CHIP and PocketCHIP

[Dave Britten]

A guy on a totally unrelated IRC channel threw out this link earlier this morning:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/159...escription

The video does a good job of explaining it succinctly, but in a nutshell...

• $9 computer
• 1 GHz CPU (probably an ARM)
• 512 MB RAM
• 4 GB flash storage
• Linux
• Wireless networking and bluetooth
• Options for connecting to composite, VGA, or HDMI
  

The folks on this site will probably be particularly interested in the PocketCHIP, which is a handheld chassis with keyboard, touch screen, and battery, that you just pop the included CHIP board into (and remove it whenever needed). I threw my hat in the ring for that tier, though if they add a PocketCHIP + HDMI adapter bundle before the finish date, I'll probably jump up to that one.

The funding amount has already gone up by a good $12,000 since I first looked at it a few hours ago.

[Paul Berger (Canada)]

It is based on the Allwinner A13 SOC that has a ARM Cortex A8 core. There are lots of little ARM based systems like this out there, but this is the least expensive I have seen so far.

[Dave Britten]

Well they've absolutely shattered their $50,000 goal in just 2 days, and added a few other packages to select from. I upgraded to the PocketCHIP + HDMI adapter for convertible fun. Waiting a year for release is going to be rough.

[Gene]

(05-07-2015 05:03 PM)Dave Britten Wrote:  [*]4 GHz flash storage

Gene: 4GB flash storage.

[Dave Britten]

(05-09-2015 02:57 AM)Gene Wrote:  

(05-07-2015 05:03 PM)Dave Britten Wrote:  [*]4 GHz flash storage

Gene: 4GB flash storage.

Thanks, I think I was reading their project description with one eye, and trying to write that post with the other.

On a related note, hopefully they decide it would be cheap and easy enough to include a microSD slot, either on the CHIP itself, or as part of the Pocket chassis, but I don't want this to end up in stretch goal scope creep hell.

[HrastProgrammer]

Chip + HDMI + shipping = 44$ and no MicroSD ... For this money I will stick to Raspberry Pi 2 which is available NOW, not in a year or so.

[Thomas Radtke]

(05-09-2015 05:55 AM)HrastProgrammer Wrote:  For this money I will stick to Raspberry Pi 2 which is available NOW, not in a year or so.

... and comes with 1GiB RAM + Broadcoms VC.

SATA and EHCI could make me leave this well supported platform, but I guess Broadcom/the Foundation will offer a solution sooner or later.

I have one in an A500 housing, along with RTC, 1.8in HDD, 1A/port Multi-TT USB hub and Arduino Leonardo to interface to the keyboard controller. Great home computer, actually in use right now :-).

[Sukiari]

(05-09-2015 05:55 AM)HrastProgrammer Wrote:  Chip + HDMI + shipping = 44$ and no MicroSD ... For this money I will stick to Raspberry Pi 2 which is available NOW, not in a year or so.

However the chip + handheld shell + battery is only $49. As this thing has onboard battery charging it looks like it is trying to be something different from a Pi.

[HrastProgrammer]

(05-11-2015 01:37 AM)Sukiari Wrote:  However the chip + handheld shell + battery is only $49.

Depends on where you live. It's 74$ with shipping for me, and probably around 100$ mark after customs will be charged because of the value.

I would back this project if they could ship from within EU with reasonable shipping costs. 9$ + 20$ shipping or 49$ + 25$ shipping = just LOL.

[Dave Britten]

The PocketCHIPs have started shipping out to Kickstarter backers. Looks like I'll probably have mine by early next week. You can also put in a preorder on their site to get one at some point in June:

http://www.getchip.com

The PocketCHIP now comes with Pico-8, a sort of minimalist game development environment. I don't believe that's included if you order a bare CHIP.

Interestingly, the whole thing is held together with various clips, no screws or glue.