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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

#191

Post by perihelions »

not2b wrote: post #186
hyperpallium2 wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Also people using Firefox' refer[r]er spoofing option* -- a useful anti-evil tool that helps protect you from surveillance adtech.

*'network.http.referer.spoofSource' in about:config : "true = send the target URL as the referrer"

https://wiki.mozilla.org/Security/Referrer

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

#193

Post by wanderingjew »

ghostly_s wrote: post #148
pronoiac wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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".

Maybe they don't want people to ask them anything.

well, not here...

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

#194

Post by jeremyjh »

loser777 wrote: post #192

If you cranked up the maximum swap size, would you theoretically be able to build the kernel? (Is it truly a viable Linux machine if it can't build its own kernel?) What would be the expected build time? Days? Months?

Who builds their own kernel other than enthusiasts? Even companies that develop their own kernel branch don't build it on every machine that runs it. What practical difficulty is imposed if you can't?

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

#195

Post by zeusk »

loser777 wrote: post #192

If you cranked up the maximum swap size, would you theoretically be able to build the kernel? (Is it truly a viable Linux machine if it can't build its own kernel?) What would be the expected build time? Days? Months?

ARM926EJ is pretty capable, I had one in my Intel XScale based PDA.

I'd say a day at max if it had enough memory.

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

#196

Post by sokoloff »

dhosek wrote: post #95
sokoloff wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I wonder what would be achievable, around the $15 mark WITHOUT needing a minimum order of 1000? A Raspberry Pi Zero?

I was thinking about the fact that 40 years ago there was the Sinclair ZX80, a $100 computer that you could hook to your TV and there's not really a whole lot in that space/price point¹ now other than the hobbyist Raspberry Pi/arduino/other hobbyist machines. I'd have to think that it's possible to make a consumer-grade PC that you hook up to your own monitor for around $100, although I guess the cost of a Windows li…

I bought a Samsung Chromebook 4 for $92 including tax on Black Friday. You can buy one today for $120+tax at Walmart.

It’s plenty capable, especially as compared to other sub-$250 options and has power supply, battery, screen, keyboard, trackpad, speakers, camera, and microphone included.

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

#197

Post by ineedasername »

There was a time when the first question asked of such a device would be "Can it run Doom?"

If you don't remember that time, then I guess I'm getting old.

In any case, it's nearly a useless question these days: very few things with a chip are so dumb they can't run Doom.

We need a new metric.

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

#198

Post by nfriedly »

nine_k wrote: post #7

This 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…

The RAM is embedded in the CPU - the slightly-more-expensive F1C200s doubles it to 64MB, but going beyond that would require a fairly significant redesign.

I don't disagree with you on the wireless, it would be nice to have built-in. But, all the same, there is a USB port, so it's at least possible.

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

#199

Post by nfriedly »

ActorNightly wrote: post #162
tombert wrote: post #69

This reminds me (in a good way) of the GPD Win computers. Obviously smartphones are cool, I have one, I like it, but it annoys me that in some senses they're still not as good as a Windows 98 laptop from 24 years ago. Their version of MS Office isn't as intuitive, there's not the same level of programming language/compiler support, on iOS you're restricted to the App Store, etc. The GPD Win was the first time I saw a…

I wish netbooks were still around with modern hardware. In college, I replaced a powerful laptop with a desktop in my dorm+netbook, and just did remote desktop on the on-campus internet (luckily all the classrooms were still wired for ethernet).

There are options out there. GPD is still making new devices - you can get something from them with an i7 and 16GB of RAM that will fit into a large pocket.

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

#200

Post by renonce »

In China we buy second-hand Redmi 2 for 60RMB each (roughly $9.5). Can be bought in quantities. Fully functional with 2GB RAM+16GB eMMC, and battery, touchscreen, WiFi, Bluetooth, camera, and even 4G support. It's not built from scratch like this one, but if you are just looking for something cheap, then this price is insane.
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