ASUS Tinker Board

[Greyguy1948]

I have noticed that ASUS Tinker Board is now available in more than a few computer shops.
What are people doing with them?
I have some fun with Raspberry Pi 2 and 3. Can you do more with Tinker Board?

 

[Greyguy1948]

And here it is compared with Raspberry Pi 3:
https://browser.primatelabs.com/v4/cpu/compare/1073015?baseline=645812

 

[Valantar]

I'm fascinated by all these tiny and cheap single-board computers, but for the life of me I can't come up with an actual use for one personally. But then I'm the kind of person who thinks 95%+ of IoT stuff is either dumb, impractical or both. I like the idea of making a Pi Zero W into some sort of emulator gaming thingy, but seeing how my house is littered with far too many PCs I don't really have any reason to.

On the other hand, with the Tinker Board, it's actually somewhat feasible to use as a full-on computer. That's impressive.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

...But then I'm the kind of person who thinks 95%+ of IoT stuff is either dumb, impractical or both.

There have been, for a long time, embedded devices of various sorts. A Pi or similar machine can often be adapted to do the job for lower cost. I use one as a print server, for instance. We use a couple of Pis at work to run status display monitors.

They also are popular in the DIY community, as controllers for CNC machines and 3D printers. I haven't tried it, but I think the MAME cabinets people build with Pis are pretty cool, too.

You don't have to bolt them to your coffee maker. 😉

 

[Valantar]

There have been, for a long time, embedded devices of various sorts. A Pi or similar machine can often be adapted to do the job for lower cost. I use one as a print server, for instance. We use a couple of Pis at work to run status display monitors.

They also are popular in the DIY community, as controllers for CNC machines and 3D printers. I haven't tried it, but I think the MAME cabinets people build with Pis are pretty cool, too.

You don't have to bolt them to your coffee maker. 😉

Hm. A print server, you say? That's actually rather intriguing, given that the wireless connection built into my printer is pure garbage (most times I want to print something, I have to pull the power plug and reconnect it as it won't wake from sleep and accept wireless print jobs otherwise). I might look into that. Probably overkill for a Pi3 or Tinker board, but the Pi Zero W should handle that nicely, no? Thanks for the tip!

Also, I'd argue that you shouldn't bolt them to your coffee maker 😉 Although at least with a Pi/Tinker board/other SBC you'd get security patches from time to time, unlike "ready-made" IoT devices. Then again, perhaps some people like to help run the botnets of the world. To each their own, I guess.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I have a pi 3 I might use as a fanless / silent music jukebox with audio over the HDMI port. I haven't gotten around to it since the mini-ITX i3 system I use now is already working and is pretty quiet.

 

[Greyguy1948]

And here it is compared with Raspberry Pi 3:
https://browser.primatelabs.com/v4/cpu/compare/1073015?baseline=645812

Now I have started testing it. Documentation and support is not even close to Raspberry Pi. There are three terminal but only the LX terminal are readable. The text in the others are too small and only in one size so they could remove them...
The sound should be better than in Raspberry Pi but I have not tested yet. I guess 2 GB ram is the best in this board.

 

[DaveSimmons]

For the pi you can use the HDMI or Bluetooth for audio in place of the analog. HDMI would be decoded by your receiver / amplifier so should be perfect.