Physical design

[Siguy]

Is the final product going to look like the prototype shown in photos? It seems like kind of an awkward shape. Yes, this is really quite minor, but I, personally, would prefer a rectangular circuit board.

[abishur]

When you say the prototype do you mean the small usb sized picture or the pcb board image? Either way, we're told that the final design size for this first run through is around the size of a credit card (according to the home page)

[Gert van Loo]

I big board is more stable and allows easier access for expansion and makes the connector not so close together and is easier to route and removes heat better and .... costs more.

[liz]

The final version will (hallelujah!) be rectangular. The pics you're looking at are just prototype versions, and we weren't too concerned with form factor when we knocked those together.

[Raikomaru]

Have you finalized the dimensions yet? Or at least come up with an estimate?

[liz]

We're looking at a credit-card sized board.

[Raikomaru]

What about the height? Will it be just big enough to accommodate the ports?

[liz]

Exactly. It's the height of an RJ45 socket, or two stacked USB sockets.

[Raikomaru]

Cool, thank you.

[awatts]

Wondering if the USB, power, and HDMI connectors will be inline, i.e. at each each of the board, or stuck at odd angles.

The original prototype with connector at each end appealed to me for development of a piece of automotive test gear because I could design a small battery power case and simply plug it into the rear of the monitor at the shop and the USB to the test device...now with the new board the connectors look like they stick out at wonky angles, but can't tell for sure since the picture has too much other stuff. Can you clarify the connector orientations?

[emercer]

Guys, you don't have a finalized board, right? That means still no case design. Let me know when you get to that point, I'm supposedly an industrial designer (unemployed, but no less graduated).

[liz]

The first lot of boards will ship without a case. We're investigating casing options at the moment, but the price quoted at the minute is for uncased units (as with the Beagleboard etc.). I really like the idea of community-designed cases. The hope at the moment is that boards for schools will all be cased, simply for reasons of robustness.

[AmyS3]

but hopefully they will be transparent for school´s so the kids can still look inside the case ^^

[Raikomaru]

Quote from AmyS3 on August 7, 2011, 20:13
but hopefully they will be transparent for school´s so the kids can still look inside the case ^^
I know plastic is a bit too flimsy, but something along the lines of a clear plastic card case would be cool.

[gerits]

Rasberry Pi casemodding.. I'm going for a wall-e case

[Lob0426]

OMG here we go with the aluma-wallet cases lol. "Carry your credit cards and your computer". Keep them safe from being read at a distance, the new identity theft! Lol. Don't forget to throw in a few matchstick boxes as well. Just remember that thieves very rarely steal plain Jane keyboards, that's where I am going to hide mine! "Super Mouse, the mouse with it's own built-in computer". There we go you got me started now!

[abishur]

Quote from awatts on August 7, 2011, 07:00
Wondering if the USB, power, and HDMI connectors will be inline, i.e. at each each of the board, or stuck at odd angles.


Here's a b/w of the pcb layout with only the connectors showing



I'm guessing on the ethernet and HDMI locations, but the rest of it should be good. I'm not overly familiar with PCBs, so let someone (Michael?) double check my work. Still, overall that is roughly where components are.

Edit: Now that I look at it again, I think what I labeled as HDMI is actually the USB ports. Oops If someone wants to correct my mistakes I'll upload a version 2 that actually correct

[Lob0426]

If that drawing is even half correct I am going to have to build a lot of flex connectors to put it into a keyboard. ;<)

[liz]

Quote from Lob0426 on August 8, 2011, 00:15
OMG here we go with the aluma-wallet cases lol. "Carry your credit cards and your computer". Keep them safe from being read at a distance, the new identity theft! Lol. Don't forget to throw in a few matchstick boxes as well. Just remember that thieves very rarely steal plain Jane keyboards, that's where I am going to hide mine! "Super Mouse, the mouse with it's own built-in computer". There we go you got me started now!

This is a lovely idea (although Eben is suggesting that we can bundle a tinfoil hat with it - *I* like the idea).

No finalised ideas about cases yet, but we are looking at rounded corners so you can comfortably keep it in a pocket. I'm not convinced by transparent plastic, but the case will be removable (although this may require a screwdriver) so you can poke at the hardware.

[ukscone]

Quote from liz on August 8, 2011, 21:09
Quote from Lob0426 on August 8, 2011, 00:15
OMG here we go with the aluma-wallet cases lol. "Carry your credit cards and your computer". Keep them safe from being read at a distance, the new identity theft! Lol. Don't forget to throw in a few matchstick boxes as well. Just remember that thieves very rarely steal plain Jane keyboards, that's where I am going to hide mine! "Super Mouse, the mouse with it's own built-in computer". There we go you got me started now!

This is a lovely idea (although Eben is suggesting that we can bundle a tinfoil hat with it - *I* like the idea).



along those lines i was thinking this would make a pretty good system for people who normally carry around a bunch of bootable usb flash drives because they need to have their desktop with them but are really paranoid about using other peoples (or library) computers.

[Lob0426]

Liz: the tin hat is to stop the aliens from taking over your brain waves. Is he telling you the WHOLE story. lol that will also interfere with the wireless!

Ukscone: wrap a 1.8" HDD or SSD with a USB interface into the package and you can use it as a smart flash drive. Just need to set it up right to either be a flash drive or a computer! Switch the USB drive to direct or to internal mode? I will investigate how to wire this up.

I am thinking of placing model B where the keypad is on a keyboard with a clear cover. Might use a wireless keyboard and mouse combo, mouse will definitely be wireless or might use a touchpad. All I will have to do is plug it into the wall and a tv and will be ready to rock and roll. There will be an USB HDD in there somewhere, also some speakers in case there is no HDMI available.

I hope as we get closer to production version we will get to see a layout drawing of connector and mounting hole locations.

[ukscone]

Quote from Lob0426 on August 8, 2011, 21:44

Ukscone: wrap a 1.8" HDD or SSD with a USB into the package and you can use it as a smart flash drive. Just need to set it up right to either be a flash drive a computer! Switch the USB to direct or to internal mode?

I am thinking of placing it where the keypad is on a keyboard with a clear cover. Might use a wireless keyboard and mouse combo, mouse will definitely be wireless or might use a touchpad. All I will have to do is plug it into the wall and a tv and will be ready to rock and roll.

I have a very nice currently empty tandy model 100 case, keyboard and lcd that i'm very tempted to shove a R-Pi in especially if i can get the R-Pi to drive the lcd (or find a new one that fits) and can use the tandy's matrix keyboard. i've found http://www.vesalia.de/e_keyrah.htm and think the basic premise should work with other "vintage" keyboards. i've also got a nice camputers lynx case and keyboard too that is just begging to have an R-Pi shoved into it

[Lob0426]

You could probably throw a couple of dozen with HDD's in there and still have room to rattle.

[ukscone]

Is that 135TB Raid6 storage pod in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me?

[AmyS3]

Quote from ukscone on August 8, 2011, 22:05
Is that 135TB Raid6 storage pod in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me?

from where do you get all those crazy punch lines?? plain brilliant *rofl*