This year's small computer

[Batalov]

Originally Posted by Xyzzy

We posted that the monster computer would be repurposed, not reporpoised!

Oy vey, reporpoised, I feel back in New York, ...your idea is indeed even worse than mine. And mine was bad!

[Xyzzy]

http://arstechnica.com/information-t...berry-pi-ever/

After releasing a revised version of the Raspberry Pi Model B (dubbed “B+") in July 2014, the low-cost computer project has produced its cheapest model yet, which will retail for just $20—$5 less than the previous Model A.

[Xyzzy]

[kladner]

Beautiful!

EDIT: At first I thought it was a Lego design for parking garages!

[Xyzzy]

More info: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~sjc/raspberrypi/

[Xyzzy]

Originally Posted by Xyzzy

We need to think of a solution for playing sound. Maybe we will test a Bluetooth speaker, assuming the Bluetooth works with Linux.

Amazingly, the Bluetooth sound works very well!

We found a pile of clearance Bluetooth speakers at the PX today and we chose this one for $50 marked down from $130!

We don't know if we will ever use the portability that it offers, but as a standalone speaker it greatly exceeds our expectations.

We ended up disabling the onboard sound and microphone in the BIOS to simplify things.

[Xyzzy]

Originally Posted by Batalov

…into a shiny plastic box.

Besides the fact that their acrylic solution is not shielded to reduce RFI, we are concerned that they are "missing the boat" WRT cooling. Our NUC uses its substantial metal case as a heat sink. Even after being idle for over an hour the case is always warm to the touch. Under stress it probably could double as a coffee cup heater!

FWIW, playing around further with the fan profile has allowed us to significantly reduce how often the fan kicks in. It now is very slow to kick in, kick off and change speeds. In the end, the fan runs longer but only when the box is stressed a lot more than just scrolling a graphics-heavy page. We could have underclocked the CPU to achieve the same results, or maybe even a quieter result overall, but it is nice to have a snappy experience.

[ewmayer]

Originally Posted by Xyzzy

Besides the fact that their acrylic solution is not shielded to reduce RFI, we are concerned that they are "missing the boat" WRT cooling. Our NUC uses its substantial metal case as a heat sink. Even after being idle for over an hour the case is always warm to the touch. Under stress it probably could double as a coffee cup heater!

And if you use a smooth flat-bottom coffee mug and add a thin film of water between case and mug you get enhanced cooling of the NUC and your coffee warmed. Win-win!

[Xyzzy]

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/...re-expandable/

[Xyzzy]

Originally Posted by Batalov

So I guess, Mike, you read the Neutron kickstarter's webpage comments?

They still have not shipped. (!)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...f-you/comments

[Batalov]

Well, there are some projects that give all kickstarter brand a bad rep.

I was amused to learn that ze 'Maurice et Patapon' animated series was funded via a kickstarter-like channel. That was (maybe) money well spent... or not.

Maurice: En somme notre rôle consiste à tenir compagnie à des cons, gâteux, asociaux, seule et dépressifs.
Patapon ("Le PsyCHATre"): Oui.
Maurice: On est des assistantes sociales.
Patapon: Plutôt psychanalystes. On leur coûte un max et on ce fou de leur gueule.
Maurice: Voilà c'est ça que je veux dire.
___________________(translation)________________

Maurice (dog): Basically, our role is to keep company with idiots, senile, asocial, loners and depressive types.
Patapon (cat): Yes.
Maurice: We are social workers.
Patapon: Psychoanalysts, rather. Charge them at max and let them shoot their mouths.
Maurice: Yep, that's what I mean.