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I would have paid serious money for a device like this a few years ago. There are many environments you need to read from an RS-232/DE-9 where bringing a lapto
by jnwatson 6y ago
I would have paid serious money for a device like this a few years ago. There are many environments you need to read from an RS-232/DE-9 where bringing a laptop is unacceptable.
- geofft 6y agoI have a GPD Micro PC (https://amzn.com/B07QYZHM8F https://amzn.com/B07QYZHM8F) which has an RS-232 port but is small enough to fit in a pocket. I think it's a much more practical form factor than a cyberdeck, tbh.
- yjftsjthsd-h 6y agoWhere would a laptop be unacceptable but this work?
- 1MachineElf 6y agoI can't answer for the parent comment, but I've configured different appliances over serial cables in datacenters, and in each situation, it would have been more convenient to have had a nice dedicated device like this instead of a big fat "business" laptop.
- fpoling 6y agoA USB serial dongle plus any of those netbook-like or smaller form factor laptops should do the trick. I suppose one can get that used for below 100 USD unless one needs a dongle that does proper 12 volts. That alone may cost over 100 USD.
- throwawayboise 6y agoThe USB serial dongle with a cheap Chromebook is what I use in the data center if I need to connect to a switch or other device with a serial port. The Chromebook runs all day without charging and it's small and light.
- 1MachineElf 6y agoYou are 100% right, but I would still buy a VT-69 (if it existed) simply because I'd rather have just a 4-foot RS232 cable instead of a 4-foot RS232 cable plus 3-foot USB adapter. Less extra cable, less potential for tangles / tripping, easier time overall.
- fpoling 6y agoThe serial-usb adapters that I used at my previous work, including the real one providing the proper 12V, where finger-size dongles with a serial port and a flexible cable of similar length leading to USB-A connector. Essentially one one just attaches it to the serial cable and connect to the laptop as necessary making the dongle very unobtrusive serial cable extension.
- Spooky23 6y agoPrisons and some industrial facilities would be good examples outside of defense scenarios. I can think of at least some examples from a long time ago where you couldn’t bring in your gear to a customer datacenter as an escorted visitor. They had a room you could use your stuff in on another floor, and would lend your escort a device if needed. It used to be a real pain for our CEs at the time. They’d have to do things like print log files and fax from a nearby kinkos. It had more to do with contracts in place with mainframe vendors over “trade secrets”.
- yjftsjthsd-h 6y ago> you couldn’t bring in your gear to a customer datacenter as an escorted visitor Okay, but if they won't let you bring in a computer, they're not going to like this, since per the article - > it runs a full Linux system with an ARM SOC
- jnwatson 6y agoIt is hard to get a laptop without an integrated radio these days.
- woodrowbarlow 6y agoi use a Pocket C.H.I.P. for this -- it was designed as a handheld hackable games console, but it runs linux and has exposed uart solder points.