Slowing down time

Is there a machine?

Quite frankly, that's the only way I'll be able to get back into my old posting habits, if I can slow down time...

So, just briefly, tomorrow is project night in Winston Salem: http://www.pyptug.org/2014/06/june-project-night.html

James is bringing a Parallela. Markus will probably have a Beaglebone black. And I'll have a Raspberry Pi. Perhaps some of that + duct tape and I can build a time lapse machine! (Nothing nefarious, in reality, just a security cam to keep an eye on the entrance, so visitors to the project night dont have to wait to long for somebody to come and open the door...)

Micro Python

While on the subject of embedded devices, what do you all think of micro python?


@f_dion

Pocket Mini Computer Build

Build

 Putting together the Pocket Mini Computer kit:

Capacitors

Resistors

Did anybody say resistors?

A lot of them. And a PS/2 connector

PS/2 Keyboard and 3.5mm audio

VGA connector. Solid

Bottom, included. Above, my replacement

It gives me a header on top

  

Not just on the bottom

Propeller board with spacers

It works!

Added reinforcement for keyboard

Orange cable: probe

Pocket Mini Computer kit

On my previous post, Blue Screen Of Basic, I was showing the output of a computer mini kit I just built.

What

The Pocket Mini Computer is a simple kit that can be put together in an evening. Just like the Raspberry Pi, it is a bare board (quite like the Apple I). You then need a keyboard (PS/2), monitor (VGA) and power supply (5V, mini USB).

It is not a competitor to the Pi, particularly based on spec and price. It wont run Linux. At any rate, you are probably anxiously waiting on your backordered Raspberry Pi and Gertboard, so that'll give you something to do, hehehe.

Rather, it's something to learn soldering on (or in my case, have fun building stuff, like people do puzzles or crosswords), and play with Propeller Basic and SIDCOG, an emulation of the SID chip including filters using one of the 8 "cogs" (core) of the "processor".

I should really say microcontroller. It runs on a Parallax Propeller microcontroller QuickStart board which is included in the $39 price tag (and that is less than what Radio-Shack sells the P8X32A by itself!)

The box

The bags

 

  

The parts

 

Bonus

While supplies last, Jeff includes a laser cut acrylic reference block for the P8X32A GPIOs.

Now, let's build this.

Blue Screen Of Basic

Last hardware I featured was for the Apple fans. This one is for the Commodore fans.


Tonight on Masterpiece Mystery:

See my next post on the subject.