Website's a bit weird. The app icons highlight when you hover over them, but don't seem to do anything.
They've got a grab-bag of unrelated Linux etc. org icons - Nix, Debian, postmarketOS, Node, Kubernetes… You could argue that someone _could_ run Nix or Node on it, but Debian is just nerdbait. It's not relevant to the product they're selling, unless you're gonna wipe the disk and support it yourself.
So... what's the OS situation? From a glance at https://github.com/mecha-org/linux -> https://github.com/mecha-org/linux/commits/imx/lf-6.12.20/ it looks like they're starting from a 6mo-old kernel (6.12.20 vs current LTS 6.12.67 and current stable 6.18.7). Is there any reason to expect upstreaming or even just consistent updates, or is this yet another device that will ship with an old-ish kernel and never get updated again?
This is why I went with a Hackberry Pi CM5 [1]. I insert the CM5 I want to, and there's that.
It comes with a good, proven BB keyboard. No option for GPIO pins or gamepad module, but I don't need such anyway. Instead, what I have in it is a USB hub which fits nicely in the side.
Unfortunately, the RPi CM I had lying around were CM4 with eMMC or CM5 w/o WiFi/BT. So I bought a new CM5, with 16 GB RAM. That was end of last summer. I'm not sure I'd bother now, given the RAM prices which surely affected CM5 prices. Actually, I should probably sell those for profit, since they're not doing anything.
Stumbled across this thing a while back and thought it looked really cool but I have never been able to come up with an idea for how I would use it so I haven't pledged.
I want to want it but I fear it would just sit on my desk. Does anyone have cool ideas for uses?
Looks rad, but I have a Legion Go which I can play any game I want and tinker on. This seems like it would be a worse version of that, but also not a useful phone replacement.
It’s not exactly cool but mobile media server and tool box. Knowing I have tools I can trust in my pocket is nice. Being able to travel and watch my shows without setting up a vpn is double nice.
Small gimmicky computers seem to attract so much attention and people who can’t help themselves but buy it, play with it for a while, then toss it into a drawer and never use it again.
You are right though, ive loved tinkering especially some if the cool linux based handhelds but i always come back to mobile/tablet because my limiting resource is time and android/ios kinda just works.
Website's a bit weird. The app icons highlight when you hover over them, but don't seem to do anything.
They've got a grab-bag of unrelated Linux etc. org icons - Nix, Debian, postmarketOS, Node, Kubernetes… You could argue that someone _could_ run Nix or Node on it, but Debian is just nerdbait. It's not relevant to the product they're selling, unless you're gonna wipe the disk and support it yourself.
So... what's the OS situation? From a glance at https://github.com/mecha-org/linux -> https://github.com/mecha-org/linux/commits/imx/lf-6.12.20/ it looks like they're starting from a 6mo-old kernel (6.12.20 vs current LTS 6.12.67 and current stable 6.18.7). Is there any reason to expect upstreaming or even just consistent updates, or is this yet another device that will ship with an old-ish kernel and never get updated again?
This is why I went with a Hackberry Pi CM5 [1]. I insert the CM5 I want to, and there's that.
It comes with a good, proven BB keyboard. No option for GPIO pins or gamepad module, but I don't need such anyway. Instead, what I have in it is a USB hub which fits nicely in the side.
Unfortunately, the RPi CM I had lying around were CM4 with eMMC or CM5 w/o WiFi/BT. So I bought a new CM5, with 16 GB RAM. That was end of last summer. I'm not sure I'd bother now, given the RAM prices which surely affected CM5 prices. Actually, I should probably sell those for profit, since they're not doing anything.
[1] https://github.com/ZitaoTech/HackberryPiCM5
Yep, I use these too; they are nice and fun to use imho. It's limitations keep me focused.
Stumbled across this thing a while back and thought it looked really cool but I have never been able to come up with an idea for how I would use it so I haven't pledged.
I want to want it but I fear it would just sit on my desk. Does anyone have cool ideas for uses?
Same.
Looks rad, but I have a Legion Go which I can play any game I want and tinker on. This seems like it would be a worse version of that, but also not a useful phone replacement.
On the bottom of the website, several use cases are mentioned. It is a fairly robust list of examples.
Anything with USB-A is neat with this type of device. For example, a LimeSDR USB would work (even a uSDR for M.2, though I'd wait for the successor).
For Kali, I sport a GPD Pocket 2, and that works well, but I'm in the process of switching that to my Hackberry Pi CM5.
Still, I bought that end of last summer. I honestly would not buy any computer right now. The RAM prices are simply insane.
It’s not exactly cool but mobile media server and tool box. Knowing I have tools I can trust in my pocket is nice. Being able to travel and watch my shows without setting up a vpn is double nice.
I’d love to see a click wheel attachment for input, then it could become a neo-iPod.
I kinda wish it could be used like a smart phone with a GSM module.
You can buy attachments in step 2 of the checkout. They mention having cellular as an option on the description:
> LTE or 5G Modems
> Add mobile data and calling support to your Comet. Bring your own modem and antenna or use our standard LTE upgrade kit.
That's cool!
I made a really cool cyberdeck. It sits on my desk.
Lol, Cyberdeck aka high effort paper weight.
There are so many cool vaguely scifi tech projects one could build these days but almost none of them have actual utility. : (
This reminds me of Phonebloks from 13 years ago.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonebloks
Or Project Ara
Or Moto Z
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moto_Z
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Ara
I remember that!
Reminds me also of Motorola's attempt to have a hardware-expansible phone a few years ago, the Moto Z range and Moto Mods.
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/gadgets-computers-software/25...
Obviously this is much more open than the proprietary moto-z stuff.
This project is currently seeking funds (and is funded) on Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mecha-systems/mecha-com...
(and the super early bird rewards are all gone)
I might be interested if I weren't still waiting on the Soulcircuit Pilet to ship....
Small gimmicky computers seem to attract so much attention and people who can’t help themselves but buy it, play with it for a while, then toss it into a drawer and never use it again.
I feel personally attacked!...
You are right though, ive loved tinkering especially some if the cool linux based handhelds but i always come back to mobile/tablet because my limiting resource is time and android/ios kinda just works.
Took 12hrs, but I got my PocketChip updated to Debian Bookworm recently.
Isn't that still a major release behind? Trixie (Debian 13) came out last August.
Too late backed it at maximum tier all extensions....
No idea what I'm going to use it for, possibly as a mobile Kali setup or something
So it’s a Raspberry Pi except now I can type Unix commands with my thumbs on a blackberry keyboard……ouch.
I am planning to build something similar as a hobby project except my idea is that Claude Code runs everything on the device for you.
will it have a screen?