Computers in keyboard

[Grey]

The Raspberry Pi(400) isn't the only one crammed into the keyboard. Very dexterous Chinese manufacturers make "computers in keyboard" in a wide variety of variations. For example, this one on Banggood.
At first I wanted to buy something like that, but by a heroic effort of will I forced myself to refuse. Because there is no "golden mean" - for a stationary computer it is weak, but for a portable computer it requires additional peripherals. Not rational(even if there was a little more memory). Yes, pretty, yes, it reminds ZX Spectrum. But...
Is there anyone who disagrees that this is a toy that you can buy only if you have "extra, unnecessary" money?

[williams2]

I stumbled across this a couple of days ago. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronika_BK

A DEC PDP-11 clone, in a keyboard. 32KiB of ram, 3MHz clock speed, 16bit, included software was FOCAL and BASIC.

Basically, a DEC PDP-11 mini mainframe in a keyboard. I had no idea such a thing ever existed.

[Trobin]

Not rational(even if there was a little more memory). Yes, pretty, yes, it reminds ZX Spectrum. But...
Is there anyone who disagrees that this is a toy that you can buy only if you have "extra, unnecessary" money?

I would not classify it as a toy. Not by the specifications listed on this site.

https://alitools.io/en/showcase/k600-n6 ... 2858936814

It may not be as powerful as other mini-computers, or non mini computers, but sometimes bigger more power isn't always the best.

[Flash]

Not a good idea for general use, in my opinion. I have to replace my keyboard every few years for various reasons. Usually after I've spilled something on it several times, a few of the keys quit working reliably. In my case, all that has to be replaced is a cheap keyboard, not the whole computer.

[bigpup]

The Raspberry Pi 400 has better specs than that one.
Broadcom BCM2711 quad-core Cortex-A72 (ARM v8) 64-bit SoC @ 1.8GHz.
4GB LPDDR4-3200.
Dual-band (2.4GHz and 5.0GHz) IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ac wireless LAN.
Bluetooth 5.0, BLE.
Gigabit Ethernet.
2 × USB 3.0 and 1 × USB 2.0 ports.
Horizontal 40-pin GPIO header.
2 × micro HDMI ports (supports up to 4Kp60)

Having a Pi 400 was more about getting a good deal on one, than needing it.
for me something to play with.

I agree, by the time you buy all the other things needed to use it.
A low priced laptop would be better to get.
But that applies to any Raspberry PI.
You need:
Monitor
Mouse
Power supply
Speakers or headset
A SD card for a data storage and operating system boot drive
Maybe adapter cables or connectors to be able to hook to the monitor.

Just buy a low priced laptop and turn it on.
It already has everything needed to use it.

[bigpup]

You can still buy these:
.

shopping.jpg (54.92 KiB) Viewed 446 times

.
There was software for them.
But in the early days, you got it in the form of a written paper of the code.
You imputed it, line by line, into the computer.

WE thought we went to heaven, when they came out with the floppy drive, and software on a floppy.
.

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[Grey]

A DEC PDP-11 clone, in a keyboard.

Oh, BK-0010. Yes, it's almost a PDP-11. My neighbor has a workable BK machine, only the keyboard is slightly different from the photo. The neighbor keeps telling me that when he dies, he will leave the apartment to his daughter, and he will bequeath BK to me. Mmmm... I always answer that I am not worthy of such an honor
BK games, from left to right: Monkey Island, Bolder Dash, King's Valley... and CSI-DOS v3.3 Main Panel

BK_soft.png (36.26 KiB) Viewed 429 times

There was also a DVK computer, also PDP-11-compatible. Rare DVK-3M:

DVK-3М.jpg (70 KiB) Viewed 429 times

But there was a special "mutant" in my school. Elektronika MS-0511 aka UKNC with KM1801VM2 CPU. The closest analogue of the processor is probably the DEC T-11 processor, but there is no full compatibility The cartridges stuck out like on an NES console:

Elektronika MS-0511 (UKNC).png (405.47 KiB) Viewed 429 times

In 2015, I was at an exhibition of retro computers in Minsk, Belarus. A lot of similar equipment has been preserved there, and I got an aesthetic pleasure.

[HerrBert]

At first I wanted to buy something like that, but by a heroic effort of will I forced myself to refuse. Because there is no "golden mean" - for a stationary computer it is weak, but for a portable computer it requires additional peripherals. Not rational(even if there was a little more memory). Yes, pretty, yes, it reminds ZX Spectrum. But...
Is there anyone who disagrees that this is a toy that you can buy only if you have "extra, unnecessary" money?

I remember i wanted to buy a ASUS Eee Keyboard Test (in german language) but also refused.
It would have been a kind of gadget but not for serious work IMO.

[Geek3579]

I have to agree with Bigpup. I run a PI4 with 4GB RAM as an always-on device and its excellent for most day-to-day tasks. I run TwisterOS booted from a 32GB USB stick, AND I can run some 32 bit windows programs under WINE which runs under Box86 which is installed under Pi-Apps.

However, the more one tries to use it for various tasks, the more add-ons are required, such as a (cheap) plastic housing for mounting, a (cheap) external sound card for half decent audio in/out, a (cheap) wireless keyboard & mouse and then a (cheap) USB Hub to have some more spare USB slots. Still, if the computer is not to be portable, it doesnt matter - stash it all behind a (cheap) monitor.

[Grey]

However, the more one tries to use it for various tasks, the more add-ons are required, such as a (cheap) plastic housing for mounting, a (cheap) external sound card for half decent audio in/out, a (cheap) wireless keyboard & mouse and then a (cheap) USB Hub to have some more spare USB slots. Still, if the computer is not to be portable, it doesnt matter - stash it all behind a (cheap) monitor.

Yes, everything seems to be cheap, but if you count the total amount...
There was such an old bearded anecdote.
"Defendant, you killed the old lady in order to take 10 kopecks pennies cents from her! What are you mumbling about?!"
"1 old lady - 10 cents... 10 old ladies - a dollar buck!"
Well, in general, you understand

[8Geee]

I've been looking at the pi-400 ... the full kit sans monitor runs a little north of US$100. The decent 1080p monitor 11.6 or 13.3 inch will set one back more than the pi-400. It looks like, to me, that the Pi-4b/4Gb with one of those bluetooth trackpad/keyboards are a cheaper deal by about US$20. Again, its the monitor. But a 720p monitor or a 7" 600x1024 is a cheaper ($30-40) alternative. My ASUS eee900a with keyboard 1Gb and 4Gb SSD, and the 9" screen was US$150. If you want cheap, there are eeePC 1000 series and just maybe a 900a or two. Less than $100, ready for Puppy, AtomicPup, whatever.

8Geee