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Termux sent me down a rabbit hole of trying to figure out the cheapest computer that I could legitimately recommend to someone as a learning computer. I found
by VikingCoder 3y ago
Termux sent me down a rabbit hole of trying to figure out the cheapest computer that I could legitimately recommend to someone as a learning computer.
I found $18 Android phones on clearance at Walmart, like the TracFone - Alcatel One Touch Pixi Unite with 8GB Memory Prepaid Cell Phone - Black. I mean, look at the specs:
* 1500 mAh Battery, 800x480 screen
* Quad-core 1.3GHz processor with 1GB of RAM
* Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS
* 3G data speed for fast Web browsing and multimedia downloads
* 3.97" TFT color display
* 2.0MP camera
* 8GB internal memory plus microSD slot
* Expand storage up to 32GB by adding a microSD card (sold separately).
I mean, compare it to a Mac Classic - with this little infographic I made: https://i.imgur.com/7UJjRuc.png https://i.imgur.com/7UJjRuc.png
You just would never use the data plan. On wifi, it worked great. So, go to a Starbucks, McDonalds, or Library... And you're coding in basically a real Linux for $18. (!)
This thing was particularly impressive, at $56.20, the RCA Voyager Pro 7 16GB Tablet with Keyboard Case Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) in Charcoal (RCT6873W42KC M). https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7TSY16 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7TSY16
This $90 one seems like a reasonable alternative: RCA Atlas 10 Pro (RCT6B06P23H) 10 Inch Android 9 Tablet with Keyboard Black (Renewed). https://www.amazon.com/RCA-RCT6B06P23H-Android-Keyboard-Renewed/dp/B084F12D7N https://www.amazon.com/RCA-RCT6B06P23H-Android-Keyboard-Rene...
And then Chromebooks, of course. At the time I was loving my $169 Samsung Chromebook 3 with 4 GB of RAM from Best Buy. Termux runs great. Loved this machine - I used it all the time. I also played with GalliumOS, which requires "rooting" to Developer Mode. I have a Samsung 128GB USB Drive, and a 16 GB microSD card, and both seem to work. I use a mouse, sometimes. Android Apps were a little dodgy - the mouse turned into a black square, sometimes, for instance. And this was even before they offered a full Linux shell on Chrome! Now it's far easier, of course.
- doublepg23 3y agoIMO it’s never worth buying these “cheap” devices new when you can find used devices with much better specs for similar prices on eBay, Swappa, Craigslist, Reddit, etc.
- VikingCoder 3y agoSure, but I can recommend a cheap device to others. A room full of others. A classroom of others. Or in an online video or blog post. Sure, if I'm doing bespoke computing for others, I can spend my time (which is really valuable to me, by the way) to find a good deal. Or I can minimize my time, and still get a pretty remarkable machine for someone.