New device request

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I need something that I can not find, at least not for reasonable money…

I need a uConsole with an Intel n100/n150 system board (or similar AMD system board), a gigabit wired lan jack, and like 16gb of ram. Also needs at least one USB A port or USB C port, more=better.

I need a Windows license with it because I need to run Windows specific software on it, and it’s easier for an OEM to get these than I can (also cheaper by a large amount). My specific needs are NDItools https://ndi.video/ and Dante Controller and maybe Dante Virtual Soundcard https://www.audinate.com/

Basic VT100 terminal, SSH, etc. is already available. Might require a slightly higher resolution display, I need to figure out how I can test this on PCs that already run these tools, but the x720 height might be OK.

It could be Devterm form factor as long as the display is tall enough. Considering what you can find for a full HD phone these days, might not be hard.

I just need an all in one, hand held unit and really the uConsole form factor seems like it would be best to me. A mini laptop just doesn’t thrill me, and what I need is $400-$700usd and still a compromise in my eyes (which is why I don’t have one). $400 to $500 that does everything I need in a form factor that is easy to carry and operate standing at a network rack would be worth my money.

The goal of this tool is to use it for network and system troubleshooting, which for me includes checking NDI video feeds and Dante audio feeds without having to walk between buildings to check them. The Linux tools for both of these are just lacking, and I’m not smart enough to build my own (and Dante is just not supported on Linux).

Thanks, Greg

PS: the uConsole needs a new design to optimize for the RasPi CM5, just thought I would tag that onto this thread. Even the cm4 could do with a dedicated main board to take advantage of some of the features available on the connectors (PCIe/NVMe, USB 3, gigabit ethernet, etc.).

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I haven’t seen anything as you described. You could take like a GDP win 3 or similar, 3D print a new housing for it that more resembles the uConsole.

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or steam deck :thinking:

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Pretty sure i saw a project (maybe on Hackaday?) that gutted a Steam Deck and made an opposite sort of device where it was meant to be a mini desktop box (with no display, etc). But yeah, I guess the same thing could be done to get it into a uConsole form factor, though it would require a lot of expertise with 3D printing and maybe some expert level hardware hacking and redesign since the form factor may not fit well. It would be kind of overkill performance-wise though, but i guess would have good battery life if throttled down all the way.

GPD devices seem like the closest existing actual products, though they are somewhere between really small laptops, or really powerful modern Handheld PCs.

This thread might offer more options, but most are custom designs by folks with the hardware and design experience required to make their own:

Competitors to the uConsole like the Pilet are going to probably have the same platform limitations since they are CM4 or CM5 based. And there’s also the chance they might be vaporware or not live uo to their marketing, etc.

Aliexpress has some X86 based handheld mini laptop devices as well, but they seem to go even further back in time and use 8086 or maybe 286/386/486 compatible processors and memory that matches that era. So i doubt they’d be useful for this either. (I’m actually not sure what those devices are useful for, beyond being curiosities and sort of weirdly cool.)

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Get a legion go 1st gen :sweat_smile: they are cheap these days

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This is a niche that only someone like Clockwork(pi) would be able to have the vision to fill.

On screen keyboard is just in the way, so it needs a keyboard that you can tap out basic commands with your thumbs while holding the device. I’ve used tablets for some of these functions, and it just isn’t good when you pop a keyboard up on the screen.

There are some industrial PC that normally have a laser scanner and a grip underneath, but they are also very expensive and not a decent form factor to throw in a network bag and go to a job site.

I don’t really have the time to tear down one of the mini laptops and build my own, or I might figure this out. A Latte Pandu Mu might be a good start (not cheap like a Pi, but OK)