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| − | == <strong>Balthazar - a Personal Computing Device</strong> ==
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| | + | <center>[[Image:Blogo2.png]]</center> |
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| − | <strong><big>'''One laptop for the new internet.'''</big></strong><br> | + | == <center><strong>a Personal Computing Device</strong></center> == |
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| | + | <center><strong><big>One laptop for the new internet.</big></strong></center> |
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| − | <strong>'''Secure, fast, inexpensive, upgradeable and sustainable. All of that.'''</strong><br>
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| − | '''BPCD''' - '''B'''althazar '''P'''ersonal '''C'''omputing '''D'''evice is a '''13.3"''' upgradable and expandable laptop that is based on a few concepts inspired by '''[https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68/micro-desktop/updates/2-7-5-cards-under-way-nlnet-and-intel-compute-card EOMA68]''', but powered by '''RISC-V''' processor(s) open architecture that runs on <big>'''Linux OS'''</big>.<br>
| + | <center>Secure, fast, inexpensive, open, robust, upgradeable, and sustainable. All of that.</center> |
| − | It contains all the hardware and software features preventing data-theft and any unwanted 3<small>rd</small> party intrusion into the system by the default.<br>
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| − | While being versatile and robust it also strictly follows '''GNU-GPL''', '''FOSS''', '''EOMA''', '''ISA''' and even '''CC''' guidelines.<br>
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| − | <small>What is all that FOSS and CC and OS..?</small> '''→''' [[Glossary]]<br>
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| − | [[File:Ampere.jpg|thumb]]<br>
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| | + | [[File:47B.png|center|prototype]] |
| | + | <gallery mode=packed class=selectable> |
| | + | File:51B.png |
| | + | File:P2.resized.png |
| | + | File:12.JPG |
| | + | File:P1.resized.png |
| | + | File:13.JPG |
| | + | File:P4.resized.png |
| | + | File:Resized14.png |
| | + | File:40B.png |
| | + | File:18b.png |
| | + | File:19t.png |
| | + | </gallery> |
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| − | <strong>Why yet another laptop?</strong><br>
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| − | It is very expensive to buy an “advanced” or a secure laptop and it comes with usually "customised" and mostly proprietary software that bounds a user to a manufacturer. This is where '''BPCD''' comes in at the most possible lowest retail price that should be affordable to everyone - from an individual up to a big budgeted large institution.<br>
| + | '''BPCD''' - '''B'''althazar '''P'''ersonal '''C'''omputing '''D'''evice is a '''13.3"''' upgradable and expandable laptop that is based on a few concepts inspired by '''[https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68/micro-desktop/updates/2-7-5-cards-under-way-nlnet-and-intel-compute-card EOMA68]''', but powered by [https://riscv.org/ RISC-V] processor(s) open architecture or FPGA boards running emulation as a Computing Module Standard boards and other Systems on a Module that run on '''[https://www.linux.org Linux OS]''' or all of those running together with added co-processing power such as FPGA Lattice Diamond - [https://radiona.org/ulx3s/ ULX3S] and the upcoming of the new ULX4 in a Compute Module form factor. |
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| − | <strong>But we have already have inexpensive netbooks, picturebooks, tablets, Chromebooks and alike!</strong><br> | + | It contains all the hardware and continuously developing software and firmware features preventing data-theft and any unwanted 3<small>rd</small> party intrusion into the system by default. It should run default low-level security layer software based on [https://gitlab.com/cryptsetup/cryptsetup/blob/master/README.md '''LUKS''' ], [https://libreswan.org/ '''Libreswan'''] and is also envisaged to be '''[http://GNUnet.org/en/about.html GNUnet]''' ready. Its keyboard should be also inter-swappable with known x2xx ThinkPad keyboard replacement via developed adapter and a frame. |
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| − | '''Google''', '''Samsung''', '''Acer''', '''Asus''', '''Dell''' and the other respective manufacturers already make inexpensive and a lightweight laptops, however they are locked in a certain software and hardware ecosystems and actually offer not too many security features. Also those devices do not work without the internet, so the reputation of such devices is often seen as a "personal data collecting devices", so that doesn't help to create a positive image towards such products.<br> | + | While being versatile and robust it also follows '''CERN OSHL''', '''GNU-GPL''', '''FOSS''', '''ISA''' and even '''CC''' guidelines. |
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| − | It is the fact that such devices also appear less flexible towards full '''FOSS''', '''GNU-GPL''' and '''EOMA''' guidelines that we want to use and set up as another standard for the new internet age.<br>
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| − | Such ethical standard is not based on a mere profit, but on protecting and also educating users of all ages on how '''not''' to engage in a voluntary dissemination of their private data all over the internet, often being used as a bait for large companies that take an advantage and make amazing profits because of such illiterate, involuntary, unconsciousness and irresponsible behaviour.<br>
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| − | '''BPCD''' is aimed to inexpensively enable end-user to control all the inputs via physical hardware switches and security dongles, preventing even a remote possibility to have system invaded or spied on by any 3<small>rd</small> party. <br> | |
