Edit: I am sorry about the mess, damn boards are screwing up (unless of course you see some problem with my formatting code)
Sparr said:
I used to have a PDA as my portable media/gaming machine. I ditched it in favor of the GP2X. The improvements were great, but I miss some things I left behind. If I could design a "perfect" handheld gaming machine, it would be based on the GP2X, but I would add in just a few of the things that I lost.
IMHO the perfect gaming machine would be an winXP/win98 machine the size of the GP2X with the power of the Xbox and a 640x480 screen at 5 or 6 inches (IE the same size as the GP2X, but the screen would reach from top to bottom). The technology is available, AMD has the GeodeNX and nVidia could do a nForce integrated SOC for the chipset, it would be fully code-compatible with all existing games and emulators up to a 1GHZ Athlon and a GeForce 3/4 (Not MX, the real ones). At 640x480 it would look just fine, also there would be no need to port apps

, but people could optimize current stuff because the hardware would all be the same, unlike current PC's. The HDD would be a 1.8" 60GB or greater, optional, CF and SD as main portable storage medium, Wifi option for a top USB port, or PCMCIA slot for Wifi.
Touch Screen. I don't know what it would cost to use a touchscreen lcd instead of what we have now, but it can't be too much considering there are <$150 PDAs with touch screens. If it cost less than $40 to add then I would be willing to pay for it, it opens up SO many opportunities. Playing RTS games with a joypad cursor is a pain, ditto for navigating almost any sort of unorganized gui (read: web sites).
Read my Sig, the MMSP2 supports so much stuff silly, including touchscreen. (it has been speculated that touch-screen alone would be responsible for a $35 price hike
CF Slot. Would cost under $10 to add. Controller chip is dirt cheap, additional hardware fabrication isnt expensive. It could fit above the battery bay, making the bulge on the back of the unit cover the full height, but not increasing the total dimensions of the unit at all. CF storage is cheaper than SD, and you can get a wide range of non-storage devices in a CF card form factor (wifi, gps, camera, etc).
Yeah, or better yet PCMCIA, it is only a bit longer and would give us 60GB HDD option, CF option, and Wifi/LAN or modem options. (Fully supported by MMSP2 btw)
USB Host without the BoB. Cost is negligible since we know we already have USB Host via EXT. With just one host port we could hook up a keyboard+mouse, or a gamepad for some 2-player action.
Agreed, the Surface Mounted Component necessary for proper termination is likely under $2, add a power circuit and we would be home free for ~$5 to $10
Bluetooth. Chipset costs under $10. Would allow us to use mice and keyboards without a BoB. Could also allow sync and transfer with phones and such.
meh, I wouldn't use it, unless there is a Bluetooth mouse as small as the Targus Ultra-mini mouse.
IR. $10 for the chipset and hardware. An IRDA port would allow the system to be controlled by remote when it is being used as a TV-out media player, and would allow the unit itself to be used as a universal remote.
Hmm, why not just a plug-in deal that uses the EXT, oh wait, you could build this yourself, PASS. (there are options using the Palm Pilot EXT Serial, simply use one of those modified for the GP2X, no biggie)
Total increase in cost, assuming $40 for the LCD change, is going to be around $65. Would you pay $245 instead of $180 to get a "GP3X" with those features?
No, I would if:
PCMCIA(or just IDE for 1.8" HDDs, they run on 3.3 volts you know

)
VGA out
A/V IN
(these three features are technically free, requiring only traces out on the board and a different Conexant chip[for the video IN, it already has full support for VGA onboard],
A GoForce 5500 would make instant OpenGL possible, and I think might be able to do TV-Out (I can't recall if it does though.)
My cost for that with the goforce 5500, probably pushing $300, I don't know if it would be worth it, add a 1 or 2GB NAND and $300 would be very very tempting.
I am hoping to spur some serious debate here. Some of these ideas can be implemented by the really good hardware modders. But what would be nice is to provide GPH (or maybe even GP) with ideas for their next console. Who knows, we might see it in a year or two.
If the Xbox portable would be a "pocket Xbox" WITH media center XP FULL running on it I would part with $300 to $400 for it. Unless the GP3X sports a "real" full openGL compatible 3d accelerator I will likely remain unimpressed by it (I need to see at minimum a GeForce 3 level of acceleration, should likely be possible with some form of 7300 core at half-clock or half transistor count, the 7900 core is AWESOME, the 7600 and 7300 are offshoots.)
I guess my real dream is that AMD and nVidia could partner for a System On A Chip with a GeodeNX and an nForce2 (North and South bridges) redesigned for low-power on a small process such as 65nm (or smaller

), then we could see some sweet Portables.
kevcal said:
Wifi a necessity.
3d hardware accelerated in some small way (instead of 2nd cpu?).
Wifi OPTION is a necessity, but we already have it

, put a USB thumb wifi under your shell, plenty of room you know.
OmarNawaz said:
Yono posted on Jul 9 2006 at 07:59 PM said:
OmarNawaz posted on Jul 9 2006 at 02:51 PM said:
My ideal gp2x would have:
1.Powered USB host ports
2.Built in mini-keyboard
3.Speaker Upgrade
4.Built in WiFi
Im currently working on one using a DS shell
I just hope it works out my gp2x all naked like is scary
Ouch, that seems like it will drain your batteries even worse than now. How do you plan to power it all?
lithium pack
NOOOOO!! Lithuim pack OPTION, I can run everything off of 4 AA NiMH (USB Host, 1.8" or 2.5" HDD, Wifi, the GP2X, etc), the oly problem now is the chunky design of the GP2X, the front panel could be squeezed in a couple MM's and the back panel could easily incorporate 4 AA.
Or make the battery a "pack" or modular option, IE, use AA, or slimmer (and more expensive) Li-Ion batteries.
A comprimise would be 4-8 AAA and/or a couple AA batteries to power various voltages.