How to convert your old laptop into a tablet

Tablet PCs are latest innovation. It has become a necessary trend to own one. However, since laptop is still in use, many of us often are in dilemma of choosing a tablet over a laptop. Tablet may be a handy piece of equipment but still in terms of power and performance, it is far away from laptop. Therefore, people often go for laptop and keep on dreaming to own a tablet. Now, you can choose to buy a new laptop and convert your old laptop into a handy tablet with just some minor tweaking. With this new tablet, you can do all functions like reading, drawing and typing with just some minor hardware addition. Here are the steps and hardware required for conversion of your old laptop into a tablet.

Convert old laptop into a tablet

Difficulty level: Moderately challenging (Requires basic knowledge of software installation and expertise in hardware tweaking)

Time required: 3-4 hours

Estimated cost: $100-150

Resources required

1. Pen input device
2. Screw driver set
3. Software for pen input
4. 360 degree rotation Hinges
5. Visual data cable for LCD
6. Soldering iron

Step 1- Pen input device installation

Pen input device is basic computer hardware available in all major computer outlet. It can be used to draw and write on computer screen just like the tablet PC. It does not need any touch screen device to function. You can opt for Hantech Table or the DUO, whichever suits your budget best. If you go for a low cost variety, it often has an external hardware that you can keep in side of your new tablet. Using this, you can convert your laptop into a tablet. You need to install the software for this device on your computer using a hardware addition wizard of your operating system.

Step 2- Tweaking the hinge of the laptop

A bit tricky part needs basic knowledge. Many of the modern laptop has a hinge that allows for complete 360-degree rotation followed by reverse closing making the screen appearing on the top instead if back covering lid of the screen for easy reading purpose. If you do not have that feature, you can buy a rotation hinge from your computer-repairing vendor. Fitting the hinge needs a bit expertise. You need to remove the old hinges from your laptop. After carefully removing the screen from the hinge, you need to detach the wire attachment and set your screen free. Install the new hinge and screw it on the laptop.

Step 3- Tweaking the visual data cables

You need to carefully attach the laptop data cable of the screen with a female socket for the same that you have purchased from the vendor. You can also opt for soldering them on the wires itself but for that, you need to carefully work with wires so that the soldering is done on correct wires. Most of the time, these wires are color coded that may be of ease, however, if they are not you just need to solder them in sequence without disturbing the order.

Step 4- Attaching the visual data cable to your laptop

Once you gone through the hardest part, then you can proceed with attaching the visual cables on to your laptop. Every laptop comes with a socket in the side or back to connect with the projectors. You can use the socket and plug your visual cable on it. Now your screen will act as the external hardware sitting on top of your laptop like a tablet. Keep the hardware for visual transferring aside your tablet. Your tablet is ready for use with an input pen and flat tablet screen.

Frequently asked questions

1. Does it run on Mac OS?

Answer: Yes, it runs on Mac OS and all other operating system

2. I do not know how to unhook and solder the wires, how to proceed?

Answer: Tweaking the wires wrong may destroy your system forever, so you need to have expertise or ask a friend who has the expertise on it to work for you

Quick tips

1. You can skip step 3 and 4, if you can carefully solder the wires from your laptop to your screen. However, for that you need to have expertise on computer hardware wiring.

2. Use the color-coding of wires to solder or you can just solder them in sequence.

3. If you do not find the rotational hinge, then you can unhook the screen and just reverse the old hinges and your screen.

Things to watch out for

1. If you miss the color-coding or sequence then it may burn your hardware.

2. Working with live with electric connection on to your laptop is dangerous.

3. Work with your laptop in on condition may corrupt your OS and hardware installation.