11-25-2020, 02:03 PM
@oxoocoffee - Perhaps someone with a 3D printer could "print" up a plastic hatch for your multiple SD card storage. It would likely have to be partly on the top side of the keyboard, (though flat). But, probably not too much. Just enough that you could get a finger, (or finger nail), on it to slide it right, (of left depending on which side makes most sense internally).
By the way, I never meant to imply that your multiple SD card storage slot was not desired. I simply meant that unless a significant number of people, (say 30% of the Pinebook Pro owners), wanted such, then it would not make sense cost wise to add that feature.
I've been looking at adding 2 "features" to my Pinebook Pro. One applies to your comment about power & internal SSD, (aka NVMe drive). It appears that the eMMC is a pretty low power device, about 1 watt. Instead of adding a 4 watt, (or higher), NVMe SSD, what about adding another 1 or 2 eMMC slots? Make a new PCIe adapter board with a single or dual eMMC controller chip and 1, (or 2), eMMC slots, and then you can add 128GB, (or 2 x 128GB), eMMCs.
Sure, eMMCs are not as fast as a PCIe NVMe drive. But, in reality it's not the speed that most people need / want. (If speed is desired, the PBP is not the best choice in the first place.) This gives extra room, plus alternate boot devices, (assuming U-Boot support can be added). Or mirroring of critical partitions, (the OS or your home partition).
The other feature is a replacement daughter card for the right side. It would include a built in 3.3v serial to USB adapter chip, and MicroUSB port for the serial console. That way we don't have to flip a switch, nor use a special serial cable. Plus, their is a potential to add a side mounted power switch, (push in type). That would be easy enough to add to all the "new" daughter boards. Simply leave off the plastic switch part if you don't want to drill a hole. (The side mounted power switch is good when you want to use the PBP docked without using the builtin LCD. So, you leave the lid closed, but on.)
By the way, I never meant to imply that your multiple SD card storage slot was not desired. I simply meant that unless a significant number of people, (say 30% of the Pinebook Pro owners), wanted such, then it would not make sense cost wise to add that feature.
I've been looking at adding 2 "features" to my Pinebook Pro. One applies to your comment about power & internal SSD, (aka NVMe drive). It appears that the eMMC is a pretty low power device, about 1 watt. Instead of adding a 4 watt, (or higher), NVMe SSD, what about adding another 1 or 2 eMMC slots? Make a new PCIe adapter board with a single or dual eMMC controller chip and 1, (or 2), eMMC slots, and then you can add 128GB, (or 2 x 128GB), eMMCs.
Sure, eMMCs are not as fast as a PCIe NVMe drive. But, in reality it's not the speed that most people need / want. (If speed is desired, the PBP is not the best choice in the first place.) This gives extra room, plus alternate boot devices, (assuming U-Boot support can be added). Or mirroring of critical partitions, (the OS or your home partition).
The other feature is a replacement daughter card for the right side. It would include a built in 3.3v serial to USB adapter chip, and MicroUSB port for the serial console. That way we don't have to flip a switch, nor use a special serial cable. Plus, their is a potential to add a side mounted power switch, (push in type). That would be easy enough to add to all the "new" daughter boards. Simply leave off the plastic switch part if you don't want to drill a hole. (The side mounted power switch is good when you want to use the PBP docked without using the builtin LCD. So, you leave the lid closed, but on.)
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Arwen Evenstar
Princess of Rivendale
Arwen Evenstar
Princess of Rivendale