From b5ac922cfafab184e97b85d9becd58e211dbb73d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Kayce Basques Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2024 08:41:27 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] finishing touches pcrow --- blog/pcrowdoodle.rst | 29 ++++++++++++++++++++++------- 1 file changed, 22 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-) diff --git a/blog/pcrowdoodle.rst b/blog/pcrowdoodle.rst index bd6ddf3..99afb8e 100644 --- a/blog/pcrowdoodle.rst +++ b/blog/pcrowdoodle.rst @@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ should I bring? * I don't have a lightweight personal laptop that's enjoyable to goof around on. -The solution for me, an irrational simpleton, was to spend too much money -on a highly questionable Raspberry Pi "laptop". +The solution for me, an irrational simpleton, was to spend perhaps much money +($200) on a highly questionable Raspberry Pi "laptop". .. image:: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kaycebasques/media/main/jpg/crowpi4.jpg @@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ some boot firmware that's impossible to update at best and backdoor'd at worst: .. image:: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kaycebasques/media/main/jpg/crowpi5.jpg +I'm using RPi 4. I have a hunch RPi5 won't work. + --------------------- Form factor: wedgebot --------------------- @@ -83,9 +85,6 @@ between an "A" SD card and a "B" SD card fairly quickly: .. image:: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kaycebasques/media/main/jpg/crowpi8.jpg -I'm tempted to flip it while my RPi is running just to learn how much or little -damage that does... - RPi OS booted up pretty much without a hitch: .. image:: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kaycebasques/media/main/jpg/crowpi6.jpg @@ -149,10 +148,26 @@ Where have all the RPi laptops gone I've poked fun at Elecrow (the maker of the CrowPi-L) a few times but it seems like they deserve my thanks and respect: "RPi laptop" is a cool idea and they seem to be one of only a handful of companies actually -making it happen. +making it happen.' + +RPi OS is a sweet spot for exploratory hacking IMO: + +* It's trivial to set up on an SD card +* It comes pre-loaded with lots of interesting stuff + (``for name in $(ls /usr/bin); do man -f $name; done``) +* It's the same ecosystem of tools/programs/etc. as my work env + (I <3 Debian) +* The RPi hardware itself really invites you to learn about it + on a deeper level. Have you seen those datasheets? Delightful --------- Worth it? --------- -Too soon to tell. I'll report back in a month. +Too soon to tell. I'll report back after Japan. It will boil down to +reliability; if this thing starts crashing or the keys start sticking then +I'm screwed. + +At first I thought $200 was too expensive but realistically, it would cost +me much more than $200 in time/energy/parts to try to build something like +this myself.