A Better Disney Computer? - Part 3?

 

Here is my idea for a better Disney computer. It is inspired by Goofy's hat or at least it does to me. 

The Disney computer they had before was a small desktop with a few Mickey Mouse type things added to it. I thought it was kind of plain and not very creative. It used a small desktop tower with a CRT monitor. It had a Disney frame around the monitor. I thought they could have done better.

My idea for a Disney Goofy (see other - part 2 - for the Mickey Mouse inspired computer) computer. It is a rough sketch. The main box is shaped like the hat Goofy wears. It has feet at the bottom to stabilize it. It doesn't show speakers but they could be on either side of the monitor. 

I think the main box could hold the main board - a Raspberry Pi board or small mini-ITX style board - that could easily fit within it. It could a thin LCD or OLED screen like that used in a laptop computer. If one wanted a camera, it could be placed above the screen. One could place speakers on either side of the screen. 

Since optical drive are no longer on newer computers, one would not have to make room for one. If one wanted one, there are USB optical drives that one could use.

The base of the computer box are 'feet' - shaped like Goofy's shoes. It could hold a power supply in one and different ports in the other (like USB, memory card slots, etc.). The feet would also stabilize it so it would be less likely to fall over. 

For the drive, one could use a small hard drive or a small solid state one. They don't usually take up a lot of space. One could also operate off a SD card or a micro-SD card (both now have really large memory capacity). 

One could use a blue tooth keyboard and mouse since one would not have to connect either to the box or one could attach them to the USB ports. 

This is just me thinking out loud. I like to design things - most of which I never get around to making or doing. Perhaps one day I will get to create it. 

TomLeeM

2024 / 02 / 08

TomLeeM at Cafe Press.

A Better Disney Computer ? - part 2?

 

Here is a more detailed version of my earlier blog and design for a Mickey Mouse computer. 

They had Mickey Mouse computer before but I think it was boring and not very creative. I think they could have gotten a little more creative than adding a Mickey Mouse frame around a regular small desktop computer.

My idea for one would be an all in one design. The box would be round with mouse ears on top (the ears being speakers on either side). There would be feet at the bottom to keep it steady. Perhaps a mouse shaped computer mouse and perhaps a Disney inspired keyboard. I think this would leave a possible camera for the space above the screen but with the frame / round box design.

I think the computer board could be a Raspberry Pi board, or one like the Mini ITX style boards. It is small enough that it could fit the case design above. 

The screen could be either an LCD or OLED screen; both of which would be thin (like those used in laptops computers) and would not take up much space. The screen would not have to be round but square and fit within the round box in front. 

I think a power supply could be located in one of the feet in the base and the other would have ports (USB, power, memory ports, etc. ). 

It would not need a space for an optical drive or a floppy drive since they are not being used in newer computers. It would need lots of USB ports or have blue tooth capabilities since both are very popular (but that could change) 

The above is just me 'thinking out loud'. It is my ideas on how it could have been better. Perhaps one day I could do it but I don't see it happening in the near future. I have lots of ideas and/or designs like this. 

TomLeeM

2024 / 02 / 08

TomLeeM at Cafe Press.

a Better Disney Computer?

 I have checked online for Disney computer. I saw that they were just a regular computer with some Disney stuff added onto it. The box was just a box with some Disney designs on it and the CRT monitor was nothing special but a regular screen with a 'frame' of Disney designs. I think they could have done better with some imagination. 

To see what I am referring to, one just have to do a web search using Disney computer. 

This is just a simple drawing made in the older Microsoft Paint program. It is basically the Disney Logo of Mickey Mouse. The top is a round case that would hold a LCD or OLED screen. The round main part would not have to be large since it would have a small computer board inside; like a mini-ITX or a Raspberry Pi type board [which is really small]). Since the optical drive isn't really used anymore, it would exclude it or have it as an USB drive. It could have USB ports and other ports as part of the shoes that form the base of the computer. The ears would speakers. The bottom of the round part would be the base and they would resemble shoes that Mickey Mouse wears. The two rectangle parts are the keyboard (left bottom) and mouse (right bottom). 

As a fan of Goofy, I designed one around him. 

