Classic computing fanatic Felix Queißner is engaged on a modular house microcomputer, impressed by traditional computer systems of the Eighties — and powered by the Raspberry Pi RP2350 dual-core dual-architecture microcontroller, linked to 8MB of pseudo-static RAM (PSRAM).
“The Ashet Dwelling Laptop bridges the hole between easy microcontroller growth boards and fashionable single-board computer systems, providing the processing functionality to run a full graphical desktop OS whereas sustaining the {hardware} accessibility of less complicated methods,” Queißner guarantees of the system. “Constructed across the [Raspberry Pi] RP2350 dual-core processor, it combines enough computational energy for a contemporary consumer interface with a clear, education-oriented structure. The modular growth system, impressed by traditional pc designs, permits direct {hardware} entry whereas offering correct driver abstractions for portability.”
The Ashet Dwelling Laptop (prime), powered by a Raspberry Pi RP2350, is designed to run the custom-built Ashet OS (above). (📷: Felix Queißner)
Whereas the Raspberry Pi RP2350, with its two Arm Cortex-M33 and two free and open supply RISC-V Hazard3 cores operating at as much as 150MHz, is a really fashionable piece of kit, Queißner’s inspiration calls again to the modular microcomputers of the Seventies and Eighties — together with the enduring Altair 8800, launched in 1974 and well-known for kick-starting the non-public computing revolution and setting the stage for Microsoft’s success within the working system market.
A inventory ABS case homes the modules, together with a core module that pairs the Raspberry Pi RP2350 with 8MB of pseudo-static RAM (PSRAM), 16MB of flash storage, a USB 1.1 host port, Quick Ethernet connectivity, a battery-backed real-time clock, and an built-in debug probe. Seven growth slots are offered, with designs at the moment together with a video card able to 640×400 at 60Hz with eight bits per pixel colour, a PCM soundcard with 16-bit 48kHz enter and output capabilities, a USB card with 4 USB 1.1 Host ports, a “Fundamental I/O” card with eight general-purpose enter/output (GPIO) pins and an I2C bus, a “Commodore Connectivity Card” that gives two serial ports appropriate with Commodore 64 and Commodore 128 equipment, and a perfboard “Person Enlargement Card” for {custom} add-ons.
The system is designed to run Ashet OS, a primary working system impressed by Amiga Workbench. “It’s an experiment in simplicity, approachability, and fashionable design,” Queißner claims, “constructed to show that you may have a responsive, hackable, and moveable OS — with out bloated complexity or pointless limitations. Whether or not you are a curious hacker, retro computing fanatic, or simply somebody uninterested in ready on fashionable machines, Ashet OS goals to encourage and empower.”
Queißner has already created a “practical cable litter prototype,” and is now taking the undertaking by means of the design for manufacturing stage. (📷: Felix Queißner)
Queißner has shared screenshots, renders, and a few case mock-up images on the undertaking’s web site; he says that “a practical cable litter prototype” that is ready to boot into the working system and launch functions has been constructed, with the following stage within the course of being design for manufacturing forward of a deliberate launch.
“One of many objectives is to make the pc obtainable for €250 (round $300) or much less,” Queißner says, “but when that is attainable will depend on so many particulars that it’s onerous to inform within the present section. It doesn’t matter what’s the result of this section, the entire pc design might be obtainable free of charge beneath a permissive license and will be constructed by everybody.