Page 2 - "building" my own flash portable mp3 player...

What about a thin cork board, making holes (that go from one side to the other) for the pins of the chips, pushing the chips into the places I've made for them, then wedging the ends of the wire into the underside of the cork so they make contact with the pins without any soldering?

Also, would I get some sort of result by doing this, I know it won't mean I have anything functional, but if I found the correct ICs and so forth, connected them up, find out it doesn't work, how 'dead' would the whole thing be? Am I making any sense whatsoever?

as long as the right wires connect to the right place, and they are making some contact with the pins, yes, it should work... but it'll be fiddly.

Okay, thanks, I'll try it, of course, it won't work, but the point is, it SHOULD... now to research the ICs... this is going to take a long time!

You'd be surprised, and very saddened, by what passes for education out there.

Science myths in K-6 textbooks

The real reason behind school?

You might find more stuff if you research HAM radios.

The day of the electronics hobbyist is dead and gone, I'm afraid. You missed it by a couple decades. In fact, I think the advent of the PC by IBM signalled the beginning of the end.

I see it all around... everything is microchips and disposable circuit boards... technicians nowadays are becoming more and more like "pop and swap" artists than electrical mechanics anymore... it's very sad.

Here's your chance to shine, though... be the guy who writes the step-by-step guide

There uses to be TONS of electronic hobby books in the 50s, 60s, and somewhat into the 70s.. byt the 80, itswas just about dead. Heathkit used to be the premiere enthusiast company- you could build your own TV (I did!). Nowadays, best bet is rummaging through thrift stores and looking for local electronics hobby shops- most cities have at least one. you also might be able to swing by a mom-n-pop TV repair shop to get some tech info, but for the most part, the jump from transistorized electronics to IC based is big, even though ICs are essentially just a mass of Transistors.

Radio Shack used to carry IC tinkering hobby books. I still have my 555 manual somewhere. I even have an 8088 book my father gave me. He was an ET back when ETs FIXED circuit boards, not swapped them. Might wanna chekc your local library, and look in encyclopedias from the 60s and 70s. another source would be (hard-to-find) issues of Electronics Illustrated and older (early 80s and earlier) issues of Popular Electronics. this will give you the background. there are some hobby-modding sites online where you can 'mod' things like neo-pets, sumo-bots, and shit like that.

Essentially, best bet is taking some courses at either a local electronics trade school or some bonafide EE classes.

use a 2.5" hdd instead of a flash drive; more space

Hard drives also cost more

And I haven't got any spare 2.5" ones lying about...

Have you made progress on your endevours? I am curious.

Doubtful... doubtful he'll answer, either, he hasn't posted since February.

Thats good news. Now if its cost effective or just fun. I'll have to try it and find out.

Yes, it's an ancient thread, but this ties in perfectly.

Hack on!