[Hardware] Retro Computing On the Go With DevTerm

[YaKoMoS]

DevTerm is a series of portable computer kits from ClockworkPi that resembles the RadioShack / Tandy TRS-80 Model 100 portable computers of the 1980s. With big chunky keys, a wide, yet short, display and a thermal printer, these kits start from $219 for a model powered by the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3 with a further four models using custom "core modules" providing more powerful Arm processors.

DevTerm may look retro, but under the hood we have 21st century technology. With a ClockworkPi v3.14 mainboard designed to use SO-DIMM Computer on Module (CoM) boards, such as the Raspberry Pi Compute Module or other CoM boards, right now there are five supported CoMs. 

Could the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 be used with an adaptor such as those from Gumstix? We do hope so. At this time, the choice of CoM includes boards from the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3 1GB RAM and a quad-core Arm Cortex A53 CPU running at  a1.2 GHz clock speed to a 1.8 GHz hexa-core chip with 4GB of RAM. The model featuring the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3 is the lowest priced option.

CPI v3.14 mainboard uses a compact design, the size is reduced to 3.7 x 3 inches (95x77mm)
PMU chip that supports reliable and complete lithium battery charge and discharge management
Integrated 5G-WIFI (802.11ac), plus Bluetooth 5.0
High-gain antenna
3x USB-A 2.0 interface and an internal contact interface for the Keyboard module
USB-C charging port
TF card (MicroSD card) slot
40 Pins MIPI screen interface
MicroHDMI interface
3.5mm headphone/microphone jack
Onboard stereo audio power amplifier chip
40 Pins GPIOs expansion interface (using standard 0.5mm FPC connector)
52 Pins extension module interface (using standard Mini PCI-E connector) for the “EXT. module"
Standard DDR2-SODIMM 200 Pins interface: connects CPI v3.14 to the "Core module"

The mainboard features USB-A and USB-C ports, microHDMI and modular connections for the keyboard, screen and battery. A slot to the left of the mainboard, which is a mini PCIe connector, is used with an "EXT module" to provide a cooling fan, camera interface, GPIO interface and additional USB ports.