner, and more powerful than Li-ion. Charged through the DC in port, and is replacable (you can have 2-3 batteries, and replace once one runs out)

BUTTONS: Left: Control Stick multi-microswitch, or analogue, Start & Select
Right: A, B, C, D
Shoulder: L, R

Some better speakers wouldn't go amiss as well

EDIT - Just had a thought, it should draw power from the host when plugged in, USB has more than enough power to run a laptop HD

 

[newbiedumbass]

Good idea about li-polimer pattery but i wasn't aware they were being produced comerciallyyet? although im probably wrong - dont keep up with battery technologies much .

why not have a processor with architecture similar to the athlon XP M with its power saving technology that lowers cpu power when unit is running less demanding apps.

half life has a minimum spec of a P133, 24Mb RAM, but I've seen the game running fairly adequately on a P120 with 48Mb RAM. just imagine what a 300mhz/400mhz 32/64/128 mb ram handheld could do! i think an anologue stick instead of a joypad would be preferable as well. a 4 button playstation-esque main button configuration would be perfect for wsad . 4 shoulder buttons for primary fire, secondary fire, jump and crouch. omfg we could have counter strike with wireless multiplayer!!!!