[talk] new 14" Pinebook

[George Rosamond]

Mark Saad:
> 
> 
> 
>> On Sep 16, 2019, at 8:51 AM, George Rosamond <george at ceetonetechnology.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> Raul Cuza:
>>> On Sun, Sep 15, 2019 at 9:58 PM George Rosamond
>>> <george at ceetonetechnology.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Coming next month:
>>>>
>>>> https://store.pine64.org/?product=14%e2%80%b3-pinebook-pro-linux-laptop-64gb-emmc-iso-keyboard-estimated-dispatch-in-october-2019
>>>>
>>>> I never got around to getting the previous line, but I think some people
>>>> on this list did.
>>>>
>>>> Any insight?
>>>>
>>>> Even if it's not a perfect solution, it definitely seems worth it having
>>>> aarch64, especially at that price.
>>>>
>>>> g
>>>>
>>>
>>> """
>>> When fulfilling the purchase, please bear in mind that we are offering
>>> the Pinebook Pro at this price as a community service to PINE64, Linux
>>> and BSD communities. We make no profit from selling these units. If
>>> you think that a minor dissatisfaction, such as a dead pixel, will
>>> prompt you to file a PayPal dispute then please do not purchase the
>>> Pinebook Pro. Thank you.
>>> """
>>> Ha!
>>
>> Well, I respectfully disagree with you on that Raul.
>>
>> You have to realize most people will see "laptop" and assume it's going
>> to have the support particulars of a Lenovo or Dell.
>>
>> A similiar notion accompanied Beaglebone, RPIs, etc, and it was just
>> excepted, even if it wasn't stated explicitly.
>>
>> The difference is that this is in laptop form, as opposed to a raw board.
>>
>> I'd approach the laptop as I would any of those other SoC systems. I
>> wasn't going to complain about various SD-related pickiness, etc with
>> the other SoCs.
>>
>> I think it's remarkable that a company would produce such a laptop,
>> essentially with a dev board inside, at such a reasonable price, aimed
>> at our community.
>>
>> I haven't ordered one at this point, but to have an aarch64 device
>> without worrying about serial or HDMI, etc, in a functional device, is
>> an accomplishment in itself.
>>
>> g
>>
> 
> As an owner of a Lenovo x250, which I recently acquired on eBay, it’s hard for me to pick the pinebook as a daily driver . It looks like it could be fun to play with , but it’s a glorified android tablet . The x250 has the ports , ram and storage I want out of box . 
> 
> I am still waiting for someone to sell an arm that is better equipped; and not stupidly expensive. 

I get that.

But again, for those who've spent a lot of time tinkering with ARM and
MIPS, the idea of having the laptop form for compiling ports, etc.,
instead of some little board dangling on a string with a bunch of cables
coming out of it.. it's a pleasant leap.

You don't see a day-to-day work laptop for that little and think it's
adequate... you're giving up something, or more than one thing.

But considering it's the most affordable aarch64 device with a kb,
video, usb and ethernet, it's a great deal. It's accessible for
developers, and there for end-users to sample with a low barrier of entry.

Hats off to the them for that.  Anyone remember when amd64 wasn't yet on
laptops?  Did anyone poo-poo those Yeeloong MIPS laptops since they
didn't match the current Thinkpad at the time?  Can anyone imagine what
Lenovo or Dell would charge today for an aarch64 laptop with similar specs?

Sorry, yes ranting. But it's an awesome gateway to aarch64 for many, and
you can't compare apples to oranges here.

g