4 ms·

What I'd love: a common chassis that includes: - Some usb devices: keyboard, touchpad, camera and internal usb hub for additional devices and external ports.

What I'd love: a common chassis that includes: - Some usb devices: keyboard, touchpad, camera and internal usb hub for additional devices and external ports. - HDMI screen with amplified speakers. - Battery charger and internal power source for internal devices. - Internal space for HD, SSD, eMMC, WiFi antenna adapter and most common ARM SBCs. This would allow me to buy a cheap ARM SBC and "build" my own laptop. Except for the battery and internal hub, CrowPi2 is almost like that[0] but CrowPi2 is a toy. We need something that is a tad better than CrowPi2 and not a toy. [0] https://www.elecrow.com/crowpi2-raspberry-pi-portable-laptop.html https://www.elecrow.com/crowpi2-raspberry-pi-portable-laptop...

mntmn 6y ago
I am thinking to adopt a SOM standard like Qseven or COMExpress etc. in the (a bit more far) future. What do you think about that? SBCs are not really a good fit for laptops in my opinion because you have to adapt everything with individual cables that are meant for external use. And: are there any SBCs you would like to use except for the Raspberry Pi?
- marcodiego 6y ago
  >What do you think about that? I understand that the Raspi form factor is not the most adequate for a laptop, but it is a very common form factor. Anything else doesn't even comes close to its popularity. So I think we have to adopt what we have. The only other possibility I can think of is the 96boards standard. >SBCs are not really a good fit for laptops in my opinion because you have to adapt everything with individual cables that are meant for external use The CrowPi2 seems to work well around that. Never seen one personally but it seems good enough for me. >are there any SBCs you would like to use except for the Raspberry Pi? Yes. I want to use a Rock-Pi-4. AFAIK it is the only ARM SBC that is 100% functional without any proprietary blob.
  - jbotz 6y ago
    I think the same is true for the Rock64 from Pine64 and the Libre Computer Board ROC-RK3328-CC. And probably others based on the Rockchip SOCs.
- myself248 6y ago
  EOMA68 is/was another attempt at this concept, and worth looking into the challenges they faced and addressed. IMHO it's a brilliant idea hobbled by bad thermals and not quite enough pins.
- mschuster91 6y ago
  Qseven won't get you much in terms of performance, neither in available CPU/GPU nor in features (only 4 x1 PCIe lanes)... if you want actual beasts go for Comexpress Type 6 (or, if you're willing to deal with embedding a GPU yourself and need more PCIe lanes, Type 7) but be prepared the connectors aren't cheap, the standard isn't open (although there are some copies floating around on the 'net) and routing all the high frequency stuff is a pain that requires at least three if not four layers.
  - mntmn 6y ago
    The MNT Reform motherboard has 6 layers, which I consider a small number. Also, I was thinking about adopting MXM for a GPU slot.
axiolite 6y ago
I'd like that too, but I'd want enough space to fit one of those Atom mini-PCs into it. Just imagine, you could keep using your laptop for decades upon decades! Your upgrade is just swapping out the mini-PC inside it.

mntmn 6y ago

I am thinking to adopt a SOM standard like Qseven or COMExpress etc. in the (a bit more far) future. What do you think about that? SBCs are not really a good fit for laptops in my opinion because you have to adapt everything with individual cables that are meant for external use. And: are there any SBCs you would like to use except for the Raspberry Pi?

marcodiego 6y ago
>What do you think about that? I understand that the Raspi form factor is not the most adequate for a laptop, but it is a very common form factor. Anything else doesn't even comes close to its popularity. So I think we have to adopt what we have. The only other possibility I can think of is the 96boards standard. >SBCs are not really a good fit for laptops in my opinion because you have to adapt everything with individual cables that are meant for external use The CrowPi2 seems to work well around that. Never seen one personally but it seems good enough for me. >are there any SBCs you would like to use except for the Raspberry Pi? Yes. I want to use a Rock-Pi-4. AFAIK it is the only ARM SBC that is 100% functional without any proprietary blob.
- jbotz 6y ago
  I think the same is true for the Rock64 from Pine64 and the Libre Computer Board ROC-RK3328-CC. And probably others based on the Rockchip SOCs.
myself248 6y ago
EOMA68 is/was another attempt at this concept, and worth looking into the challenges they faced and addressed. IMHO it's a brilliant idea hobbled by bad thermals and not quite enough pins.
mschuster91 6y ago
Qseven won't get you much in terms of performance, neither in available CPU/GPU nor in features (only 4 x1 PCIe lanes)... if you want actual beasts go for Comexpress Type 6 (or, if you're willing to deal with embedding a GPU yourself and need more PCIe lanes, Type 7) but be prepared the connectors aren't cheap, the standard isn't open (although there are some copies floating around on the 'net) and routing all the high frequency stuff is a pain that requires at least three if not four layers.
- mntmn 6y ago
  The MNT Reform motherboard has 6 layers, which I consider a small number. Also, I was thinking about adopting MXM for a GPU slot.

axiolite 6y ago

I'd like that too, but I'd want enough space to fit one of those Atom mini-PCs into it. Just imagine, you could keep using your laptop for decades upon decades! Your upgrade is just swapping out the mini-PC inside it.