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The Comet is a handheld Linux computer that brings extensibility

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Re: The Comet is a handheld Linux computer that brings extensibility

#21

Post by dotancohen »

saidinesh5 wrote: post #10
usr1106 wrote: post #5

Not sure why I would want a handheld computer. But I still need a phone (calling, SMS) occasionally. So I use that also for browsing and messaging, too. GNU/Linux would be a great plus. What are my realistic alternatives? Realistic meaning not a huge amount of work and/or unreliable/buggy system.

If you just want calling, sms, browsing and messaging, and some amount of GNU/Linux, your main options are: 1) Any officially supported sailfish OS device ( https://shop.jolla.com/ - which includes their licensed and officially blessed version for older sony xperia services) 2) Any ubuntu touch supported devices: https://devices.ubuntu-touch.io/promoted/ Would be very stable... And good enough for daily use.. But hon…

A phone with Termux recently had the USB port go bust. I could neither charge it nor use ADB to back it up. But I was able to SSH into my desktop and back up the important files (voice notes, photos) via scp with the clock ticking at 3% charge and dropping. Very impressive and honestly being able to install ncdu on the phone to quickly find large, important files was a revelation in the usability of both bash and Android.

Re: The Comet is a handheld Linux computer that brings extensibility

#22

Post by Etheryte »

dmd wrote: post #13

If you want something similar to this RIGHT NOW that has thousands of available parts and millions of users, see https://m5stack.com/

That looks pretty interesting, do you happen to have any first hand experience with this? In my experience, platforms like this live and die by the pain of unhandled edge cases, so even if the happy path works fine, it can still be something to avoid.

Re: The Comet is a handheld Linux computer that brings extensibility

#23

Post by afandian »

lantry wrote: post #18
btbuildem wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's almost as if the connector itself should be a swappable part - every 100,000 cycles or so you get a new one.

who will connect the connectors?

Easy, just make a sacrificial daughterboard which connects onto the mainboard.

Re: The Comet is a handheld Linux computer that brings extensibility

#25

Post by snowram »

tsm wrote: post #4

Tangential: I'm looking for a handheld Linux computer that's the approximate size and shape of a GameBoy Advance SP, but with a QWERTY keyboard and wifi. The old Zipit Z-2 would've been perfect. All it needs to run is git and Emacs/org-mode. It's a surprisingly hard form factor to shop for—anyone have any recommendations?

It doesn't have a QWERTY keyboard, but you can repurpose an Anbernic RG35XXSP as a Linux device : https://github.com/MrJackSpade/RG35XXP-XFCE

Re: The Comet is a handheld Linux computer that brings extensibility

#26

Post by afandian »

globular-toast wrote: post #16
rickcarlino wrote: post #2

Be sure to put those connectors through adequate stress testing. I’ve had several products that use a similar design (Garmin watch, Bluetooth headset) and I’ve been disappointed to find that the connector wears out with time.

On Garmin watches the springy mechanical part is on the cable, not the watch. Have you observed the watch itself wearing out? I would hope it's designed such that the cable is sacrificial and the watch lasts. In the product here the springs appear to be on the device side, which seems to me like the bit that would be more likely to wear out. That's concerning, but there's more chance of being to able to replace it th…

The Magsafe connector on Apple laptops has pogo pins on the cable, plus a magnet to hold them on. I've had machines of all 3 generations. They have mostly been reliable, controlled for the number of cycles. But I have seen the laptop get worn down, and the pins eventually became unreliable on old laptops.

I don't know how that holds up against USB or the previous weird barrel jack thing they used. Magsafe is far more visible than the others.

Re: The Comet is a handheld Linux computer that brings extensibility

#27

Post by dotancohen »

tsm wrote: post #4

Tangential: I'm looking for a handheld Linux computer that's the approximate size and shape of a GameBoy Advance SP, but with a QWERTY keyboard and wifi. The old Zipit Z-2 would've been perfect. All it needs to run is git and Emacs/org-mode. It's a surprisingly hard form factor to shop for—anyone have any recommendations?

My portable Org mode setup is read-only, and I'm very happy with it. I just copy the files from my desktop to ~/Documents/Notes on the Android device an us Orgro (Orgzly or Organice) to read them.

If I do need to record something on the go I make a voice note and update the Org mode file at home on the desktop. I then push to the phone with adb, or pull from the phone with scp in Termux.

Re: The Comet is a handheld Linux computer that brings extensibility

#28

Post by h73 »

dotancohen wrote: post #21
saidinesh5 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you just want calling, sms, browsing and messaging, and some amount of GNU/Linux, your main options are: 1) Any officially supported sailfish OS device ( https://shop.jolla.com/ - which includes their licensed and officially blessed version for older sony xperia services) 2) Any ubuntu touch supported devices: https://devices.ubuntu-touch.io/promoted/ Would be very stable... And good enough for daily use.. But hon…

A phone with Termux recently had the USB port go bust. I could neither charge it nor use ADB to back it up. But I was able to SSH into my desktop and back up the important files (voice notes, photos) via scp with the clock ticking at 3% charge and dropping. Very impressive and honestly being able to install ncdu on the phone to quickly find large, important files was a revelation in the usability of both bash and And…

Termux is a game changer for any power user out there.

I would still like a dedicated handheld Linux device (case in point Gemini PDA) simple because it's neat. GPD MicroPC is still one of my favorite machines in my gadget drawer, but it still has "portable PC" vibes, not "tinkering/hacking device" ones.

Maybe I'm just trying to justify spending more money on neat hardware.

Re: The Comet is a handheld Linux computer that brings extensibility

#29

Post by dotancohen »

h73 wrote: post #28
dotancohen wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A phone with Termux recently had the USB port go bust. I could neither charge it nor use ADB to back it up. But I was able to SSH into my desktop and back up the important files (voice notes, photos) via scp with the clock ticking at 3% charge and dropping. Very impressive and honestly being able to install ncdu on the phone to quickly find large, important files was a revelation in the usability of both bash and And…

Termux is a game changer for any power user out there. I would still like a dedicated handheld Linux device (case in point Gemini PDA) simple because it's neat. GPD MicroPC is still one of my favorite machines in my gadget drawer, but it still has "portable PC" vibes, not "tinkering/hacking device" ones. Maybe I'm just trying to justify spending more money on neat hardware.

  > Maybe I'm just trying to justify spending more money on neat hardware.
Just get a good bluetooth keyboard. In my opinion, best money spent.
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