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A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15

bbenchoff.github.io

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Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15

#181

> 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)

... access to a 3d printer Printer filament itself costs about $10USD per pound. And then there is the inevitable one or two misprints. Not to mention the time needed to print the item. If you looking for cheap, low volume 3D printing ain't it.

3d-printing is very expensive in terms of variable costs but super cheap in terms of fixed costs. For low volumes, the math is usually in favor of 3d printing.

Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15

#182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

> BT mice have never been subjectively responsive enough for me.

I wanted to like Bluetooth mice, but they just didn't work out for me. Some of the wireless mice these days are dual mode though; can run with proprietary wireless or switch to BT to avoid the proprietary dongle (some of the proprierary dongles also can act as a standard BT dongle, if your computer doesn't already have one). I know there was a line of mice that did wifi instead of BT too, because that makes sense.

Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15

#185
post #172

This is cool, but Flipper Zero is in my opinion, cooler. https://flipperzero.one/

The Flipper Zero does look fun, but $160 is pretty expensive alas, but I understand injection moulding doesn't come cheap.

I really like their blog on how the moulds etc. were made too.

Also iirc the firmware is now open.

Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15

#186
post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pick one deterministically based on src IP address for extra annoyance.

There is another theory which states that this has already happened.

JWZ will replace links from HN to his site, jwz dot org, with an NSFW image and an insult. It does this based on the Referer: header, so people using Firefox in private browsing mode aren't affected.

Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15

#188
post #91

A 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…

Here is the QWERTY keyboard for the m5stack: https://www.robotshop.com/en/m5stack-faces-qwerty-keyboard-p...

AIUI this can't connect directly to the m5stack. You also need the 'Faces bottom board'.

Here's a kit with everything you need, and more: https://shop.m5stack.com/products/face?variant=1729043762389...

Re: A Minimum Viable Computer, or Linux for $15

#189
That F1C100s CPU is the same one that's used for Business Card Linux [1] as well as a bunch of cheap ($20~40) handheld retro gaming consoles that run Linux and emulators. It can handle emulating NES, most SNES games, Sega Genesis & Game Gear, Game Boy Color and most GBA games, even a few PS1 games like FFVII.

I bet it wouldn't take too much work to port the Miyoo Custom Firmware [2] over to it.

Also, the CPU can be overclocked to 700-800mhz pretty trivially. It gives a nice little bump in performance and it doesn't even have much effect on the power draw.

[1]: https://github.com/thirtythreeforty/businesscard-linux

[2]: https://github.com/TriForceX/MiyooCFW

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