Portable laptop powered by Odroids

[mad_ady]

For a while I've been thinking of how cool it would be to have a relatively cheap docking station where you can plug your Odroid (or some other HDMI source) and use it as a laptop (basically a dumb terminal with keys and a screen). Good for when working remote/between servers. I've seen some projects that hooked Odroids to the back of some laptop-like device/screen. And now I've stumbled over this project: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ne ... /nexdock-2
The advantage would be - you could easily upgrade the hardware and keep the screen/battery/keyboard and upgrade your laptop.
I hope Hardkernel will consider compatibility with such products (HDMI is already ok, but will probably need to do something about USB-C power, which seems to be popular these days).

[meveric]

The project above is basically a Display with attached keyboard on an USB Hub.
Which is the reason why it works with every device.
It works the same as plugging in a Monitor on your ODROID, and connect the ODROID to a USB Hub with a mouse and keyboard attached.
Yes the look is nicer (laptop form-factor) but essentially it's just a Display with an USB Hub.
Combined with the fact, that most devices are now powered by a USB C port, that means, add a battery to your USB Hub and you also power or charge the device you plug in (default USB-C standard).

They specifically mention Samsung phones here, as Samsung offers for his smartphones something called "Dex" for a couple of years now which started on the Samsung S8:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkcmujP_1U
Other brands pick up this technology now, and we all know there are even some android versions out there that are tinkered towards that experience.
So generally it's rather easy to support, as the phone does all the work the moment it detects it's plugged into a monitor.

[Luis104]

It's a Lenovo Ideapad https://productz.com/en/lenovo-ideapad-duet-chromebook/p/aMew4 touchscreen that I'm using. Writing is a significantly more convenient profession than a traditional 9-to-5 desk job because you can write practically any place you have access to the internet and a piece of paper. I've been looking for something smaller because carrying a laptop around is clearly inconvenient depending on its size.

[mctom]

bots everywhere

[mad_ady]

I'll give luis104 a chance to prove he's not a bot...

[Pascaltech]

Hi,

What is the maximum size screen an Odroid can manage ? And, how to use entirely a screen without a graphic card ?

[mctom]

Hi,

Well, some Odroids can display up to 4K, I believe, but I was never interested in that so don't know the details. Certainly N2+ can display 2K.
The physical size is limitless of course.
All that is available via HDMI output on most Odroids.

M1 is the first one, I think, that has DSI output, but with custom pinout, so I think it supports 8" Vu8M touch display only, for now. I may be wrong, though. Surely one could connect some other displays to it, if they have sufficient hardware knowledge and dexterity.

[rooted]

The N2/+, C4, HC4 can output at 4K 60hz with HDR10/10+ that I've tested on each, the M1 can I believe but I've not tested yet.

The N2/+ can decode 8K @ 30hz I've been told, but of course one will still be limited to 4K.