The DevTerm is a new portable computer with a very old aesthetic. Designed to look like an old school portable terminal, this modular, open source computer features a 6.8 inch, 1280 x 480 pixel IPS display, a keyboard, and battery module plus an optional built-in thermal printer.
Under the hood is a ClockworkPi v3.14 mainboard with a slot for a computer-on-a-module. So far the system is designed to support five different modules, with specs ranging from 1GB of RAM and a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor to 4GB of RAM and a hexa-core chip with Cortex-A72 and Cortex-A53 cores. But more could be added in the future.
The DevTerm is up for pre-order for $219 and up, with the most affordable model powered by a Raspberry Pi Computer Module 3, while other versions feature custom modules from ClockWork.
The company expects to begin shipping the DevTerm to customers in April, 2021.
If ClockWork sounds familiar, that’s because this is the same company that makes the GameShell handheld game console I tested a few years ago. While that system was designed for gaming and this new device is more of a productivity/programming machine, the basic idea is similar: open hardware with a modular design.
The company plans to publish schematics and design materials at the GitHub page for the project under a GPL v3 license.
In addition to the compute module, the mainboard features USB-A, USB-C, micro HDMI, and 3.5mm audio ports, GPIO pins, and connectors for the screen, keyboard, and battery as well as a connector an “Ext. Module” board that features speakers, a fan interface, camera interface, and additional ports.
Theoretically a DIY or third-party board could also add features like cellular modems, or sensors. And ClockworkPi says it’s also evaluating additional CPU architectures, so it’s possible that you may eventually be able to use compute modules with RISC-V, x86, or FPGA+ARM architecture with the DevTerm.
The DevTerm’s keyboard features 67 keys with a mini trackball (instead of a touchpad) in the top row and three mouse click buttons below the space bar. With X,Y,B, and A buttons on the right side, and direction arrows on the left, the DevTerm could also be used for some retro gaming.
You can find more details at the ClockworkPi DevTerm web page, or pre-order from the ClockworkPi Shop.
va @Hal_clockwork, and thanks for the tip Jonathan!
ELLO 3 are thinest https://hackaday.io/project/9692-ello-2m
why not zx88 similar enclosure?
who long this device work? my psion 5 with linux work week
Looks like my TRS-80 model 100. I’ll have to check to see if it still works. Did a few years ago. Has an advanced rom.
Reminds me of the MailBug teminal back in 2006.
https://mailbug.com
https://www.amazon.com/Landel-MailBug-Email-Appliance-LT-302W/dp/B00004LMEC
As someone who cut their teeth on a trs-80 model 100 I’m excited to see this. Its a dead ringer for the NEC variant originally developed by Kyocera.
Reminds me if that TRS-80 Model 100 I wanted as a kid, but could not afford back then. I’m definitely getting one but after it ships 🙂
Exactly what I was thinking. Radio Shack TRS all the way.
Lovely retro aspect and very nice to have compute module instead of having a non removable CPU/compute.
On other side I suspect 2×1680 batteries capacity could only delivery small battery life, worse with more hungry compute modules.
NICE!
Appropriate username!
I like the Ultrawide display they have in this thing, though I bet it adds to the price a lot. Shame that form factor isn’t available at circa 15 inches.
This would be the perfect terminal for this machine… I am getting one, just so I can run Cool-Retro-Term on this. 🙂 https://youtu.be/2Hq6DM8c8Y8