I see the creator understands economics:
"Low Price! It costs $10,000 USD to build one of these. The ten thousandth one costs $15"
A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15
31–40 of 408 posts
Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15
#32This is nice. This is a simple, straightforward design, and a reasonably convenient form factor. Two 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 emu…
As long as wifi over USB is supported, why overcomplicate the core hardware? Sell a dongle as an add on option and make a little profit from it.
Completely an aside:
USB dongles piss me off; specifically the Logitech Mouse USB dongles:
Why the heck hasnt a single manufacturer included the USB Dongle radio IN the mobo?
So with slim laptops you have few USB ports.
I currently am typing this on an HP Omen flagship gaming laptop... It has ONE USB-C port, which is under-powered (I have a USB-C Hub, that requires an external USB-C Power source... so I have to plug the uSB-C Hub into my machine's C port, then plug the power USB-C USB-B port consuming TWO of my USB ports on my machine...
I plug in multiple USB-based monitors as well - and I can carry it all in my backpack...
But we need MORE USB ports than fewer... and Mice should not consume a port.
BT mice have never been subjectively responsive enough for me. For example, I can test-map-out my BT environment in my home by connecting to the BT speaker and moving around and it skips....
/rant
Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
Would be nice if he broke out the $10k. My guess is mostly the cost of an injection mold for the enclosure.
Mold for the silicon keyboard - the first five keyboards is going to be about $6k. After that, each keyboard is about a dollar a piece. Same with the plastic enclosure.
Going by their comment history, I think this is the article's author.
You might want to make a top-level comment, like "This is the author, ask me anything".
Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15
#34This is nice. This is a simple, straightforward design, and a reasonably convenient form factor. Two 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 emu…
I would imagine at $30 it would have to compete with other devices already built
Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15
#35> I’m changing the title of this page just to screw with mods on the orange website Loving it! What orange website could they be talking about? I wonder what would be achievable, around the $15 mark WITHOUT needing a minimum order of 1000? (Presuming access to a 3d printer and a reasonably cheap PCB fab company)
> Loving it! What orange website could they be talking about?
In case that's a serious question: what website has an orange theme, and an aggressively enforced rule against editorialising submission titles?
Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15
#36This is like the "budget" posts on /r/DIY: "porch renovation for only $200!" > proceeds to use the industrial sawmill they have in the garage that costs $100k
Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15
#37One reason I'd love one of these (or a generally cheap low power linux PC) is just so I could e.g. muck around with e.g. code golf or advetnt-of-code programming puzzles on my commute.
Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15
#38I'm wondering if we can use the same principle to design a miniature cell phone: can only text and make phone calls, very small screen, small keys, etc, using cheap components.
Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15
#39What I'd love for someone to share is the MVP Linux machine I can use to run PiHole... Starter Raspberry Pis (e.g. by Canakit) ... are >$150 CAD on amazon.ca which just seems so expensive.
I run PiHole on a pi zero for like 2 years now. It costed me around $20 when I bought it, retail price, delivery included. Works like a charm
Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15
#40A similar but more powerful and flexible device is the Core2 from M5Stack. It's expandable through stackable snap-on blocks, USB, multiple I2C and a full set of GPIO and signal pins on a header. It has ESP32 CPU, Wifi, Bluetooth, 2" color touchscreen, microphone, power indicator, 6-Axis IMU, vibration motor, I2S codec, amplifier, speaker, RTC, power button, reset button, 10 x RGB LEDs, SD card slot and 3 programmable soft buttons for ~$45.
There are dozens of snap-on expansion modules which can also be screwed on for permanent use, including a keyboard module, joystick/D-pad, expanded battery, prototyping breadboard breakout, ethernet and various wireless modules including cellular and LORAWAN. I have several of these along with a bunch of the modules and the system is ideal for prototyping up various things super quickly. Amazon sells their own Core2 bundle with an expanded battery module which is pre-programmed with their IOT prototyping platform firmware but you can just overwrite that back to stock firmware which supports FreeRTOS, MicroPython, UIFlow and Arduino frameworks.
https://shop.m5stack.com/products/m5stack-core2-esp32-iot-de...
https://www.amazon.com/M5Stack-Core2-ESP32-Development-EduKi...