More of a thought exercise/game than anything else. I saw the news that 486 support was getting cut from linux, and I was curious just how cheaply someone could replace a desktop 486 system with something new (provided the device had all the connectivity they needed).
Rules:
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Device must be able to run linux.
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Device should be cheap as possible. A good starting point is probably sub 40usd.
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The device must in someway support a mouse, keyboard, display, and the internet. If adapters are necessary for this connectivity, that cost should be included.
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Power supply should be included in the cost of the device. (in the case of most SBCs this is just the cost of a USB cable and wall wart)
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The device must be new & still in production. I know used devices like laptops would probably have been king here, but I don’t think that would be nearly as interesting.
I suspect that SBCs and other arm devices will be the most common suggestions.
I personally know about the Raspberry Pi Zero which can be had for ~$10, and with all the added accessories necessary to make it a full computer (usb splitters, usb power, usb to rj45, storage) it costs around ~$35. Not bad at all but I’m pretty sure we can do even better!
This is an extremely regional problem to solve. Where I am, which is a village and exurban-ruural, you would go to the electronics recycling depot and see if they have any choice items. Also you could call the various independent pc repair people to see if they have anything no longer supported but functional for free or cheap.
Also there’s various thrift stores that sometimes have computers cheap.
The closest big city is Vancouver so to curb cruise there I would pick upper middle class neighbourhoods with alleyways, and drive around on garbage collection days. I wouldn’t really dumpster dive unless I knew of a likely source from hearsay.