7 ms·

Kano’s next learn-to-code kit is a build-it-yourself laptop

65 points by TheVinous 9y ago

tonyarkles 9y ago
This makes me so nostalgic. In my mind, this is a spiritual successor to the Vic-20/Commodore 64 type computers. Meant to be programmed out of the box, with an environment that is reasonable for a motivated individual to learn and hack on.
cheez 9y ago
My son had both the CPU kit and the screen kit. Whenever a friend comes over, he proudly displays the computer he built himself. He is a god to them. Then he goes to use his macbook. In any case, this is a great, cost efficient introduction. We eventually built a monster desktop for "work". I will definitely get this for him next summer.
- holychiz 9y ago
  how old is your son? if he's around 6 year-old, he's a god to me! :)
  - brians 9y ago
    Same experience: my 4yo built a rainbow-colored case for a Pi2 B, cabled in monitor and keyboard and mouse and power, and knows it’s the computer she built. Following Goerzen’s advice, she gets a text login—so three years later, she knows about startx, apt, and finds alpine about as usable as iPad Mail.app. When the computer was disassembled for a move, we had a great conversation about how to put it back together, what was working where, and how USB ports defy physics and have three sides, one of which is invisible.
  - cheez 9y ago
    He did it this past summer, so he had just turned 8. Those kits aren't hard at all if your kid is already used to stuff like Lego. My son builds stuff intended for 14 year olds no sweat.
leggomylibro 9y ago
Awesome. I wish that these wouldn't just use a Raspberry Pi, though. If you just give people a Magic Computer Board to slot into a few other bits of plastic and peripherals, how much will they really learn about the hardware? What about a kit that you solder up yourself? Not the actual components, but at least some headers or leads to physically separate the different logical pieces of the machine. The core logic board with all those annoying BGA components could be a single board, but the peripherals might be broken out into headers designed for different module boards to plug in. The USB adapter boards or hub board connect HERE, the audio amp board connects HERE, the microSD card/M.2 SSD storage board goes HERE, the Power supply board plugs in HERE, etc. And then you open-source a modular 3D-printable case that users can design in a web interface, snapping slots sized for different plugs/modules in different places on a shell, choosing where the screen/hinges/keyboard/trackpad/board should sit. Link to an affiliate-linked online printer for convenience, and stock a few default configurations.
- turbinerneiter 9y ago
  Soldering sucks. It was easy with the old leaded solder, but with the new unleaded it's harder. Sure, you can use sodler flux, but eh. It's no for kids and there is too much that can go wrong. Also, what do you really about hardare by soldering?
  - semi-extrinsic 9y ago
    Why do you use unleaded solder? Don't eat the lead based solder and you'll be perfectly safe. Skin contact is safe. Wash your hands and clean under your fingernails after soldering if you want to be super sure you're not going to be ingesting any lead afterwards.
    - jaytaylor 9y ago
      Soldering fumes are dangerous and toxic. Wear respiratory protection and ensure the area is well-ventilated! All solder fumes can cause occupational asthma and other health problems (leaded and lead-free) if used for long periods at a time. The best solder wire contains something called Rosin that helps the solder flow when hot. This causes asthma if you are over exposed and is irreversible. [0] Context / background: A few years ago I had the pleasure of meeting the creator of the Choo Choo Barn in Strasberg, Pennsylvania [1]. He'd ended up with severe lung cancer do to all the soldering fume inhalation over the years. [0] "Are solder fumes bad for me?" - https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/1904/are-solder-fumes-bad-for-me https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/1904/are-sol... [1] https://www.choochoobarn.com/ https://www.choochoobarn.com/
JorgeGT 9y ago
I love my raspberry pi, but to "learn-to-code" I would rather buy an Acer Aspire 1 [1], which is cheaper than this kit, has much better performance and a very nice flat design. With the remaining money I would buy a raspberry zero that the kid can ssh to, embed in robot/contraptions, etc. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Celeron-Storage-Windows-A114-31-C4HH/dp/B0746NCNSG/ref=sr_1_8?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1506447561&sr=1-8&keywords=laptop&refinements=p_36%3A-25000 https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Celeron-Storage-Windows-A114-31-...
mentos 9y ago
What would you guys think of a school that allowed kids to use their cell phones if they first passed a 'build-it-yourself' course with something like this?
- tytytytytytytyt 9y ago
  Passing a course doesn't mean the kids magically have a legitimate reason to use a cell phone during class.
- khedoros1 9y ago
  Sounds like it would work as an incentive for kids to do the course, but not much else. If your goal is just to entice a few more kids into having an interest in tech, that seems worthwhile.
dmoo 9y ago
If you have a Pi already and a kid I recommend an install of the os. They have really done a great job, learn the command line as part a game etc. http://developers.kano.me/downloads/ http://developers.kano.me/downloads/
LordKano 9y ago
Somehow, I feel like I should have something more profound to say here. I have been considering getting one of their kits for my children to build and learn.

