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Sulibor: Side note: It would be nice to see power usage comparison of the newer boards and the keyboard integrated one, as I see the CPU is a bit faster.
https://www.pidramble.com/wiki/benchmarks/power-consumption
https://raspi.tv/2019/how-much-power-does-the-pi4b-use-power-measurements

My USB power tester can't even measure the keyboard I'm using at the moment (HP typical USB keyboard), wich means is probably less than 50mA (0.25 Watts). Not much to even be considerable.
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Sulibor: Side note: It would be nice to see power usage comparison of the newer boards and the keyboard integrated one, as I see the CPU is a bit faster.
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Dark_art_: https://www.pidramble.com/wiki/benchmarks/power-consumption
https://raspi.tv/2019/how-much-power-does-the-pi4b-use-power-measurements

My USB power tester can't even measure the keyboard I'm using at the moment (HP typical USB keyboard), wich means is probably less than 50mA (0.25 Watts). Not much to even be considerable.
Nice, thank you.
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Judicat0r: It's neat and convenient, suited for people who wants an integrated PC without the clutter of a case and cables running everywhere, I see it particularly fit in the education sector but wouldn't make sense an integrated touchpad?
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clarry: Yeah, and a screen. We could call it a laptop.
We, actually, could call it netbook, nettop, subnotebook or tablet if I had to join you down your rabbit hole but in my book those are completely different beasts as kind of device, price bracket and type of use go, and, just to leave it there, a trackpad costs a fraction of a screen and, guess what, is a input device like, ummm, what else?
A keyboard!
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Judicat0r: ...
Stupid marketing terms or categorization, depending on how you look at it. An underpowered or small laptop is still a laptop even if you try to make it sound new and fashionable. Not at all different from any other laptop. Just like a slim PC/mini PC/media PC/NUC is still a PC, a hatchback with a 0.9 liter engine is still a car..

There are dirt cheap screens out there. Screens that won't cost more than a keyboard + trackpad.
Post edited November 03, 2020 by clarry
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Judicat0r: It's neat and convenient, suited for people who wants an integrated PC without the clutter of a case and cables running everywhere, I see it particularly fit in the education sector but wouldn't make sense an integrated touchpad?
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clarry: Yeah, and a screen. We could call it a laptop.
Also a battery, in order to allow it to be used away from power.

In any case, this does look like the next logical step for the foundation to take.

With that said, I would personally prefer to see an updated version of the Pi Zero, perhaps with a 64-bit CPU (but not something as power hungry as the Cortex-A72), 1G RAM (or more if feasible), comfortably powered with a computer or phone's USB port, still having USB device (as opposed to USB host) capability. I would be OK with it costing, say, $15 or $20 (more than the current Pi Zero W, but not as much as the full size boards).


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clarry: There are dirt cheap screens out there. Screens that won't cost more than a keyboard + trackpad.
Do you know of any that would be suitable for the Raspberry Pi 400?

(Note that the official Raspberry Pi touchscreen is not an option for this model; something that uses HDMI or the GPIO is required here.)
Post edited November 03, 2020 by dtgreene
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Judicat0r: ...
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clarry: Stupid marketing terms or categorization, depending on how you look at it. An underpowered or small laptop is still a laptop even if you try to make it sound new and fashionable. Not at all different from any other laptop. Just like a slim PC/mini PC/media PC/NUC is still a PC, a hatchback with a 0.9 liter engine is still a car..

There are dirt cheap screens out there. Screens that won't cost more than a keyboard + trackpad.
Actually no, is just a keyboard equipped with a low power PC which has nothing to share with devices like notebooks et similia that, per definition and nature, come with displays and has nothing to share with other products that are basically mini PCs with no input devices nor screen. (I'm going to leave the other rabbit hole of cheap screens alone and away from me.)

I mean If you go to the page on the RPI's site (linked in the OP) you will see that they call it exactly like that: "a Raspberry Pi designed into a keyboard".

