Raspberry Pi’s Compute Module line has lengthy been underrated. Every Compute Module is a single-board laptop, nevertheless it lacks all the ports (USB, Ethernet, CSI, and many others.) discovered on the traditional full-size Raspberry Pi fashions. The benefit is within the “card” type issue with an edge connector, which you’ll be able to slot right into a customized service board, leading to a really slim last product. However Raspberry Pi isn’t the one recreation on the town and LattePanda has single-board computer systems, too. Ben, of the Ben Makes All the pieces YouTube channel, used a LattePanda Mu to create this compact cyberdeck.
Individuals flip to LattePanda after they want extra energy than a Raspberry Pi can supply or after they want an x86 processor, reasonably than an Arm processor. Whereas Arm has come a good distance in recent times, compatibility remains to be hit-or-miss in terms of working programs and software program. As a result of it has an x86 processor, like most computer systems, the LattePanda Mu can run Home windows or any common Linux distro, together with all the applications supported by these working programs.
As with the Raspberry Pi Compute Module, the LattePanda Mu wants a service board to truly operate. LattePanda does promote service boards, however Ben wished a customized service board with solely the elements and ports he wanted and nothing he didn’t. That ensured that it was as slim and compact as potential. DFRobot has KiCAD PCB recordsdata able to go as a place to begin and Ben modified these. His design has two M.2 slots (one for an SSD and one for a Wi-Fi module), plus all the different stuff a pc wants, like USB ports (don’t inform Apple).
Ben additionally designed his personal customized ortholinear keyboard (as a substitute of utilizing an Apple Magic Keyboard, as a result of apparently that makes individuals mad). Energy comes from a repurposed battery pack and the show is a DFRobot 11.6” touchscreen LCD with full HD decision.
From there, Ben spent lots of time designing the actually nifty enclosure. It’s fashionable, with a carry deal with on the left aspect. Most of it’s 3D-printable, however the aspect panels are CNC-milled and anodized aluminum. There are even arms that fold right down to tilt the entire unit up and the keyboard slides out, virtually like on a server rack KVM.
There have been a number of challenges alongside the best way, however one stood out: audio. Ben’s service board was alleged to assist audio output, however that didn’t work fairly proper. His resolution was to cram a USB sound card into the enclosure and that labored properly.
The completed system appears unbelievable. It’s each fashionable and useful, and isn’t like something you should buy at Greatest Purchase.