Sadly it's chiclet... but it got me thinking

[niftyprose]

Hi chaps, first post in ages.

I'm typing this on a Dell Alps into a repurposed webserver that pulls about 300w, but I also have a serious interest in alternative energy and low power computing. This prompted me to research the computer-in-keyboard niche, and some of you may know that various makers have revived this early computer design concept with more up-to-date technology, among them Asus, Commodore, and Norhtec. The Norhtec Surboard (http://www.deviceonchip.com/surfboard.html) isn't much of a keyboard, but it's a moderately capable cheap X86 computer that draws about 5w.

Last month, word reached me via Liliputing of the Coolship, a computer-in-keyboard from mainland China (http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/coolship-an-android-desktop-computer-that-looks-like-a-keyboard). The board which runs the computer is the same cheapo ARM design that has been turning up in those PC-on-a-stick devices, so there's some prospect of replacing the native Android with a lightweight Linux.

It's a chiclet keyboard, likely to feel pretty much like a recent Apple offering (not my fave). But at 5--10w the PC is a good match for a solar-powered project that I'm developing for the spring, so I signed up to the Indiegogo crowdfunding effort. I'm looking forward to delivery in April.

If you look at the Coolship site, they make a point of the fact that you can open up the back of the board and pop out the Rockchip processor board, presumably in favour of a new dual- or quadcore upgrade from the same maker. This got me thinking.

Right now, there are a number of workable ARM powered computer-on-a-board designs -- with OS on a SD card, the only connections needed are power, video, keyboard and other USB. The Raspberry Pi has hoovered the headlines, but I prefer the Olinuxino or Odroid, or the forthcoming EOMA68 built into PCMCIA (http://rhombus-tech.net/). You may have other prefs. Whatever! It's clear that only a couple of single-board form factors will make the running.

It seems to me that a *really good* PC-in-a-keyboard with decent switches and a pop-out hatch in the baseplate giving access to a standard board socket would be a worthy small-market product and could be devised using the same open-source methods that others on this forum have used to produce standard keyboards. Not in a position to originate much of the design work, but would be interested to discuss...

Best, W.

[IvanIvanovich]

I was thinking of something similar myself. Consider making a custom case to accomodate VIA APC Rock and GH60. Of course one could use many other choice for system board, just need to make case to accommodate.

[h2gofast]

Or a raspberry pi in an old Model M.   There's room.

[Findecanor]

There was a thread a while back where we concluded that a Raspberry Pi would fit inside a Cherry G80-3000.

[Burz]

Unless there is something particularly nostalgic about having a computer in a keyboard (former C64 user here) I would just get a laptop from a good brand and attach my favorite keyboard to it. When you add a display to that ARM system, you may find the power draw to be similar to a laptop or ultrabook.

BTW, the whole alt energy and efficient computing issue is what attracted me to laptops in the first place. I started with Apple stuff and now have a Thinkpad running Linux. A bonus is that the Thinkpad has a great keyboard.

[IvanIvanovich]

Yeah, nostalgic novelty is basically it for me. If I make what I mentioned above I would probably not do much more than chuck on aros and some old games.

[Findecanor]

One thing that irks me with laptops is that many of them can't be operated as desktop computers, with the lid closed. In 95% of all laptops, the power button is inside the lid.
Well, many ThinkPads can, but then you would need a docking station.

[niftyprose]

H'm. I think the kbd-with-computer-on-board has more potential than you're suggesting. Imagine: if you're on the road, you could either plug into a borrowed PC in USB mode, or boot up the Odroid (or other) board and access lightweight built-in apps or GoogleDocs, viewing on eg a hotel TV via HDMI. If you have to work on a train or plane, you could still plug into a laptop or tablet. With competent ARM computers costing <$100, this is all feasible now. Am I alone in finding this appealing? W.

[Burz]

Its appealing in a find-nifty-uses-for-it kind of way, and also if you're looking for a project to occupy your time or hone your skills.

(BTW, I should have mentioned netbooks earlier...)

Keep in mind that there are compact bluetooth mechanical keyboards that people can already use with their mass market Android devices (many of which fit into a pocket).