More of a thought exercise/game than anything else. I saw the news that 486 support was getting cut from linux, and I was curious just how cheaply someone could replace a desktop 486 system with something new (provided the device had all the connectivity they needed).
Rules:
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Device must be able to run linux.
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Device should be cheap as possible. A good starting point is probably sub 40usd.
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The device must in someway support a mouse, keyboard, display, and the internet. If adapters are necessary for this connectivity, that cost should be included.
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Power supply should be included in the cost of the device. (in the case of most SBCs this is just the cost of a USB cable and wall wart)
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The device must be new & still in production. I know used devices like laptops would probably have been king here, but I don’t think that would be nearly as interesting.
I suspect that SBCs and other arm devices will be the most common suggestions.
I personally know about the Raspberry Pi Zero which can be had for ~$10, and with all the added accessories necessary to make it a full computer (usb splitters, usb power, usb to rj45, storage) it costs around ~$35. Not bad at all but I’m pretty sure we can do even better!
What I did was I went to the thrift store and I found a laptop. It was the Asus Transformer Book T100han.
I had one when it was new. It was a POS but hey it worked really well in my use case I was thinking of.
Got it home booted it, has Windows 10 1501 installed on it. Refused the update. (The perfect windows machine does exists)
Updated it to 22h2 bricked it by running out of the limited 32GB of storage.
Said screw it got Linux Mint on a USB installer. Installer crashes. Tries Ubuntu… also crashes. Tries OpenSuse, also crashes. Tries Fedora also crashes.
Turns out the installer requires more than 2GB of ram. Laptop only has 2 and it’s soldered. (The e waste special)
Gets Debian installs it. Gets to desktop, no Bluetooth, no audio, but everything else runs better than I ever saw it. Needs older distro.
Gets Q4OS installs fine, runs as well and audio works. No Bluetooth. My very specific use case requires Bluetooth.
Forces myself to go back to windows. No recovery image. Downloads from MS, can’t create media because my PC is on Linux. Boots into VM, makes installer. Installs Windows. No audio no Bluetooth.
Gets drivers from asus website. Everything works but audio. Calls asus support gets drivers. PC is back to when I got it.
Pair Bluetooth controller, installs auto hotkeys, installs libre office. Best teleprompter I’ve ever used.
Shoves into box until it’s needed again.
Why must the device be new and still in production? The current devices that are currently in production/new both at that price point (sub 40$) and more expensive (up to 3000$) are consumer grade garbage that will last at most 2 years. They’re not repairable, not durable, not built well etc. I personally use a GNU booted Thinkpad X200T /T500 and a GNU booted ASUS KMCA-D8- both running Parabola GNU+Linux-Libre splendisly with the proprietary wifi-card replaced. The cost of the X200T was about 30$ and the T500 was about 20$. I understand that you might not care as much of freedom to get either the X200, X200T, T400, T400s, or T500, but it is important to understand that most of the operating system components you are runnning were made with freedom in mind. If you still don’t want to sacrifice performance for a cheap, libre experience, then just get a newer Thinkpad. It’s not as libre, but they still could be found (more easily) for very cheap prices. But keep in mind the newer you get the shittier it’s going to be.
Just curious but how do you manage to keep the X200T/T500’s battery alive? Even my X220’s is almost dead by now. Do you have it plugged in 24/7?
Raspberry pi?
Edit: also cheap chromebooks
I have a Luckfox Pico Ultra-W running a ‘buildroot’ linux with a camera module that I use as a security camera. It cost me about A$33.
I also have a Luckfox Pico Max running ubuntu simply to run smokeping 24x7 monitoring - about A$30.
Finally a ESP32 CAM Camera Module With OV2640 camera that can be bought for less that A$15 (not linux but just FYI).
Not trying to blame anyone, I just wish more ppl prefer old good stuff over new cheap stuff. Sigh.
Recycling those ewaste is a lot more expensive than manufacturing them. Of course that’s edge cases, but I think reusing old devices works better(and more environmentally friendly) for most ppl.
Nothing wrong with brain storming, just please consider reusing old devices when you start a cool project.
I’m very for used hardware, some of my stuff is dumpster finds. I just liked the thought experiment of replacing a hypothetical 486 pc with a brand new computer.
True - but don’t forget cost of power ($ cost and environment cost). These old brutes consume a lot esp. compared to the SBCs.
I was going to suggest RPiZero too, it should even be more powerful than an actual 486.
You can get EOL Chromebooks for around $40-50. Who cares that they don’t get security updates when you’re not using ChromeOS!
Right in your price range, and now it’s a portable all-in-one package.
If you like tinkering and the like, try a Chromebook but check out this site first.
9 hours and still no GNU/Linux copypasta?
Whatever the cheapest laptop is
You’re looking for a Smartphone.
I think it isnt a great idea to go for new ever. Why would you? You can buy 10+ yr old computers for 10$ or get them for free. It is far better for the environment and far cheaper.
Because this is a thought experiment. There’s no waste when nobody’s actually buying anything.
I bet you can find stuff on AliExpress for a lot less but then you have to insure support is descent.
Raspberry Pi Zero second hand. Probably you can score something for less than 10 bucks.
Actually ESP32-S3 will be even cheaper than this one. They sell for around 5-6 $ but they are very limited in what they can do.
Yeah I mean, rule 1 is that it needs to run Linux, so I don’t think a microcontroller like an ESP or Arduino is going to qualify…
There’s an SBC called Le Potato that usually goes for around $40.
Those cheap emulator handhelds run linux out of the box with built in screens, batteries, and controller inputs
I didn’t even think about those. That might be a good bet!
I’ve got a shitty little android one I impulse bought a while back, I should play around with it
