
Argon ONE UP Open Source ARM : Raspberry Pi CM5 Laptop
ETA Prime explore how the Argon ONE UP stands out in the world of Raspberry Pi laptops, from its premium aluminum chassis to its powerful modular design. You'll discover how its 14-inch IPS display, advanced connectivity options, and support for high-speed M.2 SSDs make it a versatile tool for coding, media editing, and beyond. But what truly sets it apart is its open source ethos, empowering users to tailor both hardware and software to their exact needs. Whether you're curious about its real-world performance or eager to see how it bridges the gap between DIY tech and polished functionality, this deep dive will reveal why the Argon ONE UP is more than just a laptop—it's a revolution in portable computing. Argon ONE UP Overview Key Features and Highlights
The Argon ONE UP distinguishes itself through its thoughtful design and advanced technical capabilities. Its standout features include: A durable aluminum chassis that ensures portability without compromising on strength.
that ensures portability without compromising on strength. A 14-inch IPS display with a 1920×1200 resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio for sharp visuals and an immersive viewing experience.
with a 1920×1200 resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio for sharp visuals and an immersive viewing experience. Powered by the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 , with RAM configurations ranging from 4GB to 16GB to suit various performance needs.
, with RAM configurations ranging from 4GB to 16GB to suit various performance needs. Support for a 2280 M.2 SSD , offering faster storage speeds compared to traditional microSD cards.
, offering faster storage speeds compared to traditional microSD cards. Comprehensive connectivity options , including USB, HDMI, and GPIO access for versatile use cases.
, including USB, HDMI, and GPIO access for versatile use cases. Customizable open source software and hardware, allowing users to tailor the device to their specific requirements. Design and Build: A Perfect Balance of Style and Functionality
The Argon ONE UP features a premium aluminum chassis that combines durability with a lightweight design, making it an ideal companion for users on the move. Its 14-inch IPS display delivers crisp visuals and vibrant colors, thanks to its 1920×1200 resolution and 16:10 aspect ratio. This ensures a comfortable viewing experience whether you're coding, streaming videos, or browsing the web.
The laptop's backlit keyboard enhances usability in low-light environments, while the inclusion of a dedicated Raspberry Pi key provides quick access to essential functions. Paired with a responsive multi-touch trackpad, the Argon ONE UP offers a polished and professional user experience that rivals traditional laptops. Argon ONE UP Raspberry Pi Laptop soon Launching on Kickstarter
Watch this video on YouTube.
Master Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 (CM5) with the help of our in-depth articles and helpful guides. Hardware and Performance: Built to Excel
At the heart of the Argon ONE UP is the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 (CM5), available in configurations with 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB of RAM. This modular design not only ensures compatibility with future Raspberry Pi upgrades but also extends the device's lifespan, making it a long-term investment for users.
The laptop supports a 2280 M.2 SSD, allowing significantly faster read and write speeds compared to microSD cards. This makes it well-suited for tasks that demand quick data access, such as software development, media editing, and emulation. Built-in Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth connectivity ensure seamless wireless communication, allowing you to connect to networks and peripherals with ease.
To maintain optimal performance, the Argon ONE UP is equipped with a built-in fan and an aluminum heat sink for efficient thermal management. This cooling system supports overclocking, allowing users to push the Raspberry Pi module to its limits without risking overheating. Connectivity and Versatility
The Argon ONE UP excels in connectivity, making it a versatile tool for a wide range of applications. Its ports and interfaces include: USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports for high-speed data transfer and peripheral support.
for high-speed data transfer and peripheral support. A USB Type-C port that doubles as a charging port and GPIO adapter interface.
that doubles as a charging port and GPIO adapter interface. A full-size HDMI output for connecting external displays.
for connecting external displays. A microSD card slot for additional storage options.
for additional storage options. A 3.5mm audio jack for headphones or external speakers.
Additionally, the inclusion of a custom GPIO access adapter enhances its functionality, allowing users to connect sensors, modules, and other hardware for development projects. Software and Customization: Tailored to Your Preferences
One of the most compelling aspects of the Argon ONE UP is its open source nature, which allows for extensive software and hardware customization. The device includes custom battery control software that provides real-time battery percentage monitoring, making sure you stay informed about power levels during extended use.
The multi-touch trackpad enhances navigation, making tasks like web browsing, document editing, and coding more intuitive. Whether you're a developer looking to tweak the software or a hobbyist interested in modifying the hardware, the Argon ONE UP offers the flexibility to cater to your specific needs. Audio and Additional Features
The Argon ONE UP is equipped with stereo speakers that deliver clear audio for everyday tasks such as media playback, video calls, and casual listening. While the sound quality may not rival high-end audio systems, it is more than sufficient for general use.
Currently in its prototype stage, the Argon ONE UP is undergoing refinements to ensure a polished final product. A Kickstarter campaign is expected to launch soon, providing updates and an opportunity for early adopters to support the project and secure their own device. Redefining Raspberry Pi Laptops
The Argon ONE UP Raspberry Pi-powered laptop will soon be launching on Kickstarter. Combining the modularity and flexibility of the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 with a sleek, functional design. It bridges the gap between open source development platforms and traditional laptops, offering a unique solution for developers, hobbyists, and tech enthusiasts alike.
With its robust hardware, advanced features, and open source ethos, the Argon ONE UP is poised to become a valuable tool for anyone seeking a portable, customizable computing environment. Whether you're coding on the go, experimenting with new projects, or simply exploring the possibilities of Raspberry Pi technology, this laptop delivers a compelling blend of performance and versatility.
