12-06-2020, 11:09 AM
I have two PBPs from different batches. Both had the magnet in the wrong place, not meeting the hall effect sensor. I was able to easily correct one without disassembling too much. The other will require complete disassembly to see if there's a good way to move it. I found on both units, the hall effect sensor was only activated with the lid open about ½". Slowly closing and opening the lid would look like this in dmesg:
Lid closed.
Lid opened.
Lid closed.
Lid opened.
This seems to be fairly common, I'd say that if yours works, it is unusual.
Again on both of mine, and on many discussed here, the SD card is slightly too far inside the case. It requires poking with a tool (or long fingernail) to insert/remove, which occasionally causes the card to go springing out.
I agree about the Ethernet. I wonder what kind of connector would work though. I'm imagining the kind found on PCMCIA Ethernet cards, which were only feasible because the card was easily replaceable. They were just too fragile.
I really like your "Open hardware laptop" idea. That is the most accurate description I've heard so far.
I'd move the power LED to the corner of the case, so that it is visible both in normal operation position, and with the lid closed. Extra LEDs draw extra power, and I'd like to see that kept as low as possible. I've had a couple other laptops that had translucent plastic light conductors over the LEDs on the hinge edge, which wrap around the corner. That works well, but I think that adds too much cost, and might require a more powerful LED. I suspect that the current LED would work adequately if it were simply moved to the corner edge of the top surface, near the power jack. It would probably be visible from the side of the it were ¼" from the edge, which should be easy to accomplish.
Lid closed.
Lid opened.
Lid closed.
Lid opened.
This seems to be fairly common, I'd say that if yours works, it is unusual.
Again on both of mine, and on many discussed here, the SD card is slightly too far inside the case. It requires poking with a tool (or long fingernail) to insert/remove, which occasionally causes the card to go springing out.
I agree about the Ethernet. I wonder what kind of connector would work though. I'm imagining the kind found on PCMCIA Ethernet cards, which were only feasible because the card was easily replaceable. They were just too fragile.
I really like your "Open hardware laptop" idea. That is the most accurate description I've heard so far.
I'd move the power LED to the corner of the case, so that it is visible both in normal operation position, and with the lid closed. Extra LEDs draw extra power, and I'd like to see that kept as low as possible. I've had a couple other laptops that had translucent plastic light conductors over the LEDs on the hinge edge, which wrap around the corner. That works well, but I think that adds too much cost, and might require a more powerful LED. I suspect that the current LED would work adequately if it were simply moved to the corner edge of the top surface, near the power jack. It would probably be visible from the side of the it were ¼" from the edge, which should be easy to accomplish.