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Building a Handheld PC

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Re: Building a Handheld PC

#21

Post by afandian »

detritus wrote: post #20
beebmam wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Raspberry Pis are accessible, in your opinion? There's been a deep shortage for years.

Ordering these things - or, at least, trying to - is beyond ridiculous now. I've been checking three or four sites every month or so for literal years now to no avail. I've even tried shimmying in an order with an 'educational supplier' here in the UK who apparently have 'some', but only for schools, so they won't let me have one, despite how much material I buy from them each month for my non-educational purposes. I…

I'm curious which supplier that is?

Re: Building a Handheld PC

#22

Post by makeitdouble »

amelius wrote: post #7
simonjgreen wrote: post #4

This is a fantastic demonstration of how accessible all this stuff is these days. Polish used to be the let down on DIY projects like this but 3D printers (for the case) have really moved the needle when it comes to high quality prototyping. I know this has been the state of things for nearly a decade now, but it still amazes me. Raspberry Pi, Arduino, 3D Printers, and the open source hardware community, will mark a…

It's super cool, but at the same time for many folks an iPad Mini with/without external keyboard would be a more adequate solution considering processing power.

Going for the iPad mini of all devices is an interesting take.

Ignoring the fun DIY aspect, this project's main advantage would be:

- extensibility and modularity: hardware wise it could fit a PS2 port if it needed to, software wise you can put any OS that runs on arm.

- repairability and upgradability

- the actual physical keyboard. If your goal is to be typing at a CLI prompt 80% of the time, and you want it handheld, that's a pretty sweet form factor, better than a tablet with a flipping keyboard.

Re: Building a Handheld PC

#23

Post by johnwalkr »

jstanley wrote: post #15
amelius wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's super cool, but at the same time for many folks an iPad Mini with/without external keyboard would be a more adequate solution considering processing power.

This sort of comment is actually a rather obscure compliment. If you make something that's obviously shoddy, nobody confuses it for a serious product. Nobody is telling grandma that her knitting isn't as practical as a waterproof jacket from J. Random Outdoorswear Company. Nobody is telling the electronics newbie that a blinking LED isn't actually of any use to anyone. Everybody has nothing but positive encouragement…

I love this comment! As someone who works in hardware in a demanding industry, although not in consumer electronics, this example obviously has a long way to go to compete with a real product, because you have big hurdles in moving to integrated designs instead of integrating devkits, and in moving to manufacturability at scale. I don't think that's even the intent but I can see it at least as a niche product. I only say this to set up the next statement.

This thing is great to show vision and usability, and I'm more excited by this than a lot of dead-end things I've seen presented as a bunch of requirements and if you're lucky, renderings made by a lot more than one person and 3 weeks.

And think about the software world, it's understood that framework X makes a great example but needs to be replaced by microservices Y, and also understood that people exist to make that happen.

It's not like grandma's knitting, but it could be something like MVP software to get a cofounder and an angel investor.

Re: Building a Handheld PC

#24

Post by smilespray »

RobotToaster wrote: post #10
smilespray wrote: post #2

It says the charging voltage is 8.2V, which is double the usual charging voltage for lithium cells. Is it really safe to connect two 18650 cells in series like this? I've read that you should manage each cell individually to reduce wear and/or risk of fire.

Looks like he's using a BMS with a centre tap to balance the cells.

I looked up the module on AliExpress:

https://www.aliexpress.com/i/1005004814091297.html

Anybody care to have a look and comment?

Re: Building a Handheld PC

#25

Post by loxias »

jstanley wrote: post #15
amelius wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's super cool, but at the same time for many folks an iPad Mini with/without external keyboard would be a more adequate solution considering processing power.

This sort of comment is actually a rather obscure compliment. If you make something that's obviously shoddy, nobody confuses it for a serious product. Nobody is telling grandma that her knitting isn't as practical as a waterproof jacket from J. Random Outdoorswear Company. Nobody is telling the electronics newbie that a blinking LED isn't actually of any use to anyone. Everybody has nothing but positive encouragement…

I love this comment for similar reasons as the sibling comment to this one :)

In the late 2000s (pre iPhone), it just so happens I was lucky enough to work for OQO -- the "Rolls-Royce of Handheld Computing". This project is a DIY attempt at building an OQO, and I'm IMPRESSED.

You must making pretty good stuff for someone like me, who did this professionally, to think "Oh, our product is obviously still better, but wow, this comes closer than I thought!"

Things have come a long way in 15 years!

Re: Building a Handheld PC

#26

Post by loxias »

5mv2 wrote: post #6

Have you thought of doing the same with an e-ink screen? I would find it awesome to get work done while in nature.

It's just as awesome as you think. Sadly, those projects always end up getting cancelled.

Re: Building a Handheld PC

#27

Post by bullen »

What SoC is this using? For the life of me I can't find it in the article?

Edit: ok it's a CM4? on the back of the display...

For others searching for the secret sauce: BigTreeTech Pad 5

Re: Building a Handheld PC

#28

Post by RobotToaster »

smilespray wrote: post #24
RobotToaster wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Looks like he's using a BMS with a centre tap to balance the cells.

I looked up the module on AliExpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/i/1005004814091297.html Anybody care to have a look and comment?

I could only find a datasheet for the chip in Chinese, but from what I could get through google translate it looks like it can balance two or three cells in series.

Re: Building a Handheld PC

#29

Post by detritus »

afandian wrote: post #21
detritus wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ordering these things - or, at least, trying to - is beyond ridiculous now. I've been checking three or four sites every month or so for literal years now to no avail. I've even tried shimmying in an order with an 'educational supplier' here in the UK who apparently have 'some', but only for schools, so they won't let me have one, despite how much material I buy from them each month for my non-educational purposes. I…

I'm curious which supplier that is?

Apologies for slow response.

Company is Kitronik. You need to have an existing educational account with them to order, i think.

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