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Mecha Comet – Open Modular Linux Handheld Computer

mecha.so

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Re: Mecha Comet – Open Modular Linux Handheld Computer

#81

Post by pengaru »

fsflover wrote: post #60
watusername wrote: post #55

Buyers beware: 4-core A53 is genuinely unusable (original Pinebook/PinePhone specs), A55 is better but I still wouldn’t recommend buying. You may expect performance similar to 15+ years old desktops.

User of Librem 5 phone with this CPU here. It works fine as a daily driver. Firefox with Noscript works fine in desktop mode. See also: https://puri.sm/posts/the-danger-of-focusing-on-specs/

Off-topic but curious if you experience this issue my Librem5 exhibits - I use my L5 mostly just to play mp3s. Regardless of being powered over usb-c or running on battery, it frequently has audio blips reminiscent of some old laptops briefly going in and out of deeper sleep states long enough for an audio blip.

Have you noticed something similar? do you listen to music on your L5?

Edit: I should also mention it does this regardless of audio out the internal DAC+3.5mm TRS, or over a USB MBox attached to a dock. It seems to be something quite low-level disabling interrupts for too long, something like that.

Re: Mecha Comet – Open Modular Linux Handheld Computer

#82

Post by seba_dos1 »

LeonM wrote: post #47
backscratches wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For what its worth the kickstarter page states: > Our software support will be officially available till 7 years, our SOC is supported till 2036. Community support could last even longer.

I'd take that claim by Mecha with a huge grain of salt. How are they going to fund 7 years of support for a device that sells maybe a few thousand units? How are they going to guarantee they will still be around, and interested in maintaining the device drivers in 2033? The Linux kernel project will remove the device drivers from the mainline kernel if they are no longer actively maintained and in use. So it is very…

As someone who works on a device that was initially released in 2020 and uses a SoC from the same family (i.MX 8M Quad), 7 years of support is not unbelievably long (provided that the company stays afloat at all).

Re: Mecha Comet – Open Modular Linux Handheld Computer

#83

Post by 999900000999 »

RegW wrote: post #77
999900000999 wrote: post #75

If this thing had a 5G modem it would be the perfect device . A phone where I can install applications without asking Google for permission.

I'm a bit confused about if it does calls. It doesn't mention it for most of the page, but then says: > DIY Phone > Use the Comet and the Linux stack for calling*, messaging and mobile data as an alternate to your walled and closed smartphone. Contribute to the Linux ecosystem for mobiles. So I guess this means it can, but it's not supported and you need to contribute the software. So perhaps it has the hardware, and…

Without any mention of 5G capability, I'm forced to assume this doesn't have it.

Or course you can attach a USB stick with a 5G modem in it. To be fair, this makes things really difficult. Not all modems support all bands. Different countries use different 5g bands, etc

Re: Mecha Comet – Open Modular Linux Handheld Computer

#84

Post by shoaibmerchant »

worthless-trash wrote: post #58
shoaibmerchant wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Creator here. I can completely understand the skepticism, any startup today releasing something and promising to support will be taken with a grain of salt. I cannot guarantee that Mecha will not run out of business in 7 years. But at the very least we have the confidence to commit to 7 years of support, if we are able to keep the show going. Why we are confident of extending this support - 1. The SOC from NXP is wid…

Is there any 'keys'/signatures required to get any of the parts working ?

No absolutely not, everything is uncomplicated intentionally. Plus it is open hardware.

Re: Mecha Comet – Open Modular Linux Handheld Computer

#85

Post by shoaibmerchant »

999900000999 wrote: post #83
RegW wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a bit confused about if it does calls. It doesn't mention it for most of the page, but then says: > DIY Phone > Use the Comet and the Linux stack for calling*, messaging and mobile data as an alternate to your walled and closed smartphone. Contribute to the Linux ecosystem for mobiles. So I guess this means it can, but it's not supported and you need to contribute the software. So perhaps it has the hardware, and…

Without any mention of 5G capability, I'm forced to assume this doesn't have it. Or course you can attach a USB stick with a 5G modem in it. To be fair, this makes things really difficult. Not all modems support all bands. Different countries use different 5g bands, etc

Creator here

We are currently testing with LTE modem (Quectel EM05). We are yet to test with 5G Modems but similar sized 3042 (M.2) are available albeit expensive.

