I usually buy gaming laptops. The main reasons are as follows:
- I like that I can use them in my lap on a couch without any furniture or mounting.
- The monitor is easily adjusted, either with the hinge or my moving my legs
- The keyboard is attached and doesn't move without requiring any furniture
- I am not being intrusive with my gaming while being in the shared living area of my residence.
I don't really care about the portability, though I do use it as my primary portable computer because I think it is silly to have two laptops when you only really need one portable computer.
I have decided that I should buy a desktop computer, as they are cheaper, more durable, upgradable, and more powerful. And I only really game from one location. But I can't find a way to use a desktop from a couch without mounting something to a wall or buying new furniture.
Basically, I want something that looks like a laptop, but is simply a monitor and keyboard (and perhaps a mouse) that plug in to a desktop nearby.
I haven't seen this available for purchase, so I would like to know of this is something I could reasonably build, or ask someone to build, out of an old dead laptop.
If I am to build it, I intend to convert the existing components for desktop use. However, there is one major component I do not know what to do with.
How can I identify a compatible keyboard controller for a laptop keyboard? Do such controllers exist? I know there are monitor controllers for laptop monitors that accept HDMI inputs, as well as a fairly reliable method for acquiring them, but I can't find a reliable way to identify a compatible laptop keyboard controller. If I could convert the laptop keyboard in to a USB keyboard, then I could reasonably build this device myself.
This question has been asked before, but it has been a few years and maybe there are newer solutions. The device in the second link is about 3 times more expensive than it should be, with a 1366 x 768 screen and costing around $600, plus I am not sure if it operates without significant latency.
Related questions:
EDIT: Software solutions have been suggested, so I feel I should note that I dual boot my machines with Linux and Windows, so software solutions are not so good because they will not work in GRUB or BIOS. Plus, I would like to keep the latency as low as possible, so a hardware solution is best.
"On Hold" appeal: Though I did mention that I could not purchase the interface, that was not the focus of the question. I asked whether this was a reasonable thing to build myself, not to purchase, as well as advice on how to convert an existing laptop. As a guide to what I don't know, I also ask for more specific advice for existing components I already own that I do not know how to convert. Therefore, this is not a question about "where can I purchase" or "what can I buy to do this", but rather "How do I build this" and "Is there a way to determine what I need." I am NOT asking for purchasing advice as a primary question, as it is my belief that the thing I am looking for does not exist for sale.
If the item in question is the laptop keyboard controller, the paragraph is about determining which one I need, not where I can get one. Of course, the end goal for me is to acquire one, but I didn't ask where I could get one, I asked how I could determine what kind I need. To reduce the appearance that I am asking for specific items to purchase, I reworded that section.
It is possible this is in the wrong stack exchange, so if you believe this is off topic, could you direct me to a stack exchange where it is on topic? Because this is where I was directed for hardware questions.
