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1. Aral Balkan (aral@mastodon.ar.al)'s status on Wednesday, 01-Feb-2023 04:55:25 JST Aral Balkan

   So here’s what I’d love to have: Imagine a laptop shell with at least a 1920×1080 screen, nice keyboard, trackpad, battery.

   Case is otherwise hollow. You open it to install any single board computer (SBC).

   Screen has HDMI cable to inside of case. Keyboard, trackpad, and battery, similarly, use standard USB cables so you can hook up any SBC.

   Has additional HDMI and USB ports on side.

   Does this exist?

   If not, anyone want to make it? ;)

   #sbc #laptop #shell #lapShell #education #SmallTech

   • minute (mntmn@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 01-Feb-2023 05:14:36 JST minute

     in reply to

     • Andre

     @a32 @aral most people will complain that it is too thick, just like they do with (classic) MNT Reform

   • Andre (a32@social.tchncs.de)'s status on Wednesday, 01-Feb-2023 05:14:38 JST Andre

     in reply to

     • minute

     @aral This sounds like a great idea.

     Maybe @mntmn knows how to make it happen?

   • minute (mntmn@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 01-Feb-2023 05:23:14 JST minute

     in reply to

     @aral ok, but to be serious, the Reform 2 can ~almost~ do this, we discussed it recently. it just needs a HDMI->eDP converter. i have a PCB for this but still need to respin it. it's intended for use with the RPi CM4 module, but it can also for sure be used with full sized SBCs.

   • Aral Balkan (aral@mastodon.ar.al)'s status on Wednesday, 01-Feb-2023 05:23:19 JST Aral Balkan

     in reply to

     • minute

     Hmm… y’know, I could probably hack the MNT Reform v0.4 I have lying about to do this.

     *takes it apart*

     It looks like the keyboard and trackpad has four-pin USB (?) If so, would just need a USB-A adapter for that. Not sure about the screen and battery… now where did I place the owner’s manual? :)

     CC @mntmn

   • minute (mntmn@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 01-Feb-2023 05:23:48 JST minute

     in reply to

     @aral if you want to hack an SBC into the Reform 0.4, you would need an HDMI to LVDS adapter. the Reform 0.4 also only has HD-ready (IIRC) resolution.

   • Aral Balkan (aral@mastodon.ar.al)'s status on Wednesday, 01-Feb-2023 09:28:31 JST Aral Balkan

     in reply to

     • minute

     @mntmn Hmm, maybe I can retrofit the Reform 2’s guts into the existing case, then, if they’re compatible? Or wait for the mini one you’re about to release… Just wanted to make some use of the 0.4 so it didn’t go to waste :)

   • Aral Balkan (aral@mastodon.ar.al)'s status on Wednesday, 01-Feb-2023 09:45:57 JST Aral Balkan

     in reply to

     • minute
     • Andre

     @mntmn @a32 But it’s thick in a good way. There is purpose to the thickness, if you will. (Re)form follows function :)

   • Aral Balkan (aral@mastodon.ar.al)'s status on Wednesday, 01-Feb-2023 09:50:07 JST Aral Balkan

     in reply to

     • Kyle Rankin

     @kyle Thanks, Kyle. I did order one (CrowPi L) for the Pi 4 I had gathering dust but, yeah, looking for a generic solution because I don’t want to advertise Raspberry Pi after they proudly hired and bragged about their spycop.

     A screen/keyboard combo with external outputs does sound like the most practical/realistic option right now :)

   • Kyle Rankin (kyle@social.librem.one)'s status on Wednesday, 01-Feb-2023 09:50:08 JST Kyle Rankin

     in reply to

     @aral Pitop used to make something like you describe but it appears they no longer sell it. There are of course various "Pi laptop" kits and projects you can find on thingiverse and printables as well.

     If it isn't critical that the SBC be embedded, there is always the option of a "lapdock" (like Nexdock and friends) with the SBC mounted in a case somewhere on the outside.