Now, in your personal belief/opinion that can be a laptop and I'm nobody to convince you of the contrary just I bring to your attention that people that designed and produce it call it "Your complete personal computer, built into a compact keyboard" like, you know, Vic 20, Spectrum, C64, Amiga XXX which nobody ever dared to call notebooks (or laptops or similar), at least nobody that I recall/been around/heard whispering about.
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Judicat0r: Actually no, is just a keyboard equipped with a low power PC which has nothing to share with devices like notebooks et similia that, per definition and nature, come with displays and has nothing to share with other products that are basically mini PCs with no input devices nor screen. (I'm going to leave the other rabbit hole of cheap screens alone and away from me.)

I mean If you go to the page on the RPI's site (linked in the OP) you will see that they call it exactly like that: "a Raspberry Pi designed into a keyboard".
Doh, and the raspberry pi is a computer. A portable computer with a keyboard and a screen and a trackpad is what we usually call a laptop.

If you wanna be a weirdo then sure I can call my thinkpad a keyboard equipped with a low power PC. Only between the two of us though.
One thing that's worth noting: In theory, it should be possible to use the Raspberry Pi 400 as a USB keyboard.

To do this, one would need the following:
* A USB port capable of powering the Raspberry Pi 400. Note that this needs more power than the port would typically provide (though there may be ways to reduce the Pi's power consumption).
* The port in question can't be a power-only port; it must be capable of transmitting data. Note that the port on the computer should be a host port, and it should be connected to the Pi's USB-C port (which, aside from providing power, also acts as a device port).
* The Linux kernel's HID gadget drive (g_hid) needs to be loaded. (It does appear to be included in the Raspberry Pi OS kernel.) Also, the appropriate hardware driver (dwc2?) needs to be loaded.
* A userspace program must be running on the Pi which reads input from the keyboard and send it on to the gadget driver.

If this is done, then you can actually use the Raspberry Pi 400 as a keyboard for your desktop computer. This does have its downsides, however, most notably power consumption and the fact that it can take a while to boot.
Actually looking around for this on Newegg, and found a few other things.

NES/SNES cases and controllers, a complete desktop config for $115+, Vilros keyboard case (though doesn't look quite as nice as the 400 listed in the OP). Tons of stuff.
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Judicat0r: Actually no, is just a keyboard equipped with a low power PC which has nothing to share with devices like notebooks et similia that, per definition and nature, come with displays and has nothing to share with other products that are basically mini PCs with no input devices nor screen. (I'm going to leave the other rabbit hole of cheap screens alone and away from me.)

I mean If you go to the page on the RPI's site (linked in the OP) you will see that they call it exactly like that: "a Raspberry Pi designed into a keyboard".
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clarry: Doh, and the raspberry pi is a computer. A portable computer with a keyboard and a screen and a trackpad is what we usually call a laptop.

If you wanna be a weirdo then sure I can call my thinkpad a keyboard equipped with a low power PC. Only between the two of us though.
Portable (which means something totally different per se besides what's in your and only your mind) has nothing to share with mobile which was exactly what you where referring to as "laptop".
You can twist and turn it as you like and have your own imaginary definitions but the reality is another thing.
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Judicat0r: Portable (which means something totally different per se besides what's in your and only your mind) has nothing to share with mobile which was exactly what you where referring to as "laptop".
I remember the Xbox i had i would put in a backpack with a few cables and controllers and BOOM it was good to go. That was portable.

Though the early 'laptops' were huge clunky 40lb suitcase computers. If i were to go with portable, it would be easy to move and not much work to hook up/tear down, not too big and doesn't weigh too much. It doesn't need to run while you're on the bus or something, so battery and screen aren't as important. (Most hotels have free internet and compatible TV screens so you really don't need much for a full desktop that's portable)
Post edited November 11, 2020 by rtcvb32
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Judicat0r: Portable (which means something totally different per se besides what's in your and only your mind) has nothing to share with mobile which was exactly what you where referring to as "laptop".
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rtcvb32: I remember the Xbox i had i would put in a backpack with a few cables and controllers and BOOM it was good to go. That was portable.
Weeell... you need the screen though...

