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Open Source PC That Fits in Your Pocket

spectrum.ieee.org

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Re: Open Source PC That Fits in Your Pocket

#31

Post by em-bee »

guessbest wrote: post #27
c54 wrote: post #3

I love seeing these projects but can't imagine what in the world I'd do with one of these devices. Small computers that don't benefit from the mobile UX tradeoffs and don't quite have keyboards or screens or a hinge to support putting it down and typing on it. They're cute though. If you had one, what would you be doing with it?

What would you consider to be a MVPC (Minimum Viable Pocket Computer)?

a keyboard large enough to type on it with two hands (even if not using all 10 fingers) and a screen no larger than the keyboard. (no touchpad. it takes up way to much space for little gain), 4-8GB of ram and not to much diskpace. (lot's of diskspace takes more effort to back up)

Re: Open Source PC That Fits in Your Pocket

#32

Post by kragen »

em-bee wrote: post #30
kragen wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The picture makes it look like it has a keyboard, a screen, and a hinge to support putting it down and typing on it. My imagined use of such a device is something like this. I board the bus and there's, fortunately, a seat. I sit down, but a full-sized laptop wouldn't fit between my lap and the seat in front of me. I pull out the computer and finish up typing my notes about electrostatically-driven hydrogen–boron fus…

the issue with using a laptop in public transportation is that sometimes i notice to late when i need to get off. then i have to rush, and in that situation a small device is easier to handle. the OLPC XO was really the best in that case because of its handle. i could just grab it and run.

Yeah, that's true. Also, pulling out a laptop attracts attention. I wonder if you could chain it to your belt like some people do with their wallets; then you couldn't forget it.

Re: Open Source PC That Fits in Your Pocket

#33

Post by kragen »

em-bee wrote: post #31
guessbest wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What would you consider to be a MVPC (Minimum Viable Pocket Computer)?

a keyboard large enough to type on it with two hands (even if not using all 10 fingers) and a screen no larger than the keyboard. (no touchpad. it takes up way to much space for little gain), 4-8GB of ram and not to much diskpace. (lot's of diskspace takes more effort to back up)

If the keyboard on this is 7 "inches" wide, that's 14.8 mm per key. I think 14 mm wide would be enough, so this is probably wide enough to type on with two hands. But by the same token, it's probably too big to fit comfortably in most pockets.

Re: Open Source PC That Fits in Your Pocket

#35

Post by kragen »

lambdafourtwo wrote: post #11

This is cool but phones have fit in my pocket for years. It's all about the form factor if you want a PC. I'm waiting for the PC that's the size of a thumb drive that you just put into any hdmi port. All peripherals connect over bluetooth, and power will have to come from the hdmi port.

In my comment at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33004670 I called out a lot of advantages a device like this could have over a phone.

Re: Open Source PC That Fits in Your Pocket

#36

Post by em-bee »

kragen wrote: post #33
em-bee wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

a keyboard large enough to type on it with two hands (even if not using all 10 fingers) and a screen no larger than the keyboard. (no touchpad. it takes up way to much space for little gain), 4-8GB of ram and not to much diskpace. (lot's of diskspace takes more effort to back up)

If the keyboard on this is 7 "inches" wide, that's 14.8 mm per key. I think 14 mm wide would be enough, so this is probably wide enough to type on with two hands. But by the same token, it's probably too big to fit comfortably in most pockets.

the GPD pocket is 6.5 inch wide, with 16mm per key. and it does fit into some of my pants pockets. but that's actually not a criteria for me. i rather carry it in a shoulder bag or backpack anyways.

Re: Open Source PC That Fits in Your Pocket

#40

Post by NonNefarious »

em-bee wrote: post #29
c54 wrote: post #3

I love seeing these projects but can't imagine what in the world I'd do with one of these devices. Small computers that don't benefit from the mobile UX tradeoffs and don't quite have keyboards or screens or a hinge to support putting it down and typing on it. They're cute though. If you had one, what would you be doing with it?

when traveling i want something small and portable that does not get in the way, especially when backpacking. sure, you could argue that i should leave electronic devices at home and unhook from this dependency to be connected, but that would remove the ability to back up my photos, or write a diary too. there is a case for the responsible use of electronic devices outdoors. and for that i like that device to be as s…

That's what I'd imagine too, but thinking it through... the keyboard on this thing is super lame. The lack of a Delete key alone would piss me off if trying to do any real writing.

I don't see a "travel" use case that couldn't be served by a MacBook Air (with the Karabiner utility to fix ITS insufferable lack of a Delete key).

To me this thing is for very limited technical scenarios, for example as a video signal generator or some kind of analysis or testing device to be used in the field. It might be pretty cool for something like that. Or for mobile hacking.

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