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| − | <strong>I have nothing to hide. Who should be your target group than?</strong><br> | + | <small>What is all that FOSS and CC and OS…?</small> '''→''' [[Glossary]]<br> |
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| − | Here are some use cases and personas to which '''Balthazar''' just might appeal:<br>
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| − | '''1.''' '''An average basic internet user''' that requires some default security and develops a certain awareness on its own data privacy and is friendly-forced upon using the security and encryption through the default usage of the device.<br>
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| − | '''2.''' '''Advanced computer users, governmental and public institution's workers''' that need hardware and software features to prevent an intrusion and are skilled and aware enough, so they can use all the built in hardware and software features and use additional encryption for the prevention of official and personal data-theft protection through secure productivity apps and tools.<br> | + | <center><strong><big>'''For all children age 9-99.'''</big></strong></center> |
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| − | '''3.''' '''Educational institutions''' that will teach online security, privacy and safety. Also such institutions can make wide and creative use of a device’s on-board connections versatility and connectivity.<br>
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| − | Proposed children and schools oriented [[User Interface]] and [[User Experience]] is utilising '''Linux''' based age-adoptive [['''Aperture Operating System''']] and features secure online in-the-browser Workbench that has fully customizable productivity apps.<br>
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| − | Added to it all, educational community should find the value in overall physical sturdiness, software and a hardware sustainability of '''BPCD'''.<br>
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| − | '''TLDR;''' <strong><big>For the children age 9-99.</big></strong><br>
| + | Want to know more?<br> |
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| − | <strong>Ohh, so yet another '''OLPC''' thingy I can see upcoming, or what...?</strong><br>
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| − | '''OLPC''' is dead. As a duck. It was slow, underpowered, overdesigned and a bit pretentious.<br>
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| − | Also it was not available to everyone and it was a non-intentional neo-colonial tool that succumbed to the various proprietary and commercial interests at the end of its life time.<br>
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| − | Kudos to all the people who made it and maintained it for so long and out of love. Thanks for reaching out with a good intention on educating children, but it failed to recognise that target and its purpose was to be worldwide and for all the children and enthusiasts, not just patronising African and other developing nations, so - no cigar.<br>
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| − | We want to enable and support low-income individuals and communities all over the planet, while carefully partnering with “humaine” and ethical corporations along the way. Those will participate as a co-creators and will get '''Balthazars''' to give away, rent or borrow '''BPCD''' to those who are unable to afford it.<br>
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| − | Or, alternatively they can build their own curriculum around '''Balthazar''' ecosystem.<br>
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| − | We loosely partner with '''LEGO® Education, Google Education''', educational institutions, various charities, foundations and '''EU''' initiatives, so we can only hope they can deliver expected behaviour and a practice.<br>
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| − | So, '''Balthazar''' is <strong>NOT</strong> '''OLPC'''-alike, but it does follow some of the '''OLPC''' product design innovations and features, that are adopted and improved for today’s performance requirements, strictly focusing on privacy, safety and personal data protection and encrypted shared data or a retention of the same in its own “cloud”.<br>
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| − | <strong>But... A "Cloud" is free, cool, useful and hype.</strong><br>
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| − | Remember - a “Cloud” is just other people’s or corporations’ computers that store your data when you do "share" your stuff with them.<br>
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| − | <small>You do not really read small text ever, do you?</small><br>
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| − | <strong>So, why should my child want one?</strong><br>
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| − | Education being a very important issue today all over the planet is yet another field where BPCD could make an impact. New generations need to learn and understand the importance of being secure and how to care about their personal data, moreover on-board but retractable '''LEGO®''' specific RJ-12, Power Functions and GPIO connectors module enables users of all ages in controlling, testing and programming sensors, actuators and other electronic devices and gadgets from literally every manufacturer. ('''LEGO®''', '''Matrix''', '''VeX''', '''Arduino''' etc.)<br>
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| − | Want to know more?<br>
| + | <div style="background: #98bf00; margin: auto; column-count: 3;" class="menue"> |
| − | Please read the [[specifications and features]].
| + | * [[Goals]], [[Features]] and [[Specifications]] |
| | + | * [[News]] |
| | + | * [[FAQ|Frequently asked questions]] |
| | + | * [[Documentation]] and [[Instruction Manual]] |
| | + | * [[Links]] and [[Glossary]] |
| | + | * [[Contact|Contacts]] |
| | + | * [https://github.com/balthazar-space GitHub pages] |
| | + | </div> |