Re: Mecha Comet – Open Modular Linux Handheld Computer

#86

Post by Realman78 »

RALaBarge wrote: post #74
tpah8 wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve been looking at some tiny laptops. The GPD Micro PC2 is one of my favorites so you can take inspiration from it.

I was doing the same recently and came to the conclusion that i would just get a new small macbook when needed. If I was worried about losing it or damage, I also got a netbook for 20 bucks on eBay the other day and installed Debian on it and as a thin client is more than you need, performance wise.

Nice throwback. I like the idea of 20 dollar netbooks, ordering one for sure! However, the form factor of the product I'm building is smaller than an iPhone XR (that's the only one I have for measure lol), only thicker because it will open up. The point is that I can fit it in my pocket or in someone's fanny pack. With that for factor, you will have to type with thumbs, but I don't mind that. Also, taking inspiration from the Mecha Comet, I could add in a detachable component (keyboard, joystick, etc.)

Re: Mecha Comet – Open Modular Linux Handheld Computer

#87

Post by shoaibmerchant »

watusername wrote: post #55

Buyers beware: 4-core A53 is genuinely unusable (original Pinebook/PinePhone specs), A55 is better but I still wouldn’t recommend buying. You may expect performance similar to 15+ years old desktops.

Creator here,

For the IMX8MP - The pinephone was 1.2 GHz, this is 1.8 GHz on all four cores. As far as geekbench goes it hits between the Pi 3 and Pi 4, faster EMMC and LPDDR4 gives it a bigger boost compared to the Pi 3. The PCIe 3.0 is also there. Yes it is not equivalent to a desktop use, but for a phone sized usecases, the processor has not been a bottle neck. The advantage you get is a battery life that goes 7 hours on idle with the display on, and on sleep it can go upto 8D and wake up instantly.

The IMX95 is 6x A55 at 1.8GHz but you can check the geekbench below, it matches the single core performance of Pi 4 and beats it at multi-core performance while offering LPDDR5. But at the same time, is only 15% more power hungry than the 8MP.

So the way we see it -

Pi 3 Ref: https://browser.geekbench.com/v6/cpu/compare/15259040?baseli...

Edit: The IMX95 is 6-cores A55 and not 4-cores

Re: Mecha Comet – Open Modular Linux Handheld Computer

#88

Post by Realman78 »

RALaBarge wrote: post #74
tpah8 wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve been looking at some tiny laptops. The GPD Micro PC2 is one of my favorites so you can take inspiration from it.

I was doing the same recently and came to the conclusion that i would just get a new small macbook when needed. If I was worried about losing it or damage, I also got a netbook for 20 bucks on eBay the other day and installed Debian on it and as a thin client is more than you need, performance wise.

Also, the netbooks are old now. A new chip with an optimized linux distro will be a joy to work with.

Re: Mecha Comet – Open Modular Linux Handheld Computer

#89

Post by CrimsonCape »

tcherasaro wrote: post #5

I am planning to build something similar as a hobby project except my idea is that Claude Code runs everything on the device for you.

Dude it would be so great to have a little device and you text it SMS messages as prompts. Then it just sits there and thinks away probably getting really hot lol.

Re: Mecha Comet – Open Modular Linux Handheld Computer

#90

Post by 999900000999 »

shoaibmerchant wrote: post #85
999900000999 wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Without any mention of 5G capability, I'm forced to assume this doesn't have it. Or course you can attach a USB stick with a 5G modem in it. To be fair, this makes things really difficult. Not all modems support all bands. Different countries use different 5g bands, etc

Creator here We are currently testing with LTE modem (Quectel EM05). We are yet to test with 5G Modems but similar sized 3042 (M.2) are available albeit expensive.

So is the LTE modem included ? Or would I need to buy it later ?

I'd still probably carry a main phone, but this could be a cool backup

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