65 points by TheVinous 9y ago

This makes me so nostalgic. In my mind, this is a spiritual successor to the Vic-20/Commodore 64 type computers. Meant to be programmed out of the box, with an environment that is reasonable for a motivated individual to learn and hack on.

cheez 9y ago

My son had both the CPU kit and the screen kit. Whenever a friend comes over, he proudly displays the computer he built himself. He is a god to them. Then he goes to use his macbook. In any case, this is a great, cost efficient introduction. We eventually built a monster desktop for "work". I will definitely get this for him next summer.

holychiz 9y ago
how old is your son? if he's around 6 year-old, he's a god to me! :)
- brians 9y ago
  Same experience: my 4yo built a rainbow-colored case for a Pi2 B, cabled in monitor and keyboard and mouse and power, and knows it’s the computer she built. Following Goerzen’s advice, she gets a text login—so three years later, she knows about startx, apt, and finds alpine about as usable as iPad Mail.app. When the computer was disassembled for a move, we had a great conversation about how to put it back together, what was working where, and how USB ports defy physics and have three sides, one of which is invisible.
- cheez 9y ago
  He did it this past summer, so he had just turned 8. Those kits aren't hard at all if your kid is already used to stuff like Lego. My son builds stuff intended for 14 year olds no sweat.

leggomylibro 9y ago

Awesome. I wish that these wouldn't just use a Raspberry Pi, though. If you just give people a Magic Computer Board to slot into a few other bits of plastic and peripherals, how much will they really learn about the hardware? What about a kit that you solder up yourself? Not the actual components, but at least some headers or leads to physically separate the different logical pieces of the machine. The core logic board with all those annoying BGA components could be a single board, but the peripherals might be broken out into headers designed for different module boards to plug in. The USB adapter boards or hub board connect HERE, the audio amp board connects HERE, the microSD card/M.2 SSD storage board goes HERE, the Power supply board plugs in HERE, etc. And then you open-source a modular 3D-printable case that users can design in a web interface, snapping slots sized for different plugs/modules in different places on a shell, choosing where the screen/hinges/keyboard/trackpad/board should sit. Link to an affiliate-linked online printer for convenience, and stock a few default configurations.

turbinerneiter 9y ago
Soldering sucks. It was easy with the old leaded solder, but with the new unleaded it's harder. Sure, you can use sodler flux, but eh. It's no for kids and there is too much that can go wrong. Also, what do you really about hardare by soldering?
- semi-extrinsic 9y ago
  Why do you use unleaded solder? Don't eat the lead based solder and you'll be perfectly safe. Skin contact is safe. Wash your hands and clean under your fingernails after soldering if you want to be super sure you're not going to be ingesting any lead afterwards.
  - jaytaylor 9y ago
    Soldering fumes are dangerous and toxic. Wear respiratory protection and ensure the area is well-ventilated! All solder fumes can cause occupational asthma and other health problems (leaded and lead-free) if used for long periods at a time. The best solder wire contains something called Rosin that helps the solder flow when hot. This causes asthma if you are over exposed and is irreversible. [0] Context / background: A few years ago I had the pleasure of meeting the creator of the Choo Choo Barn in Strasberg, Pennsylvania [1]. He'd ended up with severe lung cancer do to all the soldering fume inhalation over the years. [0] "Are solder fumes bad for me?" - https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/1904/are-solder-fumes-bad-for-me https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/1904/are-sol... [1] https://www.choochoobarn.com/ https://www.choochoobarn.com/

JorgeGT 9y ago

I love my raspberry pi, but to "learn-to-code" I would rather buy an Acer Aspire 1 [1], which is cheaper than this kit, has much better performance and a very nice flat design. With the remaining money I would buy a raspberry zero that the kid can ssh to, embed in robot/contraptions, etc. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Celeron-Storage-Windows-A114-31-C4HH/dp/B0746NCNSG/ref=sr_1_8?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1506447561&sr=1-8&keywords=laptop&refinements=p_36%3A-25000 https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Celeron-Storage-Windows-A114-31-...

mentos 9y ago

What would you guys think of a school that allowed kids to use their cell phones if they first passed a 'build-it-yourself' course with something like this?

tytytytytytytyt 9y ago
Passing a course doesn't mean the kids magically have a legitimate reason to use a cell phone during class.
khedoros1 9y ago
Sounds like it would work as an incentive for kids to do the course, but not much else. If your goal is just to entice a few more kids into having an interest in tech, that seems worthwhile.

dmoo 9y ago

If you have a Pi already and a kid I recommend an install of the os. They have really done a great job, learn the command line as part a game etc. http://developers.kano.me/downloads/ http://developers.kano.me/downloads/

LordKano 9y ago

Somehow, I feel like I should have something more profound to say here. I have been considering getting one of their kits for my children to build and learn.