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Open Source PC That Fits in Your Pocket

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Re: Open Source PC That Fits in Your Pocket

#181

Post by selfhoster11 »

jstanley wrote: post #144
ElCheapo wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>GP adapted the the form factor to his needs. My point is that drastic I/O adaptation almost always require UI/UX adaptations, which doesn't happen with these enthusiast projects. >Home theater nowadays has no similarity with the interface needs of cable/satellite TV, so why would you be hung up on using the same remote control interface? Because that's what people use. If we went by some "blank slate" argument then…

I use Gnome on my TV, with a Bluetooth keyboard. It works great. I don't see what advantage Kodi's interface has.

Kodi is theoretically a better fit for the 10-foot display use case. It also has a bunch of features built in for dealing with video libraries, their management/filtering and so on that you won't get with a generic interface like the Gnome or KDE file browser.

Re: Open Source PC That Fits in Your Pocket

#182

Post by SamBam »

RalfWausE wrote: post #57
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?

I have an ancient Atari Portfolio in daily use and because its the same form factor perhaps i can contribute my 2 eurocents: As others already put it, the form factor is great for working on public transportation. No need to somehow wriggle out your laptop but simply slide this mini-laptop from your bag and start working. A small keyboard is something one needs to get accustomed to, but after years now i can sincerel…

I love that the comparisons with laptops is that you have to "somehow wriggle" your laptop out of a bag, but a Portfolio can "slide" out of your bag.

My laptop slides just fine out of my bag.

Re: Open Source PC That Fits in Your Pocket

#183

Post by dTal »

ElCheapo wrote: post #46

Can we stop with this absolute fantasy about PCs that "fit in your pocket"? The medium is the message, the form is the functionality. Smartphones have been "pocketable PCs" for more than a decade already, but are dumbed down because their inputs and outputs are limited. You can't type effectively, your screen is small, your battery is limited. Would you want a command line interface on your Smart TV using only a remo…

>I think the only way we could ever get a portable PC experience on the go is by having AR glasses project a full desktop in front of us and let us control it with an imaginary keyboard and touchpad by somehow analyzing our hand movements on a hard surface in front of us.

Or you could buy a GPD Micro PC and save a lot of trouble. It's a full x86 laptop the size of a chunky smartphone, and it's totally practical to use it as a PC.

Re: Open Source PC That Fits in Your Pocket

#184

Post by dTal »

ElCheapo wrote: post #141
dspillett wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But then you move the goalpost Let us be fair here: you moved the goalposts first by going from “it is an absolute fantasy” to, once people pointed out that they already exist, “but I can't see a use for one”.

>Let us be fair here Why even say this if you immediately proceed by not being fair? Pocketable computers are not a "fantasy" in the sense that there aren't any devices capable of running a desktop OS while being pocketable. This was never the argument, as also demonstrated by my other replies in the thread. My argument is that using a pocketable device as a desktop or laptop is a fantasy. It's something that sounds…

>My argument is that using a pocketable device as a desktop or laptop is a fantasy

It's not. My GPD Micro PC is currently my daily driver laptop, and it fits in my back pocket. I have done CAD work on it with no trouble at all. There's no "Android app" that can compete with the universe of PC software.

You should try one before you make sweeping judgements about what is and isn't possible.

Re: Open Source PC That Fits in Your Pocket

#185

Post by selfhoster11 »

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…

Part of why I bought a Pinebook was to be able to back up photos and browse hotel reservations, flights, etc on the go without having to spring for an extremely expensive Macbook Air. I hate doing this on a smartphone, it's just too small and error-prone to be effective.

In the end, I found it's slightly too bulky with a 10kg luggage allowance. But if it weren't for that, I think it would be a frequent travel companion for trips abroad.

Re: Open Source PC That Fits in Your Pocket

#186

Post by krolden »

teddyh wrote: post #153
ElCheapo wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your reply is baffling. First you say that with "android" (as if they made hardware) you can't have an integrated keyboard. Then you say that Android phones with a full integrated keyboard actually exist. But then you move the goalpost saying that they aren't open source/hardware. Which is false, by the way, since this device [ https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/pro1 ] runs LineageOS, and phones with completely free…

(Note: The Pro¹ from F(x)tec has been superseded by the Pro¹ X, released this month .)

And has yet to actually ship to anyone. I'm pretty sure people have been waiting ~2 years for their preorders to ship. Not to mention the specs are quite dated at this point. I think they even had to start making them with a newer chip because they weren't able to ship before the original chip lost support from Qualcomm.

Re: Open Source PC That Fits in Your Pocket

#187

Post by thom_ »

yosamino wrote: post #86
ElCheapo wrote: post #46

Can we stop with this absolute fantasy about PCs that "fit in your pocket"? The medium is the message, the form is the functionality. Smartphones have been "pocketable PCs" for more than a decade already, but are dumbed down because their inputs and outputs are limited. You can't type effectively, your screen is small, your battery is limited. Would you want a command line interface on your Smart TV using only a remo…

No. It's not a fantasy. The Nokia N900 was amazing . It functioned as a phone with a touchscreen to deliver the experience that had now become the dominant one. But also, by sliding up the screen, it had a fully featured keyboard, and essentially transmogrified into a "pc that fits into your pocket". So you could with a one handed push go from the touchscreen-only experience back to edit documents by using a combinat…

I remember vividly smashing the stylus into the unresponsive tft screen until it broke in a white rage. The n900 totally sucked, although it did look neat. The wifi sucked, the screen sucked, no capacitive touch. Also the battery sucked like one and a half hours screentime. And the apps they sucked. Oh and it was slow enough every webpage loaded would have you near tears in anticipation. But - to nokias credit, it did fit into your pocket, helpfully to compensate for the wad of cash absent after the purchase.

Re: Open Source PC That Fits in Your Pocket

#189

Post by krolden »

ElCheapo wrote: post #129
tmikaeld wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The key is the keyboard is integrated and foldable, it's the convenience and portability that is key. With an android (with two exceptions), you have to have two separate pieces, something to put them on and then pair and charge both parts. In short: You can pull it out of your pocket anywhere, type something with both thumbs on a full keyboard, then fold it down again in seconds. There are Android phones with a full…

Your reply is baffling. First you say that with "android" (as if they made hardware) you can't have an integrated keyboard. Then you say that Android phones with a full integrated keyboard actually exist. But then you move the goalpost saying that they aren't open source/hardware. Which is false, by the way, since this device [ https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/pro1 ] runs LineageOS, and phones with completely free…

The fxtec has been a huge disappointment. If you can even get upirs, its now dated hardware and people have been reporting many issues with it.

Also no it most definitely contains blobs.

https://community.fxtec.com/topic/3326-pro%C2%B9-x-%E2%80%93...

Re: Open Source PC That Fits in Your Pocket

#190

Post by uwagar »

sien wrote: post #146
est wrote: post #109

There are many 7″ or 8″ x86 pocket computers without brands sold in China for about $200, with qwerty keyboards touch screen and everything.

They can be bought on Amazon too. Tibuta Masterpad W100 8.9 inch Unboxing and review : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6RxARPBNZk on Amazon for $US 150 https://www.amazon.com/Tibuta-Masterpad-Computer-1536%C3%972...

oh the semicolon not on the same like as jkl is a no-no for me as a programmer.
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