But I get what you mean. I consider my laptops as "portable", as in I can pack the whole shebang or theybang, carry it elsewhere and set it up there again, while phones and tables I consider as "mobile" as I could easily take them out and use them in a crowded bus or even while walking, something that I'd probably wouldn't want to do with a "portable laptop". Even though I could, I guess. There is a fine line between portable and mobile.
Post edited November 12, 2020 by timppu
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Judicat0r: Portable (which means something totally different per se besides what's in your and only your mind) has nothing to share with mobile which was exactly what you where referring to as "laptop".
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rtcvb32: I remember the Xbox i had i would put in a backpack with a few cables and controllers and BOOM it was good to go. That was portable.

Though the early 'laptops' were huge clunky 40lb suitcase computers. If i were to go with portable, it would be easy to move and not much work to hook up/tear down, not too big and doesn't weigh too much. It doesn't need to run while you're on the bus or something, so battery and screen aren't as important. (Most hotels have free internet and compatible TV screens so you really don't need much for a full desktop that's portable)
And I agree with what you say because you are talking about luggable devices which are things on their own and early laptops were mobile devices, yes, but incredibly hefty and big definitely ancient stuff compared to modern ones that are on another level altogether as weight, dimensions and connectivity go.
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rtcvb32: I remember the Xbox i had i would put in a backpack with a few cables and controllers and BOOM it was good to go. That was portable.
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timppu: Weeell... you need the screen though...

But I get what you mean. I consider my laptops as "portable", as in I can pack the whole shebang or theybang, carry it elsewhere and set it up there again, while phones and tables I consider as "mobile" as I could easily take them out and use them in a crowded bus or even while walking, something that I'd probably wouldn't want to do with a "portable laptop". Even though I could, I guess. There is a fine line between portable and mobile.
You hit the nail on the head: portable is such a wide definition, I mean, my PC has two handles on the top so that it can be carried around and moved easily, could be even be defined as portable but it's not a mobile standalone device that can be used on the go everywhere.
Post edited November 12, 2020 by Judicat0r
It's hilarious how using "portable" as an adjective in the description of a very common class of device with an integrated screen & keyboard & trackpad gets the kids bickering about the definition of portable. Welcome to the kindergarten.

My kitchen knife has a handle too! It must be portable! Or wait, is it mobile? Maybe it's automobile because sometimes it seems to spin on the counter all by itself.
Post edited November 12, 2020 by clarry
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clarry: My kitchen knife has a handle too! It must be portable! Or wait, is it mobile? Maybe it's automobile because sometimes it seems to spin on the counter all by itself.
People carry knives with them all the time. At any given time you might count 5 knives on me. Though they are often sheathed, unsheathed is just a dangerous hazard.

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timppu: Weeell... you need the screen though...
Friend's house and the hotel rooms have screens. No problem there.

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Judicat0r: I mean, my PC has two handles on the top so that it can be carried around and moved easily, could be even be defined as portable but it's not a mobile standalone device
Microwaves, TV's and other things have 'handles'. Lugging a half tower or full town i wouldn't really put in the 'portable' department, unless you had a van with appropriate racks and you were going between servers.



Hmmm... guess it depends on what it means to a particular person. But with miniaturization and faster chips, what used to take an entire room at 70 tons can be done in hand-held calculators. Modern phones are tens of thousands of times faster than the 8bit computers (and desktops even more powerful); I think most people don't really appreciate how far it's come. I hear kids complaining they get lagging and speeds on Netflix and Fortnite, who never had to deal with any dialup speeds.
Post edited November 12, 2020 by rtcvb32