Eventually the industry must move to something like this. Good write-up. Thanks for the info.

I don't think I can mince words with you here; the specs on that computer are *terrible,* especially compared to already extant platforms like the [Raspberry Pi 3](http://www.microcenter.com/product/460968/3_Model_B?src=raspberrypi) or the [BeagleBone Black](http://beagleboard.org/black). While the 2G of onboard RAM is quite nice, it's coupled with a painfully underwhelming CPU.

You say…

> These specs are respectable for a computer its size. They could be better and there is no way you will play the newest computer game on the market. This is not a big deal since most computer users don't even play games let alone the newest ones.

But that's not really true, is it?

One of the biggest drivers of computer sales right now is games and gaming. In particular on mobile devices, which has become a massive industry. One of the most interesting and widespread projects involving Raspberry Pis is as a standalone console emulator, which it does quite well for systems even as recent as the PS 1 with the fairly low cost on board graphics that it has.

Blowing off "gaming" as a platform seems to be unwise.

The sensible target market would seem to be looking at those who are currently comparing the purchase to a Chromebook or other extremely lightweight communications notebook. In that sense, the EOMA68 isn't really a serious competitor. As much as I love open source solutions, and I absolutely adore open source solutions, I can't really say this looks like a good investment in terms of return on simply using it as a platform.

> Long-lived: Designed to be relevant and useful for at least a decade, if not longer

For anyone who has been paying attention in the computing space for more than 20 minutes, they find this to be the most comedic claim available for this platform. We have cell phones and tablets who haven't even reached half a decade old and maybe still "useful" in some context but definitely not relevant.

But on top of this they're trying to sell a not particularly impressive razor blade for premium price and definitely gouging on the accessories. $55 for a plywood enclosure? Just a plywood enclosure. $450 for a laptop housing kit, which is literally a kit – it arrives with the pieces uninstalled – and on top of that you have to 3D print your own enclosure! For something the size of a laptop, that is not insignificant as additional cost. The PFY version gives you some 3D printing connectors, some cheap bamboo plates, and all the stuff from the kit above – but pointedly doesn't include the computer itself.

If you want the whole thing, actually able to be used out-of-the-box, it's $1200.

I'm not here to bust anybody's balls but while the basic platform may be a tolerably decent web server, the rest of the pomp and circumstance that goes with the way it's being sold is a little bit of a concerning bag of hype. Not unusual in this environment, but not something that we should smile and nod at for the pleasure of it.

I feel like there are better pieces of hardware which do pretty much everything that this thing promises already at least as well as it should, and I'm not exactly sure how it expects to be competitive in that context.

They seem to be going for a sort of "disposable technology" core concept. Is your computer outdated? Toss that core card and get a new one! Do you want to take your computer to your buddy's house? Forget all that online stuff, just disconnect your core, stick it in your pack, and head on over to slot it in there! (Let's ignore the fact that he probably has his own and you might want to do things together at the same time.)

The use case just seems a little silly. Which is a *shame,* because the designers seem earnest. They've just come up with a product that isn't really useful.

Wow, this is pretty sick!  I love the concept of it, the whole plug and play core system...I don't think it's too unrealistic to say that that should be the way of the future, especially with how everything is trying to get smaller and more mobile these days.  Thank you for yet another cool and educational post about technology!

This is a perfect idea and too long in coming. I hope the compatibility trend continues... We're all about going green on this should carry over into the computer industry. I also have gone away from Apple. I really just like my phone, but my children convinced me. Android was a better option... so now I have the Galaxy Note 8 an absolutely love it. I was also gifted a Galaxy 4 tablet and I know that it's possible to sync between the phone and the tablet but I'm having a little difficulty with that. Maybe we can chat and you can assist me. :) awesome and informative article, as always. Resteemed.

The laptop/housing still looks a bit crude. As for Apple, I am disappointed that they continue to run slave factories oversees and being Anti-American leftist on the political spectrum. 

Dumped Spyware Windows back in 2011 and have had a MacBook Air working generally fine since. I am also operating a Linux lappy which has been set free of any Microsoft product. It's old and it's a work horse.

Apple has some amazing software on their platform - and that's THE reason that I am still with it. 

In any event, I am not jumping up and down as soon as they release a new product - just the opposite. 

Main thing is, these tech giants will have to adapt or die - eventually - as most red-pilled folkd are no longer going to be held hostage by the corporate greed that still governs the West.

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I like the idea, but as @lextenebris has pointed out it has some short comings.

It commodotizes the entire core of the system, and it's cheap enough to just discard if it gets "broken".  When an upgraded core comes out, you just pop it in.  That's cool.  But the price is too high for the laptop part of it, which is what I'd find most valuable.

That being said, I'd gladly use a slightly underpowered system like this or the pi for tasks such as writing, or as a thin client to more powerful systems where my work is stored, if it meant I didn't have to fight with the hardware to get Linux working on it.

I have a Chromebook with Linux on it, and it's a battle to upgrade it.  The Linux support packages for parts of it are now out of sync with the currently available version of Linux, so it's a bit like Frankenstein's monster if I want to have a GUI (X11) on it with 3D acceleration, so I just use a text interface (with framebuffer support, fbi, links -g for some graphics).  Coincidentally, it's great for distraction free writing.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and Dex are a little similar to this, or would be if there were a laptop shell for Dex.  But that's even more expensive and certainly nowhere near as open for modifications.

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