Media Credit: ETA PRIME Filed Under: Hardware, Laptops, Top News
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The Guardian
a day ago
- The Guardian
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There's a common misconception that state-of-the-art technology has to be expensive, energy consumptive and hard to engineer. That's because we have been persuaded to believe that innovative technology is whatever bombastic billionaires claim it is, whether that's commercial spacecraft or the endless iterations of generative AI tools. As the Canadian technologist and engineer Ursula Franklin once said, fantasies of technology would have it that innovation is always 'investment-driven, shiny, lab-born, experimental, exciting'. But more often than not, in the real world, it is 'needs-driven, scrappy, on location, iterative, practical, mundane'. The real pioneering technologies of today are genuinely useful systems I like to call 'frugal tech', and they are brought to life not by eccentric billionaires but by people doing more with less. They don't impose top-down 'solutions' that seem to complicate our lives while making a few people very rich. It turns out that genuinely innovative technology really can set people free. Last month at Berlin's once hippy, now increasingly corporatised Re:publica conference, for example, I met researchers from the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), who are using technologies such as software-defined radios and spectrum sensing to allow people in low-resource environments to stay connected despite limited bandwidth, power, hardware and communication infrastructure. These technologies are the basis of the local community networks that supply coverage to the 2.5 billion people globally who lack internet access. In the Niger Delta, which suffers from toxic levels of air pollution from its oil industry, APC is setting up connections and deploying low-cost sensors that monitor the environment. These play a crucial role in how locals can advise children when to stay inside and which areas to avoid playing in. This infrastructure is managed for and by the municipality, serves a pressing need and can be installed and built by the people who deploy it. Unlike, say, ChatGPT or a Blue Origin space rocket. The fact is, while generative AI is lauded as the technology of the minute, iterations such as Dall-E 3, Google Gemini and GPT are irrelevant to those who don't have enough internet bandwidth to use them. The new digital divide is the gap between the top end of the global population – who have access to these power-intensive technologies – and those at the bottom, whose internet access, or lack of, remains static. That's why some of today's most brilliant minds are working out how to manage the trade-off between internet range and bandwidth, and whether there are obstacles in the way such as mountains and foliage. The fact is that good innovation also often involves lobbying for good. So while big tech poured hundreds of millions into watering down the EU AI Act, good tech lobbies for better internet provisions for all. Policy and innovation go hand in hand, meaning that the consequences of good technology far exceed the technology itself, extending to governance and social welfare. At Re:publica's 'maker space', I fiddled around with DIY solar-powered sensors that can be built using a Raspberry Pi computer and off-the-shelf components such as humidity sensors. I lost my partner, an engineer by training, to a microscope designed by the OpenFlexure project that was made from 3D printed materials. Microscopes are crucial for diagnosing infections but can cost millions of pounds, making them entirely inaccessible for many people across the globe. This one is lightweight, costs next to nothing and is open source, meaning that anyone can reproduce the design by 3D printing parts and cobbling them together with shop-bought motors and circuit boards. A bit like a cheap Ikea wardrobe, except that all the bits you need to assemble it can be bought inexpensively from a local electronics shop. Manufacturers from Ghana and Wales to Chile and Australia are all using OpenFlexure's designs to give people everywhere access to low-source microscopy. We might think generative AI has invaded all corners of our lives, but this couldn't be further from the truth. What is actually prolific and relevant to the majority are low-cost technologies that solve day-to-day business and social problems. While most of what we consider to be 'hi-tech' is closed off behind proprietary algorithms, the open-source technologies above all require community involvement. This can be immensely empowering, and can improve public trust: it's hard (and unwise) to give yourself over to a technology that won't tell you how it works, particularly when its predefined settings allow only for meagre approaches to 'user privacy'. As I ask my students, if you could develop an AI at your own home, and programme it to reflect your values and prioritise your safety, wouldn't you trust it more? Well, the idea isn't so outlandish – it only feels impossible because big tech firms want us to think it is. What is most outstanding about frugal innovation is not just that its technologies are impressive, but that it might actually prompt systemic change by showing people that tech can be developed locally, and not just imported from Silicon Valley. When farmer Chris Conder dug her own fibreoptic cables on her property in Lancashire, she set out 'to prove that ordinary people could do it … it wasn't rocket science'. By demonstrating that fast internet could be connected with fibre-optic cable, a digger and the desire to just get on and do it, she spawned an organisation called B4RN, which promotes community fibre partnerships. Tech bros may want you to believe there is no point in making something new unless it is difficult, inaccessible and exclusionary. But technological innovation is about collaboration as much as it is about competition. For many people across the world, a product's value isn't in a sky-high valuation, or in it being impossible to take apart (as with impenetrable iPhones). Often, the smartest technologies are those that distil a problem down to its bread and butter components in order to disseminate a solution to the masses. So, while innovative individuals and communities around the world quietly get on with improving their lives and those around them, it's high time the rest of us stopped being passive recipients of technology, and started asking ourselves what kind of world we want to live in and how to create it. Must the setting for innovation be £1bn-plus buildings like Google's new London offices in King's Cross, located in nations that can afford to stomach eye-watering training costs and compute power requirements? Or might we instead be able to steer innovation from within our very communities – or households? Eleanor Drage is a senior research fellow at the University of Cambridge's Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence and co-author of the The Good Robot: Why Technology Needs Feminism