4 ms·

>simple RPi branded monitor with a Pi built in Oh, I'd definitely be up for that!!

m-p-3 6y ago
And make it easy to upgrade or replace later on!
curryst 6y ago
You could probably DIY that with an RPi case pretty easy, using the VESA mount holes on the back of the monitor. Most of my monitors have two different size VESA mounts, and my monitor mounts use the smaller size, meaning I have 4 extra screw holes on the back of all my monitors, and conveniently nearly all the VESA mounts take standard M4 bolts. If your VESA mounts are close enough together, you can just drill holes directly in the RPi case and mount it to the back of the monitor. If they're too far apart, use the mounts to put in a plastic or wood bar, then drill holes through the RPi case and the bar (while not attached to the monitor), then mount the case to the bar and the bar to the monitor. I've looked at doing similar in the past, but I wanted to make the mounting block along the bottom of the monitor with the SD card exposed. That way I can set up a series of SD cards to test with. Want to test something on Ubuntu 18.04? Cool, switch monitor 2 to input 2 (the RPi) and then swap the SD card out to the Ubuntu 18.04 one and you're ready to rock. It's not as easy as a Docker container, but I'm often using the GPIO pins and I don't have the desire to try to make GPIO pins work in Docker. It might not even be that hard, I just don't feel like adding another step to my troubleshooting.
- gegtik 6y ago
  I feel like this is the opposite direction of the 400 ...
- colejohnson66 6y ago
  Of course, that requires that your monitor have VESA mounts. It seems the big brands have segmented the market by making VESA mounts a “premium” feature. Which is ridiculous if I can get a TV with a bigger screen for the same price that comes with VESA built in to any of them.[a] [a]: Ignoring the obvious differences between a TV-as-a-monitor and an actual monitor
bofh23 6y ago
I’d rather have a miniPC-sized Raspberry Pi computer like an Intel NUC or Mac Mini* mounted on the back of a monitor instead of an all-in-one. Monitors have a much longer useful life so all-in-ones (e.g. iMac) eventually become paperweights or e-waste. If they go the all-in-one route they should include an external HDMI port and a switch to choose between it and the internal Raspberry Pi. *: But upgradeable and repairable.
- bstar77 6y ago
  Exactly, this is what the VESA mount on the back of your monitor is for. For an almost no effort solution, you can zip tie a pi to the mount bracket and screw it in (some monitors may even be able to power it via usb). Integrating into the monitor's electronics makes no sense.
  - undersuit 6y ago
    > Integrating into the monitor's electronics makes no sense. Them's fighting words to a NEC C651Q owner.
  - Thrymr 6y ago
    You can also get pre-built mounts and cases to attach a pi to the VESA mounts, e.g. https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/omnivesa https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/omnivesa
- Sunspark 6y ago
  I have a NUC but I could never mount it to the back of the monitor because the monitor stand/arm itself uses the VESA mount location.
  - paxswill 6y ago
    If the stand/arm is using the actual VESA mounting holes, there are brackets that can hold a NUC either to the side or sandwiched between the stand/arm and the monitor.
- satysin 6y ago

And make it easy to upgrade or replace later on!

You could probably DIY that with an RPi case pretty easy, using the VESA mount holes on the back of the monitor. Most of my monitors have two different size VESA mounts, and my monitor mounts use the smaller size, meaning I have 4 extra screw holes on the back of all my monitors, and conveniently nearly all the VESA mounts take standard M4 bolts. If your VESA mounts are close enough together, you can just drill holes directly in the RPi case and mount it to the back of the monitor. If they're too far apart, use the mounts to put in a plastic or wood bar, then drill holes through the RPi case and the bar (while not attached to the monitor), then mount the case to the bar and the bar to the monitor. I've looked at doing similar in the past, but I wanted to make the mounting block along the bottom of the monitor with the SD card exposed. That way I can set up a series of SD cards to test with. Want to test something on Ubuntu 18.04? Cool, switch monitor 2 to input 2 (the RPi) and then swap the SD card out to the Ubuntu 18.04 one and you're ready to rock. It's not as easy as a Docker container, but I'm often using the GPIO pins and I don't have the desire to try to make GPIO pins work in Docker. It might not even be that hard, I just don't feel like adding another step to my troubleshooting.

gegtik 6y ago
I feel like this is the opposite direction of the 400 ...
colejohnson66 6y ago
Of course, that requires that your monitor have VESA mounts. It seems the big brands have segmented the market by making VESA mounts a “premium” feature. Which is ridiculous if I can get a TV with a bigger screen for the same price that comes with VESA built in to any of them.[a] [a]: Ignoring the obvious differences between a TV-as-a-monitor and an actual monitor

bofh23 6y ago

I’d rather have a miniPC-sized Raspberry Pi computer like an Intel NUC or Mac Mini* mounted on the back of a monitor instead of an all-in-one. Monitors have a much longer useful life so all-in-ones (e.g. iMac) eventually become paperweights or e-waste. If they go the all-in-one route they should include an external HDMI port and a switch to choose between it and the internal Raspberry Pi. *: But upgradeable and repairable.

bstar77 6y ago
Exactly, this is what the VESA mount on the back of your monitor is for. For an almost no effort solution, you can zip tie a pi to the mount bracket and screw it in (some monitors may even be able to power it via usb). Integrating into the monitor's electronics makes no sense.
- undersuit 6y ago
  > Integrating into the monitor's electronics makes no sense. Them's fighting words to a NEC C651Q owner.
- Thrymr 6y ago
  You can also get pre-built mounts and cases to attach a pi to the VESA mounts, e.g. https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/omnivesa https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/omnivesa
Sunspark 6y ago
I have a NUC but I could never mount it to the back of the monitor because the monitor stand/arm itself uses the VESA mount location.
- paxswill 6y ago
  If the stand/arm is using the actual VESA mounting holes, there are brackets that can hold a NUC either to the side or sandwiched between the stand/arm and the monitor.
satysin 6y ago