Archives/Shop 3.0/Slodac
Creator: |
Overview
Idea
This is a pet project of ctag's to create a laptop after he was bitten by the venomous "Novena Bug". The laptop will have the following features/requirements/goals:
- Linux, and maybe FreeBSD too. No Android, because it kinda sucks (imo) right now.
- As open (as in Richard Stallman drinking a GPL-licensed beer) as possible without being expensive.
- Capable of writing C, C++, JAVA on some small scale. Must be somewhat better than an Chromebook in this regard, I want a compiler not a notepad extension in chrome.
- Robust.
- Small and lightweight.. Or not.
- Yeah, idk yet. Leaving room here for future aspirations, like neon underglow :D
Name
BARC stands for either "Basic Application Rechargeable Computer" or "Basically Awesome Rechargeable Computer". I'll decide later. Heck, I might not even name it, I'm sick of HSV and its acronyms :P
I'm now considering naming the project LLLOADAC (pronounced like Kodac). This would stand for Libre-Linux-Laptop + Open-Arm-Design + Accessible-Components. Just, you know, whatever.
Seeing as the keyboard/mouse/screen aren't libre, how about SLLLODAC / SL3ODAC? ("Slow-dac"). Somewhat-Libre-Linux-Laptop + Open-Design + Accessible-Components?
How
I'm fairly handy with computer hardware. I don't have a set plan for assembling the parts, but I think they'll go together alright once I have them. Accordingly, I'm not too concerned with visual aesthetics at this point.
When
This semester. Hopefully before the Novena laptops become available (it's a race).
The Details
Hardware BOM
- A SoC board
- A screen
- The screen should be available around the end of February. Link to company post
- A USB battery
- Or a hydrogen fuel cell. Cost is ~$1200 for a full Hydrogen solution.
- Wireless mouse/keyboard
- Wireless dongle (maybe)
- USB hub (maybe)
- Wall power dongle
- USB "parts" for power
So, look at this
From the Novena Wiki page:
Novena Features: * Freescale iMX6 CPU — same footprint can support dual-lite and quad versions: * Quad-core Cortex A9 CPU with NEON FPU @ 1.2 GHz * Vivante GC2000 OpenGL ES2.0 GPU, 200Mtri/s, 1Gpix/s * NDA-free datasheet and programming manual
The Wandboard:
* Freescale i.MX6 Quad * Cortex-A9 Quad core * Vivante GC 2000 + Vivante GC 355 + Vivante GC 320
Looks promising :D
Forum post
I learned today that only the pre-baked Ubuntu image supports gpu acceleration on the WB and the WB-quad does not support USB 3.0.
A blow to the project, of course, but hopefully something that can be worked past.
The Parts
Boards (ranked with favorites first)
- WandBoard - $130
- http://www.wandboard.org/
- Power: 5V - 2A
- 2G RAM, Quad Core, HDMI, gigabit, wireless
- All Wandboard wiki pages
- Wandboard Forum
- Wandboard Archlinux Page
- CubieTruck - $100
- https://store.iotllc.com/product.php?productid=38&cat=0&featured=Y
- Power: 5V - 2.5A
- SATA, Gigabit, wireless, 2G RAM, HDMI, 2 USB
- BeagleBoneBlack - $50
- http://beagleboard.org/Products/BeagleBone%20Black
- Power: 5V - "USB" ~ 600mA
- Has HDMI, only 1 USB, 512MB RAM
- Raspberry Pi - $35
- http://www.newark.com/raspberry-pi/raspbrry-modb-512m/model-b-assembled-board-only/dp/43W5302?COM=raspi-group
- Power: 5V - "USB" ~ 700-800mA
- HDMI, 512MB RAM, 2 USB
- BeagleBoard-xM - $150
- http://beagleboard.org/Products/BeagleBoard-xM
- Power: 5V - "moderate"
- 4 USB ports, 3d graphics, 512Mb RAM
- UDOO - $140
- http://shop.udoo.org/usa/?___from_store=usa&popup=no
- Power: 12V - 7A
- HDMI, has its own screen avail., Quad Core, wireless, gigabit, sata, 2 USB
- (Also has a screen!)
- Link to UDOO power consumption chart
- Somewhat disqualified. I can step up 5V to 12V, but would rather not.
Screen
- 10" open source screen from Chalkboard Elec. Available at the end of Feb.
- LVDS board from FutureElec with my existing screen?
Battery
Low capacity:
High capacity:
Mouse
Keyboard
ETC
- Volt/Ammeter
Worklog
[9-2-2014]
Archlinux is running on the wandboard. Setting up the wireless card seems to be the major issue, luckily some brilliant person took care of it for me (lemoneerlabs post to fix wifi).
Build Log
Final Parts List
- Board
- Wandboard Quad - $125
- Store Link
- Wireless Antenna
- Wandboard antenna kit - $10
- Store Link
- Mouse
- Anker Mouse - $15
- Store Link (Not the best purchase)
- Keyboard
- Perixx Folding Keyboard - $35
- Store Link (Good purchase,so far)
- USB Hub
- Cable Matters 4-port Hub - $13
- Store Link (Poor puchase, Don't need USB 3.0)
- SSD
- Kingston 64gb - $50
- Store Link
- Micro SD card
- Sandisk 32Gb
- Store Link
- Batteries
- Battery #1
- Anker Astro2 9Ah - $37
- Store Link
- Battery #2
- NA
- Battery #1
Purchase Orders
- Total Cost (running tally)
- $293.95
- [Already Owned]
- Kingston SSD from Amazon, $49.99
- [24-1-2014]
- Purchased and shipped WandBoard and antenna kit for $144.00 from FutureElectronics
- Purchased and shipped Mouse, Keyboard, Battery #1, and USB hub for $99.96 from Amazon
External Resources
- http://www.riscos.info/index.php/BeagleBoard-based_Laptop - A sad, lonely wiki page about my project from before my project :(