Instead of the Mickey Mouse logo, it is Goofy's hat with his ears on either side of the box. It would also have feet - Goofy's feet - for the base and to put the ports. The bottom two shapes would also be the keyboard (left bottom) and mouse (bottom right). It is not colored but it would have a basic Goofy color scheme. 

I have a better drawing for both and I will post them in a separate post. It is way better than what is posted here since I used a pencil and graph paper. I just want to post these as starter for my other computer designs. 

I am not an expert at making these. It is just my designs. 

TomLeeM

2024 / 01 / 20

An Updated Hit Clips? (me thinking out loud).

 I have seen videos on the Hit Clip. It seemed barely adequate but I wonder if it could be updated using more modern technology? I think some innovative person - who is aware of the more common technology - and how it could be applied in making a 'retro device' (an older technology that has newer technology inside it). 

I found Hit Clip on Wikipedia. 

With SD and micro-SD cards being able to hold a lot of memory, I think these could be used to store a whole lot of music on them; like a whole album of music or or even an audio book or two (or more?). 

The reader / device would have a similar size and shape but the electronics could be smaller to fit into the older package or the package could have a similar shape but larger to fit the newer electronics plus batteries needed to run it.

I think one advantage would be that one would not have to rely on a connection of any kind to play the music or the audio book. One would not need to download the music to it since the music or audio book could be bought at a store. The SD card or micro SD card could be in a similar package as the original and have labels like the original. It could be interchangeable like the original with a strap to keep it from being lost.

It could - in my opinion - mean extra money for the musicians or authors since it is not just downloaded and require it to be bought at a store (or kiosk) meaning the store owner (or kiosk owner) could also make some money. I believe it can be made secure that others would have to buy one themselves instead of just creating copies from someone who bought it and copied the contents. 

I have read of a trend of some who are getting 'dumb' phones that can only be used for some things instead of the 'smart' phones they have today. It could fit in with those who want other devices to use besides being limited or 'chained' to their phones. 

This post is just me 'thinking out loud' in wondering how it could be done. I don't have the ability to update it or the funds to do so. This is just me wondering and thinking. 

TomLeeM

2023 / 12 / 31

ReactOS? - free open source version of MS Windows?

 I have been watching the development of an open source replacement for Windows by Microsoft. It is called ReactOS. It is still in development. The latest version is 0.4.14. It is - per the site - still in alpha.

There is a forum there to talk about problems and other things related to it. 

They have a 'shop' that has some nice ReactOS merchandise. 

the ReactOS logo.

I am hoping that one day it would replace the MS Windows on my computers. I believe there those who have installed it on computers and have used it with varying amounts of success. I like this operating system since it does not seem to be a resource 'hog' like Windows. Even the installation disc for it is smaller and takes less room on the CD and require less space and memory than Windows. I think it would be great for older computers for this reason. 

I have some older laptop computers that I will be trying it on. I think it would be great for older computers since it requires less resources to install and operate. Since it takes up less space and uses less resources, it could - potentially - operate faster than Windows. As it is in alpha development stage, there would definitely be problems. 

It has been long in development and progress is really slow. It seems it has been in 0.4.14 for quite awhile now. I am looking forward to get farther along. One can help with its development at the forum at the site as well as other parts.  

I am hoping to report on future development of ReactOS with this blog. 

TomLeeM

2023 / 11 / 01

eBook Apps

 I like to read. I don't have a preference between e-books (electronic books) and p-books (printed books). I like them both. There are times it is not easy finding the book one wants in print form. It could be that it is out of print or just not available in the bookstores in your area. I have booth e-books and p-books.

I found this picture online. I think it shows what an e-book is; an 'electronic' version of a printed book. 

I have been using e-book reader apps on my phone. I find it easy to read it on my phone since I usually have my phone with me. I can rest and relax while reading the e-books since I don't have to carry a p-book with me where ever I go. I can 'carry' a lot of e-books using the apps. 

I have been using three apps on my phone. There might be more but these are the three that I have been using. One is the Kindle app. One is the Nook app. One is the Google Play Books app. I have been using these apps - one longer than the others - and find it easy to use and easy to read (depending on the device one is using with it). I have a newer phone with a great screen (which device it is is for another blog). 

