R11 Travel

Work in progress and I plan to clean it up later.

I still have dreams of my Chromebook project that I never really kept up, as the x220 was just so much better of a laptop than anything else, but still want to try.

Now while I still want a cheap laptop for traveling and camping, I know it’s werid to want to take a computer to the middle of nowhere sorrounded by nature shoving my nose in a screen, a new added idea would be a shop computer. I am also tired of GUI interfaces and also want to get used to DWM and to use termanal based programs or rather light weight programs.

This would also be great for a class computer for note taking (though the x220T is better but bulkier and “louder” with its fan)

So for this project I want the following:

  1. Cheap
  2. Low spec (adversity is the mother of invention)
  3. Long battery life
  4. Light
  5. Touch screen for tablet mode
  6. Expandable storage
  7. Easy of self repair

Acer Chromebook N15Q8 (R11) - $40 Ebay

Specs:

You will see a lot of these going by N15Q8 or Rll, there is also like all chromebooks a couple of varations so read carfully. Some have SSDs but that is rare, most while labeled SSD mean EEMC and have no ability to upgrade.

This hits 90% of the list, cheap, low spec, light(er), touch screen, and with the Flash card slot expandable storage, and its easy to repair and get parts (well buy another one for =>$40 for parts). Long batter life is TBD, though I know it can last a couple hours so far.

Go here to see how the basic prosses works to get the chromebook ready. Maybe I’ll make a video, but really it’s pretty simple. Find your board on mr.chromebox and follow the directions. If you have issues you will find someone that has the same and a solution online I promise.

This R11 had an issue with the install script, I have forgotten what it was but I got it running after a search.

Software:

I took insperation from LARBS the list of programs is here.

Follow this guide to DWM install and setup then this guide to ricing DWM.

Thats about all I have done so far, started to get the NVIM ready for use. Wifi is crap so I will probably get rid of it and use a doggle.

To Do:

  1. Auto mount drives
  2. Get the Nvim set up with spellcheck and other note taking stuff
  3. Pick a notes program or just do files and folders
  4. Set up Termux for a static screen for shop computer
  5. Expand termainal programs
  6. Use microsd for more storage of notes and files or a small flashdrive
  7. See if it is possble to replace the wifi/BT with a ssd
  8. Small wifi/BT doggle
  9. Work flow