On Mon, Sep 14, 2015 at 4:47 PM, Paul Boddie paul@boddie.org.uk wrote:
Hello,
So I was browsing the FreedomBox mailing list when I saw a mention of a plug computer being crowdfunded:
http://lists.alioth.debian.org/pipermail/freedombox-discuss/2015- September/006879.html
Here's the actual crowdfunding page:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1547898916/own-mailbox-the-first-100- confidential-mailbox
And the home page of the device:
looks great!
So, it seems that the initiators of the campaign have made their own Allwinner A13 board with 256MB RAM and Ethernet support. It is open hardware, apparently, and the software is Free Software, not some kind of proprietary "snake oil" that some privacy campaigns tend to foist on their supporters.
goooood.
It is a bit odd that they've decided to go their own way with the hardware, though.
well, if it's libre hardware then that's good, i hope!
Anyway, back to EOMA-68, and a quick search produced a page on the plug computer idea for EOMA-68:
http://rhombus-tech.net/community_ideas/plug_computer/
It occurred to me that if only we had EOMA-68 boards out there, maybe people wouldn't be so enthusiastic to go to the trouble of making new boards and running the gauntlet of crowdfunding.
i knooooow :)
here's the thing though:
(1) i have to get the standard right for a 10-year-old and greater period (2) i have to get CPU Cards (plural) designed, sponsored, and tested (3) i have to prove that it is, indeed, simpler and lower-cost to make carrier boards.
so that's what i'm doing.
to explain, first: this project has an absolute top priority of being *right* (defined as "viable long-term") over being "rushed to profitability".
second: it's no good having just the one CPU Card out there. people won't comprehend the modularity concept if there is only the additional cost of having a single processor available.
third: even i was unable to move the micro-desktop board (which is only 4in x 4.5in) forward because i had designed it as a 4-layer PCB - costs are around $400 for qty 5 4-layer prototype boards on a 3 week turnaround by complete contrast, a 7-day turnaround for qty 5 2-layer prototype (bare copper) boards with larger vias is around $40 for qty 2, and around $100 for qty 5.
so.... it's getting there, paul.
l.