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Offline fb39ca4

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Re: Hardware Discussion
« Reply #15 on: August 07, 2010, 04:33:22 pm »
With the beagleboard, can it be uunderclocked?
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Offline alberthrocks

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Re: Hardware Discussion
« Reply #16 on: August 07, 2010, 04:35:56 pm »
Using Linux, yes. (And using Linux is the plan)
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Offline Madskillz

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Re: Hardware Discussion
« Reply #17 on: August 07, 2010, 04:48:13 pm »
I think a backlit lcd would be a nice feature that can be controlled by the OS. With different settings like always on, timer, off

You have to remember that battery life is gonna make or break this thing. If you want it to be successful you gotta make sure it can last a long time. I don't know how you plan on powering this thing, but 2 double A's or some sort of a rechargeable type of battery would be the way to go.

I agree on using the mini usb, that is gonna save some space and which is going to be a must.
Another cool addition maybe as an accessory would be one of those motion detectors that was used like in kerm's etch-a-sketch. It has other uses other than just games, I could see it being used in a science class or something. If you could build it into the device that would be cool, but if it was sold as an accessory I could see it working that way as well.
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Offline bwang

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Re: Hardware Discussion
« Reply #18 on: August 07, 2010, 06:14:59 pm »
A touchscreen would be nice, although it would mean instant banning on all College Board tests.
From what I see in the first post, this sounds more like a laptop pretending to be a calculator than a calculator that's nearly as powerful as a laptop.
Linux would be wonderful, since then we'd have the massive pool of Linux software to draw on.
Is there any reason why this is ARM instead of x86? There are several ultra-low-power, low cost x86 CPUs in existence.
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Offline Mighty Moose

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Re: Hardware Discussion
« Reply #19 on: August 07, 2010, 06:17:29 pm »
I think they decided on ARM because they wanted to compete with the Nspire (I may be wrong).
« Last Edit: August 07, 2010, 06:17:49 pm by Mighty Moose »
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Offline jnesselr

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Re: Hardware Discussion
« Reply #20 on: August 07, 2010, 09:12:30 pm »
Yes, that is correct.
Quote from: Madskillz on August 07, 2010, 04:48:13 pm
I think a backlit lcd would be a nice feature that can be controlled by the OS. With different settings like always on, timer, off

You have to remember that battery life is gonna make or break this thing. If you want it to be successful you gotta make sure it can last a long time. I don't know how you plan on powering this thing, but 2 double A's or some sort of a rechargeable type of battery would be the way to go.

I agree on using the mini usb, that is gonna save some space and which is going to be a must.
Another cool addition maybe as an accessory would be one of those motion detectors that was used like in kerm's etch-a-sketch. It has other uses other than just games, I could see it being used in a science class or something. If you could build it into the device that would be cool, but if it was sold as an accessory I could see it working that way as well.
Maybe an accelerometer?
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Offline willrandship

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Re: Hardware Discussion
« Reply #21 on: August 07, 2010, 10:15:41 pm »
I think the idea was to build two, one arm, one z80, for both product lines.

ARM Cpus will almost always be better than x86 CPUs power-wise. An energy-effecient x86 CPU compared to a rather poor ARM will measure about equally. x86 focuses on backwards compatibility, so it's software is compatible across models. This also makes it very complicated and inefficient. ARM is one of the best (if not the best) CPUs for portable devices. Ultra-low power x86s are just really really weak, particularly efficient (for x86) CPUs. We can get a much more powerful ARM for less cost.

If we do use an accelerometer, can we at least use a Tuning Fork gyroscope with it? (They're in the Wii motion Plus) An accelerometer by itself is much more innacurate, and it shouldn't cost too much more.

Why not use a USB OTG port? They're very common, and fit both mini-A and mini-B cables, mini-A being for acting as a storage device, and B for acting as a host. They;re on the 84+, btw, as well as the 89T and nspire.
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Offline TIfanx1999

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Re: Hardware Discussion
« Reply #22 on: August 07, 2010, 10:19:55 pm »
Thoughts:
Mini USB instead of standard size.
Micro SD card slot.
No touchscreen, we want this to be useable on standardized tests.
Backlight.
maybe use a Z80 for the GPU?
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Offline jnesselr

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Re: Hardware Discussion
« Reply #23 on: August 07, 2010, 10:28:06 pm »
I like the miniUSB, but still don't see a point for a micro-sd.  I could transfer pdf documents from my phone to my calc, I guess, but this is supposed to have wifi anyway, so I don't know.

I don't think a touch screen goes over well with the ACT/SAT. I'm not sure, though.

A backlight would be awesome.  I don't know if we even need a gpu.  I mean, the only good it would do is for games.  In which case, a z80 would be fine.
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Offline alberthrocks

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Re: Hardware Discussion
« Reply #24 on: August 07, 2010, 10:31:52 pm »
Micro SD is fine for this one. This is the "TONS OF FEATURES" calc ;)
HAHAHAHA - GPU is embedded in the chip (or so I think, it's supposedly SoC), SO YOU CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM MOI!!! :P

(In reality, the GPU is really useful for handling 2D stuff. 3D stuff, if ever, will just include GUI animations. Think Compiz and the Clutter library.)
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Offline TIfanx1999

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Re: Hardware Discussion
« Reply #25 on: August 07, 2010, 10:34:29 pm »
Wait, are you saying the ARM has a GPU packaged with it?
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Offline alberthrocks

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Re: Hardware Discussion
« Reply #26 on: August 07, 2010, 10:35:58 pm »
Likely, but I'm not 100% sure. The lovely picture on the 1st page has a left box indicating some features, and surprisingly enough points to one chip.
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Offline TIfanx1999

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Re: Hardware Discussion
« Reply #27 on: August 07, 2010, 10:38:15 pm »
Ah, that would be awesome then! :D
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Offline bwang

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Re: Hardware Discussion
« Reply #28 on: August 07, 2010, 11:18:01 pm »
Quote from: willrandship on August 07, 2010, 10:15:41 pm
I think the idea was to build two, one arm, one z80, for both product lines.

ARM Cpus will almost always be better than x86 CPUs power-wise. An energy-effecient x86 CPU compared to a rather poor ARM will measure about equally. x86 focuses on backwards compatibility, so it's software is compatible across models. This also makes it very complicated and inefficient. ARM is one of the best (if not the best) CPUs for portable devices. Ultra-low power x86s are just really really weak, particularly efficient (for x86) CPUs. We can get a much more powerful ARM for less cost.

If we do use an accelerometer, can we at least use a Tuning Fork gyroscope with it? (They're in the Wii motion Plus) An accelerometer by itself is much more innacurate, and it shouldn't cost too much more.

Why not use a USB OTG port? They're very common, and fit both mini-A and mini-B cables, mini-A being for acting as a storage device, and B for acting as a host. They;re on the 84+, btw, as well as the 89T and nspire.
But x86 also brings with it compatibility with existing hardware drivers, and more software.
And it would be able to run Windows. Who doesn't want Windows on a calc? :P
« Last Edit: August 07, 2010, 11:18:57 pm by bwang »
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Offline jnesselr

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Re: Hardware Discussion
« Reply #29 on: August 07, 2010, 11:20:38 pm »
Me.  We can write our own os, btw.
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