Gemini iBook - Any Experience?

[retrotech42]

So a while ago I bought a $70 "untested" iBook Clamshell "Gemini" model. It's got a cracked screen and is untested. Did I overpay? Yeah, probably, but the thing was too cool to pass up. From what little information I could find on the web, a company called Assistive Technologies would take the clamshell iBooks and gut the internals; they moved the speakers to the top of the unit, added a custom I/O board, and placing a touchscreen on the lid of the laptop. The touchscreen on mine is shattered beyond repair and will need to be replaced. The only problem is that the thing is a disaster on the inside. It's literally held together with tape and super glue. If anyone has any info on a compatible touchscreen or how to replace it, please let me know! Also, if anyone has any more background info on this unit that could come in handy as well. I'll have to post a picture tomorrow as it's buried in storage somewhere and I don't really feel like digging it out.

 

[Huxley]

Oh, I remember those things! They were definitely cool looking, in a hybrid-mutant sorta way. Congrats on finding one - could you post some pics here?

 

[Hrududu]

My buddy has one he got a few years back.  It still had the original OS install and I played with it a little.  Its a pretty cool unit, but strange.  

 

[retrotech42]

And there it goes, rotating my photos again. But anyway, this thing is amazingly cool, especially for the age! I'm a bit nervous having to replace the touchscreen with all those intricate parts in the way, though.

 

[Juror22]

I never saw one of those before, that's pretty cool, but I would NEVER have thought of doing that, its pretty 

I'm not sure what niche it filled - perhaps a non-IOS-crippled iPad?

In the builders defense, they did use Kapton tape, which is how almost all laptops are pasted down.  I can't defend the superglue, but the options were limited back then.

 

[Carboy7]

They ran a modded version of OS X, I do believe. But the pop up keyboard we all know and love from iOS is in this thing.

 

[retrotech42]

IIRC, they could also run a version of OS 9 as well. They were mostly used for the disabled/handicapped so they could have easy access to a computer.

 

[bibilit]

Very cute, your best option will be to remove the screen and try to find a reference from the original supplier.

 

[bibilit]

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7698985

 

[TheWhiteFalcon]

There's an older episode of the RetroMacCast that goes into these, you may want to give it a listen. You can try their website to see if the guy who had a bunch of these is still around.

 

[retrotech42]

Thanks for the link to the Apple forums, was very helpful and I think I have a source for the screen now. I'll be sure to check out that RetroMacCast episode.