A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15
bbenchoff.github.io
A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15
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Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15
#2I figured it would be one of these parts, at this point they are pretty old, but capable. And available apparently.
Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15
#3I'm not clear on why the first one would cost $10k. The enclosure, maybe?
If he were going to sell these, the rule of thumb I heard was to charge the cost of parts x 10. (Edit: maybe a factor of 2? I forget.)
Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15
#4Safety first. Ha!
Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15
#5Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15
#6Two things: I'm not clear on why the first one would cost $10k. The enclosure, maybe? If he were going to sell these, the rule of thumb I heard was to charge the cost of parts x 10. (Edit: maybe a factor of 2? I forget.)
PCBs are pretty cheap at this size, and the components wouldn't be THAT much more expensive to grab in smaller quantities.
If someone would get a group buy started just for the components and 3d case files I'd hapilly sign up and 3d print the thing.
Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15
#7Two biggest limitations are RAM and wireless interfaces, or rather lack thereof. This thing has less RAM than my router (admittedly a $70 box), and has neither WiFi nor BT. It does not seem to have many GPIO pins, too.
With the amount of RAM installed, it's mostly a handheld terminal, and maybe a handheld console with emulators for old games.
While this is admirable as a proof of concept, I suspect that moving the price point up to, say, $30 could give a much more useful and hacker-friendly device.
I greatly appreciate the split keyboard and the replaceable NiMH batteries, though.
Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15
#8You can almost certainly do better than $30 on local marketplaces, or by asking friends if they have a disused smartphone sitting around.
reusing is absurdly cost efficient