- The Comet is a mix of Raspberry Pi, Simputer and Project Ara with a hint of Game Boy
- Its notable feature is the use of hardware extensions that can be quickly removed.
- It will be launched very soon on the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform.
Developed in India in the early 2000s, the Simputer (a simple, inexpensive mobile computer) was a revolutionary Linux laptop that many believe inspired Apple’s iPhone (and by extension, Android devices). It featured a touchscreen interface, pen input with handwriting recognition, an accelerometer, and a primary USB port – all innovations well ahead of their time.
I mention the Simputer now because I remember a brand new modular handheld that will soon debut on Kickstarter – the Mecha Comet is a portable Linux device aimed at developers, makers, and DIYers.
Running on open source software, the device has a magnetic interface for replaceable expansions, which currently include a game controller, keyboard and GPIO breakout board. Users can also design and create their own extensions using Mecha’s open source design files and community support.
Mechanix operating system
The Mecha Comet is powered by a 1.8GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor with 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage.
Its 3.4-inch IPS LED touchscreen offers a compact yet functional display for various tasks. Connectivity includes dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz/5.0 GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, two USB 2.0 ports, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. The device also includes a 5 MP camera with autofocus, two digital microphones and an HD speaker.
Running Mechanix OS, a Debian-based operating system, the Comet is compatible with over 60,000 software packages from the Debian repository. Users can also port other Linux distributions. Mechanix Shell, built in Rust, supports GPU rendering on Wayland.
Mecha envisions the Comet as a versatile tool for various applications, such as a DIY Linux phone, drone launchpad, AI assistant, nanosatellite controller, automotive diagnostic tool, radio transceiver, controller of DIY robot and even a tricorder inspired by Star Trek. Some of these ideas might just be wishful thinking, however.
The Comet, which measures 150mm x 73.55mm x 16mm and weighs 220g, has a 3,000mAh battery charged via USB-C and includes a gyroscope, real-time clock (RTC), and converter analog-digital (ADC) for an extended project. possibilities. Its security features include a trust anchor with CC EAL 6+ certification and accelerated cryptographic capabilities.
Kickstarter backers will be able to enjoy some very early rewards when the project goes live shortly, with pricing for the Mecha Comet starting at $159.
