The capacitor issue seems to affect passive matrix screens, but the 180's active matrix screen is by definition different. It is also finicky for some reason (blackening edges and eventual unusability afflicting some units). I would be inclined to let sleeping dogs lie rather than tinker, as long as it works.
The existing backup battery may well be viable. They often are in the 100-series machines, but they cannot charge unless the main battery reaches terminal voltage. So it is a better idea to buy a main battery first and then see how things look.
SCSI to CF cards have been available, as have SCSI to IDE adapters. Expect to pay another $100, if you can find them. I think ARtmix on eBay has them occasionally. Or, you could just buy a broken Duo or 500-series machine and harvest the hard drive, which in the later models is typically a 230mb drive or some such. You really don't need much more than that.
I love my 180, and my 270c, which has the same screen technology. The early active matrix screens were just gems.
The existing backup battery may well be viable. They often are in the 100-series machines, but they cannot charge unless the main battery reaches terminal voltage. So it is a better idea to buy a main battery first and then see how things look.
SCSI to CF cards have been available, as have SCSI to IDE adapters. Expect to pay another $100, if you can find them. I think ARtmix on eBay has them occasionally. Or, you could just buy a broken Duo or 500-series machine and harvest the hard drive, which in the later models is typically a 230mb drive or some such. You really don't need much more than that.
I love my 180, and my 270c, which has the same screen technology. The early active matrix screens were just gems.