With the Kindle app, one buys the e-books on Amazon and it loads the e-book during the next time you use the app (one syncs the app with the e-book store at Amazon). I found it easy to use. There is a large variety of e-books one can buy at their Kindle books section. I have been using this the longest. At first with the Kindle e-book reader (which recently 'died' but it lasted many years before it did) then the Kindle app.

With the Nook app, one can buy the e-books at the Barnes and Noble sites e-book section. It is also loaded onto the app the next time one uses it. They have a lot of books too. I started using this app when the Nook device was failing to do what I need it to do (malfunctioning). 

With the Google Play Books app, I believe one can buy the books at the Google Play site and it downloads the e-book when you use it next. This was used since I found some good e-books on the Google Play Store and the app was needed to read them. 

I have no doubt there are other e-book apps out there. I don't plant to try them all. It would overwhelm ones electronic device; whether it be a phone, a tablet computer or other electronic device (like an e-book reader). 

I think the readability of e-books depends on the size of the screen and the quality of the screen. One can have a big screen but it would be lousy quality. One could have a great quality screen but it would be really small and hard to see. I think it is a combination of both quality of the screen and the size of the screen that makes the e-book reader app a pleasant experience. 

There are also e-book readers too. They are ones that are a 'stand alone' device that does one thing; display and hold e-books. There are some out there but that is for a different blog / post since this one is for the apps. 

TomLeeM

2023 / 10 / 02

Franklin eBookMan - feeling nostalgic

 Franklin eBookMan - feeling nostalgic. 

I was feeling nostalgic about my first e-book reader; the Franklin eBookMan. I bought it many many years ago (feeling really old). I don't remember how much I had paid for it. Having had newer e-book readers and now using e-book reader apps, I remembered my first e-book reader. I think it went the way of my Palm Pilot and Palm Pre phone; lost in time and memory. 

It had a cradle (if I remember correctly) that one used to connect it to the computer. It is through the computer that one download or transferred e-books from a compact disc (CD) that had many books on it. I believe one used an app or program on the CD to find the book one wanted then download it then transferred it to the e-book reader. It was simple yet effective. 

The screen was monochrome; one color. It was not really big. After reading for awhile, I would look up and try my best to refocus since my eyesight was a little blurry. It used two double batteries (IIRC - it has been awhile since I had or even used one). 

e-book readers in general:

I think one of the benefits of the e-book and e-book reader is that one can download books to read without having to carry around a lot of books. I think this way of reading books is great for schools since one can get newer textbooks without having to sell the old ones. One just has to delete the old one (assuming one wants to get rid of the older one). It would save a lot of paper; IMO; making it very green. 

Another benefit is that one can carry a lot of books to read without taking up much space; unless it is the space on the e-book reader. There are a lot of books available to read on an e-book readers; that can read a big variety of formats.

I think e-book reader is not good for all books. 

There are times one needs a recipe. One can easily get to a recipe on a printed book. One just turns the page to that recipe. With an e-book, one has to search for it on the device then hope not to mess up the e-book reader. 

There are some books that are just better for printed books. If one has a picture book, or a book with maps or really nice photos or paintings that are better view in a large book that cannot truly be appreciated on a small screen of a tablet computer or a phone. 

Early book readers were or had monochrome screens. It was not easy to appreciate the photos and artwork with such screens. The newer e-book readers have better screens but large printed books are still (IMO) much better in view those photos and artwork. 

In Conclusion

I think there is a place for both e-books and e-book readers and printed books. I hope and pray that book stores and libraries never go out of business. I think they are a great resource for books. There are some that are also a great resource for e-books and e-book readers too. 

Amazon and Barnes and Noble are great places for both printed books and e-books. There might be other bookstores that have both features but these two are the ones I know of. 

There is a local bookstore I really like. It is local - not far from where I live. It is the Jobberwocky Bookshop at The Tannery Mall in Newburyport MA. Their Facebook page. 

I might do a separate post just on this really cool store. 

TomLeeM

2023 / 09 / 23