Not $9 - but how much for an Arduino programming computer - ie the cheapest

[ez24]

Subject:  Cheapest computer to program an arduino that has a monitor and keyboard and ports to connect to arduino

Hi

Once I wanted to put together an arduino development system (breadboards, power supplies, scopes, meters, etc) on the cheap until I ran into the costs of the PC needed to program it, which stopped me.

Now by reading this post:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/crowd-funded-projects/9] [url]https://www.eevblog.com/forum/crowd-funded-projects/9$-computer/  [/url]


And learning there is no $9 computer, it got me thinking of actually how cheap could a computer be to suit my needs as a Arduino programming platform.  Here are my specs:

-  I want an external keyboard (USB)

-  A monitor for text (as far as I know graphics is not needed).  A computer monitor is expensive and heavy so I want to find another solution.   I am thinking about the Noikia 5110 LCD

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/5pcs-blue-84X48-Nokia-5110-LCD-Module-with-blue-backlight-with-adapter-PCB-for-Arduino-freeshipping/32266154889.html

seems that it can do a lot and is small and cheap.  Any other ideas on a monitor that can be used for basic text for programming ?     A smaller LCD such as a 4 line one is too small.

A tablet might be useable if I could figure out how to use it.  All my searches show an android tablet being used with the tablet keyboard.  I want an external keyboard and have not see one in my searches (and control the arduino at the same time).  I wonder if a bluetooth keyboard could be used?

- I think a SD card to load and run the software is the way to go, and I will use a laptop to load the SD card from the net.  There will be an instructor who can program any SD cards or memory and students who will only program the arduino using the cheap computer.

- No music playing, no video game playing, no wi-fi, no ethernet, no bluetooth, no internet.  I do not know if I need HDMI


Some names from the $9 post:

(Allwinner boards) CubieBoard, PCduino, BananaPi   and  Beagle boards and Raspberries


From this site:   

http://www.infoworld.com/article/2606715/computer-hardware/162645-7-cheap-computing-boards-for-scratching-your-maker-itch.html

come these additional names:


-  Intel NUC  (seems too expensive)

-  Intel Galileo Gen 2

My guts tells me to go with the pi, but KISS is important

So I would like to get some comments on these to suit my needs

thanks in advance

[kolonelkadat]

you can get a full on laptop for less than a raspi. heres a bunch of probably decent ones for under 50 bucks.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/Laptops-Netbooks-/175672/i.html?_from=R40&LH_ItemCondition=3000&Operating%2520System=Windows%25208%7CWindows%25207%7CWindows%2520Vista%7CWindows%2520XP%7CLinux&_nkw=laptop&_dcat=177&rt=nc&_mPrRngCbx=1&_udlo&_udhi=50

[Kevman]

I haven't tried it, but you should be able to what you want using one of those cheapo $49 android tablets, as long as it supports USB O2G...

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=name.antonsmirnov.android.arduinodroid2

[ez24]

Any old laptop made in the last 10 years will suffice for Arduino programming.

I would like to come up with a smaller solution and something new that can be bought in quanity ie like 10 of the same thing to be used in a classroom.  Having different models and makes in a classroom is hard to manage.

I'd suggest staying away from an ARM based board or Linux. Just because you are asking the question. I think if either or both were suitable for you the you probably wouldn't have needed to ask the question.

Seems that if everyone knew their answers then there would be no forum?   But maybe I asked on the wrong forum?

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=name.antonsmirnov.android.arduinodroid2

I have seen this and a lot of other sites related to this.  They all use the keyboard on the tablet.  I think it is not practical to use a tablet keyboard to write programs.  It seems like a bluetooth keyboard would work BUT why has no one done it?  I have ordered a bluetooth keyboard and will try this app.  I think this forum was the wrong place to ask my question.  It just that the $9 computer subject got a lot of action.  After this dies off, I am going to just ask for a cheap computer with no conditions.

thanks

[amyk]

Having different models and makes in a classroom is hard to manage.

It's not like they're programming the computer itself, all you need is a PC with a USB port - of which there are many available, even for free as mentioned above.