Cheapest new device that can run linux?
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More of a thought exercise/game than anything else. I saw the news that 486 support was getting cut from linux, and I was curious just how cheaply someone could replace a desktop 486 system with something new (provided the device had all the connectivity they needed).
Rules:
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Device must be able to run linux.
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Device should be cheap as possible. A good starting point is probably sub 40usd.
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The device must in someway support a mouse, keyboard, display, and the internet. If adapters are necessary for this connectivity, that cost should be included.
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Power supply should be included in the cost of the device. (in the case of most SBCs this is just the cost of a USB cable and wall wart)
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The device must be new & still in production. I know used devices like laptops would probably have been king here, but I don't think that would be nearly as interesting.
I suspect that SBCs and other arm devices will be the most common suggestions.
I personally know about the Raspberry Pi Zero which can be had for ~$10, and with all the added accessories necessary to make it a full computer (usb splitters, usb power, usb to rj45, storage) it costs around ~$35. Not bad at all but I'm pretty sure we can do even better!
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More of a thought exercise/game than anything else. I saw the news that 486 support was getting cut from linux, and I was curious just how cheaply someone could replace a desktop 486 system with something new (provided the device had all the connectivity they needed).
Rules:
-
Device must be able to run linux.
-
Device should be cheap as possible. A good starting point is probably sub 40usd.
-
The device must in someway support a mouse, keyboard, display, and the internet. If adapters are necessary for this connectivity, that cost should be included.
-
Power supply should be included in the cost of the device. (in the case of most SBCs this is just the cost of a USB cable and wall wart)
-
The device must be new & still in production. I know used devices like laptops would probably have been king here, but I don't think that would be nearly as interesting.
I suspect that SBCs and other arm devices will be the most common suggestions.
I personally know about the Raspberry Pi Zero which can be had for ~$10, and with all the added accessories necessary to make it a full computer (usb splitters, usb power, usb to rj45, storage) it costs around ~$35. Not bad at all but I'm pretty sure we can do even better!
What I did was I went to the thrift store and I found a laptop. It was the Asus Transformer Book T100han.
I had one when it was new. It was a POS but hey it worked really well in my use case I was thinking of.
Got it home booted it, has Windows 10 1501 installed on it. Refused the update. (The perfect windows machine does exists)
Updated it to 22h2 bricked it by running out of the limited 32GB of storage.
Said screw it got Linux Mint on a USB installer. Installer crashes. Tries Ubuntu… also crashes. Tries OpenSuse, also crashes. Tries Fedora also crashes.
Turns out the installer requires more than 2GB of ram. Laptop only has 2 and it’s soldered. (The e waste special)
Gets Debian installs it. Gets to desktop, no Bluetooth, no audio, but everything else runs better than I ever saw it. Needs older distro.
Gets Q4OS installs fine, runs as well and audio works. No Bluetooth. My very specific use case requires Bluetooth.
Forces myself to go back to windows. No recovery image. Downloads from MS, can’t create media because my PC is on Linux. Boots into VM, makes installer. Installs Windows. No audio no Bluetooth.
Gets drivers from asus website. Everything works but audio. Calls asus support gets drivers. PC is back to when I got it.
Pair Bluetooth controller, installs auto hotkeys, installs libre office. Best teleprompter I’ve ever used.
Shoves into box until it’s needed again.
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What I did was I went to the thrift store and I found a laptop. It was the Asus Transformer Book T100han.
I had one when it was new. It was a POS but hey it worked really well in my use case I was thinking of.
Got it home booted it, has Windows 10 1501 installed on it. Refused the update. (The perfect windows machine does exists)
Updated it to 22h2 bricked it by running out of the limited 32GB of storage.
Said screw it got Linux Mint on a USB installer. Installer crashes. Tries Ubuntu… also crashes. Tries OpenSuse, also crashes. Tries Fedora also crashes.
Turns out the installer requires more than 2GB of ram. Laptop only has 2 and it’s soldered. (The e waste special)
Gets Debian installs it. Gets to desktop, no Bluetooth, no audio, but everything else runs better than I ever saw it. Needs older distro.
Gets Q4OS installs fine, runs as well and audio works. No Bluetooth. My very specific use case requires Bluetooth.
Forces myself to go back to windows. No recovery image. Downloads from MS, can’t create media because my PC is on Linux. Boots into VM, makes installer. Installs Windows. No audio no Bluetooth.
Gets drivers from asus website. Everything works but audio. Calls asus support gets drivers. PC is back to when I got it.
Pair Bluetooth controller, installs auto hotkeys, installs libre office. Best teleprompter I’ve ever used.
Shoves into box until it’s needed again.
Swap space could help install a slow Linux DE, if youre still inclined
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Swap space could help install a slow Linux DE, if youre still inclined
Not when it’s not installing because of the lack of swap
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More of a thought exercise/game than anything else. I saw the news that 486 support was getting cut from linux, and I was curious just how cheaply someone could replace a desktop 486 system with something new (provided the device had all the connectivity they needed).
Rules:
-
Device must be able to run linux.
-
Device should be cheap as possible. A good starting point is probably sub 40usd.
-
The device must in someway support a mouse, keyboard, display, and the internet. If adapters are necessary for this connectivity, that cost should be included.
-
Power supply should be included in the cost of the device. (in the case of most SBCs this is just the cost of a USB cable and wall wart)
-
The device must be new & still in production. I know used devices like laptops would probably have been king here, but I don't think that would be nearly as interesting.
I suspect that SBCs and other arm devices will be the most common suggestions.
I personally know about the Raspberry Pi Zero which can be had for ~$10, and with all the added accessories necessary to make it a full computer (usb splitters, usb power, usb to rj45, storage) it costs around ~$35. Not bad at all but I'm pretty sure we can do even better!
wrote last edited by [email protected]Stop looking for cheap new stuff. Buy cheap used stuff. I got a high quality Thinkpad T530 for $99. I got a T15 Gen 1 as well but honestly is worse than the T530 even though it's newer.
My friend got a used computer with a 4th Gen i5 and a 970 for $45. Old but gold. We upgraded the CPU and it runs everything great.
Stop contributing to e-waste and buy used
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Stop looking for cheap new stuff. Buy cheap used stuff. I got a high quality Thinkpad T530 for $99. I got a T15 Gen 1 as well but honestly is worse than the T530 even though it's newer.
My friend got a used computer with a 4th Gen i5 and a 970 for $45. Old but gold. We upgraded the CPU and it runs everything great.
Stop contributing to e-waste and buy used
It was a hypothetical. Nobody is contributing to E-waste.
