Raspberry Pi’s Compute Module line has lengthy been underrated. Every Compute Module is a single-board laptop, however it lacks the entire ports (USB, Ethernet, CSI, and many others.) discovered on the conventional full-size Raspberry Pi fashions. The benefit is within the “card” kind issue with an edge connector, which you’ll slot right into a customized provider board, leading to a really slim closing product. However Raspberry Pi isn’t the one sport 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 provide or after they want an x86 processor, moderately than an Arm processor. Whereas Arm has come a great distance in recent times, compatibility continues to be hit-or-miss in relation to working methods 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 in style Linux distro, together with the entire applications supported by these working methods.
As with the Raspberry Pi Compute Module, the LattePanda Mu wants a provider board to truly perform. LattePanda does promote provider boards, however Ben needed a customized provider board with solely the parts and ports he wanted and nothing he didn’t. That ensured that it was as slim and compact as doable. DFRobot has KiCAD PCB information 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 the entire 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 a number 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, nearly like on a server rack KVM.
There have been a number of challenges alongside the best way, however one stood out: audio. Ben’s provider board was presupposed 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 gadget appears incredible. It’s each fashionable and purposeful, and isn’t like something you should purchase at Greatest Purchase.
