Henri Derksen wrote on 1/21/2018 1:44 AM:
> Hello Rick,
>
> HD>> The low price of the Pi Zero flows away, because of the costs of all the
> HD>> conversion cables to connect it to the outside world,
> HD>> i.e. micro HDMI to HDMI, micro USB2 to/from normal USB2A,
> HD>> USB2-RJ45 dongle etc.
> HD>> And then you still have less memory and less speed compaired to a Pi 3B.
>
> RC> That's true of the rPi anyway as the cost of the keyboard, mouse,
> RC> monitor and even a decent power supply ends up being significantly pricey
> RC> compared to the rPi itself.
>
> Yes, that's true, but that is not what I wanted to tell.
> I was comparing the costs of the Pi Zero and conversion cables to the regular
> Pi 1B, so to connect the same I/O cables (i.e. HDMI, USB2 and RJ45 EtherNet)
> as I would use on a normal Pi. So I can change a Pi 1B for a Zero in one go.
> Then I need at least these three conversion cables.

Ok, but what is the point of this?  When I got an rPi I had to buy two HDMI
cables, one to connect to the rPi and another to adapt to my DVI monitor.
Adapters are a fact of life... or you can buy the right cable in the first
place.


> RC> The zero doesn't need a microHDMI to HDMI converter, just have a
> RC> suitable cable.
>
> I already have two normal HDMI to HDMI, and two HDMI to DVI-D cables. So for
> a Pi Zero I only need a Micro HDMI-male to normal HDMI-Female, you see?

You have cables lying around not being used?  Mine are all connected to
computers.  Instead of buying cables you don't need, you should have bought
cables you can use like one with a micro-HDMI connector.


> With that short converters I can use the normal cables.

What's a "normal" cable?  Oh, any cable you already bought that isn't
correct for the application you have now?


> Or should I also buy a micro-HDMi to normal HDMI-male for the Pi Zero?
> and a Micro-HDMI to DVI-D one, that's also double ;-(
> So one simple short micro HDMI tot HDMI female will do right.
> Then I can choose to use the HDMI to HDMI cable, or the HDMI to DVI-D version
> incombination with that converter cable.

Buy the cables you need, when you need them.


> Of course I also have a normal HDMI to VGA converter for use at VGA monitors
> at computerclubs etc. Then I do not need to carry a monitor with me.
>
> RC> Everything I have is micro USB using a standard cable unless it's a
> RC> keyboard or mouse. You can use the zero headless just as well as
anything.
>
> I know, but I never use computers headless.
> Second, I do not have a smarth phone, so no micro usb needed ;-).
> The only micro USB I need are for the Pi's, and my Garmin 2595LMT
> autoroutenavigator.

Virtually everything I have is micro-USB and the laptop computer is the
*ONLY* type A USB device I have.


> RC> I guess costing a PC kinda blows the budget if you want to count that.
>
> Yes, but in reality you have to spend that to get a working combination.

I don't know what "working combination" means.  Why can't I use an rPi for
all my computing needs?  I was thinking of that the other day.  It could be
the ultimate Chrome book.  Instead of opening multiple browser windows on on
computer I could open windows on multiple rPis and connect into them via
Ethernet or wifi.  At $35 for a model 3 or $5 for a model zero, I could have
a *lot* of computing power at my finger tips for very little money compared
to a $1000 computer.


> Here people need inland ECDIS on their ships, and I made a solution with a Pi
> 3B and sell a complete configured microSDcard to them.
> Then they want to know what to buy else to get a complete system.
> So I made a complete description of the materials needed to get a full stand
> alone working ECDIS Pi system. If you count everything, a laptop costs more.

Exactly!  A LOT more.


> RC> What is the RJ-45 for?  You mean an Ethernet USB converter?
>
> Yes, is a simply Emiment EM1010 USB2 to RJ45 10/100bT EtherNet converter.
>
> RC> You can always develop you app on a regular rPi then use the zero in the
> RC> end device.

You deleted the context so I don't know what the point was.


> Yes, I know.
> I have 5 Pi's; 2 x 1B, 1B+, 2B and 3B, but no Zero.
> The Pi's 1B and 1B+ are running RISC OS, and the 2B and 3B are running
Raspbian
> and Ubuntu Linux.
> On the raspbian version with help I have compiled and installed OpenCPN 4.6.1
> with OpenSeaMap and S57 charts for Inland ECDIS as asked by European law.
> For the data transfer a FTDI USB2A to RS232c cable is needed between the
> Class A inland AIS-transponder and the Pi or laptop computer.
> We also find out a cheap 12 or 24 Vdc= to 5 Vdc= converter for powering the
Pi
> 3B. It is silly to first convert the ship's dc to normal power 230 Vac~ 50
Hz,
> and then convert that back to +5 Vdc=/2.5 Adc= for the Pi 3B.
>
> Now I am thinking to set up a Pi as a FidoNet mailer as a plan C.
> The amount of kilo Watts will dramatically drop, compared to this current
> FidoNet node on a 80486 pc with DOS 5 and an analoge V34 POTS modem.
> First I have to create (buy or build) an USB HDD, because when used
> intensively, a micro SDcard will soon die.
> Second I need to know which Linux software I can use?
> For RISC OS, I could use !ROSBink and have to find out what other software
> package as a tosser, scanner and mail-editor.
> I have a good FidoNet Point package !WimpLink that can be combined with
> !ROSBink, but I can not use that as a FidoNet Node.
> The other disadvantage is, that I then have to move mailpackets between
> software programs and also have to do some manual setup of FLO-files etc.
> for transferring every day.
> So I think the more recent Linux software will be a better choice for
> automatically importing and exporting FidoNet messages with less work?
> There is much to find out and learn, but my physical energy is very limited.
> So it is a slow proces, and other things in real life have higher priorities.
>
> Henri.
>


--

Rick C

Viewed the eclipse at Wintercrest Farms,
on the centerline of totality since 1998

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