5 ms·

The Balthazar laptop: An all-European RISC-V computer

26 points by leephillips 4y ago

cocodill 4y ago
shitty renders and last update from 2021. you must be kidding.
nivenkos 4y ago
Wish there were more details - like demos, specs, a release date, etc.
whywhywhywhy 4y ago
Re:Balthazar, would do them the world of good and increase the potential to get some design talent on the team, physical and digital. Children don't need a "RISC-V laptop" they need things that work within the boundaries of what education demands from them. I know this might come across as mean but those weird janky upside down keyboard laptop renders undermine any other technical achievements of the team.
- mouse_ 4y ago
  It's like OLPC all over again. Many don't want to hear it, but children need cheap, generic netbooks, not quirky hacker messes.
guntherhermann 4y ago
> It's a project to build a standards-based, fully open source RISC-V laptop "for all children age 9-99". The infantilisation of humanity continues... The project is light on details, and consists of a 3D rendered laptop with an insane keyboard layout. The website[0], however, uses present tense as if it's something that already exists, and isn't vaporware: > BPCD - Balthazar Personal Computing Device is a 13.3" upgradable and expandable laptop > It contains all the hardware and continuously developing software and firmware features preventing data-theft and any unwanted 3rd party intrusion into the system by default. From the FAQ[1]: > Who is this for? > We are not personal computers' manufacturer. We do not sell, mass-produce or manufacture anything, except concepts, Open Source designs and fully functional prototypes for demonstration purposes and presentations. OK, so it's a grift, then. [0] https://balthazar.space/wiki/Balthazar https://balthazar.space/wiki/Balthazar [1] https://balthazar.space/wiki/Frequently_Asked_Questions https://balthazar.space/wiki/Frequently_Asked_Questions
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
tildef 4y ago
The article is woefully short on details, but the news[1] page of the actual project seems to have some more meat. Lots of photos and work in progress reports. Seems they're currently close to having an initial prototype up and running. [1] https://balthazar.space/wiki/News https://balthazar.space/wiki/News
opan 4y ago
The keyboard looks potentially decent to me, as a user of a columnar stagger split keyboard. The keys might be spaced out too much, though. Also the sort of wide V shape may not be totally ideal. I also like the idea of putting the keyboard front and center and getting the trackpad out of the way. The article fails to mention that the MNT Reform can use other SOMs, including a RISC-V option.

26 points by leephillips 4y ago

cocodill 4y ago

shitty renders and last update from 2021. you must be kidding.

nivenkos 4y ago

Wish there were more details - like demos, specs, a release date, etc.

whywhywhywhy 4y ago

Re:Balthazar, would do them the world of good and increase the potential to get some design talent on the team, physical and digital. Children don't need a "RISC-V laptop" they need things that work within the boundaries of what education demands from them. I know this might come across as mean but those weird janky upside down keyboard laptop renders undermine any other technical achievements of the team.

mouse_ 4y ago
It's like OLPC all over again. Many don't want to hear it, but children need cheap, generic netbooks, not quirky hacker messes.

guntherhermann 4y ago

> It's a project to build a standards-based, fully open source RISC-V laptop "for all children age 9-99". The infantilisation of humanity continues... The project is light on details, and consists of a 3D rendered laptop with an insane keyboard layout. The website[0], however, uses present tense as if it's something that already exists, and isn't vaporware: > BPCD - Balthazar Personal Computing Device is a 13.3" upgradable and expandable laptop > It contains all the hardware and continuously developing software and firmware features preventing data-theft and any unwanted 3rd party intrusion into the system by default. From the FAQ[1]: > Who is this for? > We are not personal computers' manufacturer. We do not sell, mass-produce or manufacture anything, except concepts, Open Source designs and fully functional prototypes for demonstration purposes and presentations. OK, so it's a grift, then. [0] https://balthazar.space/wiki/Balthazar https://balthazar.space/wiki/Balthazar [1] https://balthazar.space/wiki/Frequently_Asked_Questions https://balthazar.space/wiki/Frequently_Asked_Questions

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

tildef 4y ago

The article is woefully short on details, but the news[1] page of the actual project seems to have some more meat. Lots of photos and work in progress reports. Seems they're currently close to having an initial prototype up and running. [1] https://balthazar.space/wiki/News https://balthazar.space/wiki/News

opan 4y ago

The keyboard looks potentially decent to me, as a user of a columnar stagger split keyboard. The keys might be spaced out too much, though. Also the sort of wide V shape may not be totally ideal. I also like the idea of putting the keyboard front and center and getting the trackpad out of the way. The article fails to mention that the MNT Reform can use other SOMs, including a RISC-V option.