We’re not sure if he was tired of waiting or simply had a generous amount of cheek, but a Chinese dude posted a blow-by-blow account of his iPad 3 build on a video sharing site. It took him three weeks and a considerable amount of money, but it was worth it. The finished iPad 3 runs on Windows XP (!) and has its own case marked with an Apple logo plus keyboard connectivity for serious typing.
The pictures above were lifted from the video, which chronicles the build from the point when Mr. DIY iPad 3 assembled the parts up until the finished product.
The DIY Process
The DIY enthusiast meticulously documented each step of his ambitious project. He began by sourcing various components, including a touchscreen display, a motherboard compatible with Windows XP, and other essential hardware. The process was not without its challenges; finding the right parts that could fit together seamlessly required a lot of trial and error. He also had to custom-make certain components to ensure everything fit into the sleek, Apple-inspired case he designed.
One of the most impressive aspects of this build was the custom case. The case was not just a simple enclosure but a carefully crafted shell that mimicked the aesthetics of an actual iPad. It featured the iconic Apple logo, which he managed to etch onto the case, giving it an authentic look. The case also included ports for USB connectivity and a slot for an SD card, adding to its functionality.
Technical Challenges and Triumphs
Running Windows XP on a device designed to look like an iPad was no small feat. The builder had to overcome several technical hurdles to get the operating system to run smoothly on the hardware he assembled. One of the major challenges was ensuring that the touchscreen interface worked seamlessly with Windows XP, an operating system not originally designed for touch input. He had to write custom drivers and tweak the software settings to achieve this.
Another significant challenge was the battery life. Unlike commercial tablets that come with optimized power management systems, this DIY iPad 3 had to rely on off-the-shelf components. The builder had to experiment with different battery configurations to find one that offered a reasonable balance between performance and battery life. In the end, he managed to achieve a battery life of around 4-5 hours, which, while not on par with commercial tablets, was impressive for a DIY project.
Meanwhile, across the Pacific Ocean, tremors are emanating from Cupertino.
We’re having problems embedding the video from the sharing site it came from, so please open the source link for the whole scoop on this impressive build.
Source Youku
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