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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

#211

Post by codazoda »

samstave wrote: post #32
smallerfish wrote: post #19

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…

My Logitech BT mouse works pretty well. I only notice one thing that's "special" about it and that is that it takes about 2 seconds to connect. As a result, when I first unlock my machine I'm spinning the mouse in a few circles until the cursor comes alive. Once it's alive, all is good. It's weird all these little things we learn to live with.

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

#212

Post by tombert »

emteycz wrote: post #208
tombert wrote: post #207

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting. I don't use Android anymore but I have like four old phones lying around that I could easily use to play with. I wonder if this has better battery life than the GPD Win, and it would be a free experiment for me.

Well my phone (Samsung S9+) can do like 12 hours of Node.js+VSCode coding while using BT keyboard and mouse. Not bad IMHO. And the USB-C port of this phone can be used with a usual dock to connect it to a screen and wired peripherals.

Do you have a keyboard case that lets you just type with your thumbs?

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

#213

Post by acomjean »

nine_k wrote: post #43
whoomp12342 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would imagine at $30 it would have to compete with other devices already built

Which devices? Unlike an RPi, this thing has a screen, a keyboard, a sleek case, a battery compartment. What are other devices that have these all, and cost, say, under $40?

These little game things are $40. I have one. They use an old style removable cell phone battery and have a screen that isn't great (320x240 though similar to the one described in the article). It runs linux but Lamentably I don't think its easy to install your own version.

https://powkiddy.com/products/powkiddy-v90-3-inch-ips-screen...

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

#215

Post by chrisbrandow »

very cool. My only quibble would be the keyboard layout. split is completely fine, but the actual placement of keys does not seem ideal. Assuming that the origin of the thumbs would be bottom left and right, I'd rotate the layout of the keys a few degrees to match that reach. Hard to know without actually holding it and trying.

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

#216

Post by codazoda »

I used to love my Alphasmart for writing. I don't know if this keyboard would work very well for a touch typist, but maybe. The AA batteries are a real bonus for me. Plus, with Linux in it, it could do a lot more. I do agree with others that wifi would be a killer feature to add to this thing.

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

#217

Post by caslon »

jacquesm wrote: post #170
donio wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't say that I hate the site but when I am unhappy with it it's not because of what gets posted but what gets upvoted.

With zero submissions in 12 years I think you have the solution right at your fingertips.

That would only be true if votes were a limited resource. There's no real "competition" here. Something good getting upvoted doesn't stop absolute trash from getting upvoted. donio posting something incredible wouldn't mean it would offset something awful; it would just slightly change the timeslot of the awful thing.

Articles that go deep into technical subjects generally stay on the front page for half of the time of trendy lightweight posts.

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

#218

Post by overgard »

This is a neat idea and clever execution, but I just can't imagine ever using this over like a donated out-of-date laptop or something. I'd love to see something at like a 50-100 price point that could theoretically be more usable (more than 47 keys, more screen resolution, built in wifi)

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

#220

Post by zokier »

> I’ve already written a driver for a 800x480 display, and it could work over SPI. This display is somewhat expensive, with a bare panel coming in at $12

Alibaba has some 800x480 displays for as low as $4.5-6.5 (@1ku), I wonder if those are just bullshit or is there some catch. They don't have SPI interface, so driving them might be bit more involved? But the SoC should have the hardware for that, so its just a matter of writing drivers?

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/800x480-resolution-5-...

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/5-inch-6-O-clock-view...

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