When Napster came out, I thought it might be a fun idea to make “dumpster” — it would be a file sharing service that was just stuff you’ve thrown away. Obviously, that would never happen, but it got me thinking… Inside the desk drawer of every “mobile professional” (or as they’re called here “digital nomads”) there are dozens and dozens of old PDAs and cell phones. These were, and still are, “band-aid” devices until we get something that really works perfectly, or so we tell ourselves. A lot of the folks I know never throw these out. After all they’re perfectly good devices, just not current. One of my favorites was the Palm Pilot, it was a pocket computer and everyone I knew had one. 10 years later, they’re collecting dust. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t something you can do with them. Here’s a good project called Palm Pilot notebook from the pages of MAKE, along with a round up of many many other projects for that old friend in the desk drawer — including how to turn it in to an eBook reader.
Palm Pilot notebook, Modified hardback book contains extra-powered PDA and travel keyboard.
Make a PDA Notebook (video).
Reading eBooks on a Palm Handheld, discover the pleasures of reading by backlight.
DIY Morse code Palm keyboard interface board.
Build an iTunes Remote with a Palm.
Make a bike computer, with an open source Palm software.
Make a touch screen interface from an old Palm PDA…
Got others, or questions? Post ‘em up in the comments!
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Nomad Contributors
by Carl W / September 24, 2008
That is an awesome photo.
by chad / September 26, 2008
can be used with on geocaching and handheld gps for the fun of finding treasures!!!
by Reuse, recycle - Things to do with an old computer… | Trip Delivery / October 9, 2008
[...] bunch of you emailed me about the “Things to do with old PDAs” post, so here’s another, but for [...]
by Enquanto isso, na reparti / October 16, 2008
[...] MAKE @ Digital Nomads - Things to do and make with old Palm Pilots e Giving old PDAs a new life