MXFB Raspberry Final

[chrispop99]

I am still in disbelief about this miracle! Sorry I am chiming in very late lol! So MX LINUX now exists as a Raspberry Pi installation image?? Is this what I am reading here? So is this image a full MX Linux distro like the Intel/AMD version but for the ARM CPU/Raspberry Pi boards??.. Oh so many questions, so little time lol!

So what is the BEST Raspberry Pi board I need to buy that will still be economical, hence the Raspberry Pi's primary existence being it was economical both in cost and power usage?

After DD imaging the MX LINUX ARM version to an SD card or other drive for the Raspberry pi, would I be able to remove packages I do not need, install ones I do want and need and then reimage a new image based on my installation at that time, to then reinstall on my pi or other pi machines at will?(MX-SNAPSHOT??). Or is that still only relegated to the PC platform for now?

These are the most important questions I can think of at the moment that beg an answer. I really do not want to use vanilla Debian Raspian or some other OS on a Pi board when I can finally use the only OS I really love.. soooo.. Any help please?

Which Pi to get depends on what you are wanting to do with it. For example, if you want a media machine running Kodi that is going to be on 24/7, next to your TV, I would actually advise a Pi 3. The Pi 4 really needs active cooling in the form of a fan when used in a case, making it noisy. The Pi 3 will run MX Fluxbox, but it is pretty slow.

If you want a machine to explore the various hardware add-ons available, a Pi 4 may be the best bet as it's GPIO pins are more readily accessible, and the add-ons will fit properly. It's the cheapest option if you already have a USB keyboard.

If your main interest as as a desktop replacement, it is likely the Pi 400 will be the best bet, especially if you don't have a spare keyboard around. Although using the same chip, the 400 is slightly over-clocked by default as it has a huge internal aluminium heat-sink inside; it makes it a bit faster then the Pi 4 out of the box.

Whichever you choose, I advise using a genuine PSU; the Pi 4 and Pi 400 need more power than the average USB charger can produce, and more importantly they have the voltage regulator set at 5.1 volts, reducing problems when sudden high current is needed.

Chris

[dolphin_oracle]

the only probably with the pi400 is that it does not have a headphone/lineout jack. I really like the pi400 though, and I leave one on 24/7 as a build server.

[pianokeyjoe]

@chrispop99 Thankyou for the more concise response! Thankyou ALL actually! My need is for Music and video playback device at FIRST. So a headphone line out audio port is a MUST. The next thing would be a VGA port for plugging any of my 100 LCD monitors I own. I only own ONE HDMI monitor and my son is using it for XBOX 1. Since the MXFBpi is only 32bit, it is pointless to buy an 8GB ram version pi module. The 4GB will have to do as the OS only finds 3.25GB of that anyway. So I would say the VLC and Audacious player option with the most stripped down version of X I can get away with and still have all the MX goodness and graphical interface functionality I need to use a file manager, VLC, volume mixer, and audacious. I would also want a picture viewer that I can set on slideshow while listening to music. Kodi tends to be a nice all in one solution but can be pretty heavy and WILL lock the system up after hours of use on low ram systems.

So a pi board with: Audio, VGA, ETHERNET, USB2 and SD card slot. 4GB ram minimum and graphics GPU that can play back at least 720p movie files(mp4), and mp3 at 192kbs at 16bit stereo.

Now special note* I have tons of intel based single board computer solutions and some are actually very good for my purposes but ever tried running a intel computer in a room with no air conditioning and it is 92 degree F in that room? And the thin client does NOT have a fan? Things get hot and hairy quicker rather than later.

Now since I am going to be new to pi world, and am only taking the plunge because my favorite OS is ported to it at last, I have a minimum goal and a ultimate goal.
The minimum goal is a media player that I can DIY and use what existing hardware I own(VGA lcd screens, touch screens, and my speakers).
The ultimate goal is a DIY small foot print cool running MIDI SYNTHESIZER/Midi sequencer module with a DIY LCD touch screen like what I seen for raspberry pis and tablets!

The heat has been the greatest distablizer to most of my solid state fanless computer projects and I can not run a Room AC in the music studio so it is HOT as hell. I need the electronics to run cool without any noise making fans.. Now in WINTER it is 50 degrees in the house so that is fine for electronics..(no heater no ac).

I know I have seen these tiny computers in factories and inside things that get hotter than 92 degrees F so these are my hardware specs and limitations. Software should now be just fine with MXFB pi!

[dolphin_oracle]

None of them have vga. I don’t think. I use a hdmi/vga converter

[pianokeyjoe]

None of them have vga. I don’t think. I use a hdmi/vga converter

Hi Oracle! Yes I saw that, I do have a HDMI to VGA cable. No biggie, the biggest issue is heat dissipation and stability in a closed case like the inside of a music keyboard or drum machine. While I see ALOT of cases and touchscreen cases for the pi, I am skeptical.. I did check prices for the 4B/8GB kit and it is more than buying a thin client. Sooo, I have options.

[HackerKitty]

I did check prices for the 4B/8GB kit and it is more than buying a thin client. Sooo, I have options.

Just a word of caution.

While I have no experience with thin client, I have 2 Intel Compute Sticks.
I found it more tricky to install Linux on them due to the driver issue for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and graphics/sound output.
Also, if it were one of those SOCs with 32bit BIOS with 64bit CPU, the installation is even more complicated.
It requires modified installer. See, for example,
https://linuxiumcomau.blogspot.com/2017 ... ation.html

With Raspberry Pi, there is no incompatibility problem with Linux.

As for the heating issue for RasPi4, I use Fan SHIM from Pimoroni https://learn.pimoroni.com/tutorial/san ... h-fan-shim
with a semi opened Pibow Coupé 4.
With a temperature controlling Python script (can be downloaded at Pimoroni site) it is quite efficient and quiet.

[Jerry3904]

I run the RPi 400 constantly and heat is never a problem with that huge sink in it.

[mikefeign]

Hi,

I install MXFB on my raspberry pi 4, 8gb. It works perfectly fine but I just don't get used to Fluxbox. So I installed XFCE and I keep everything as it is. However, I have some issue with the keyboard, it often miss capture the first typing. It seems not to respond correctly. I have the same issue when login, I need to wait quite a while before I can type the password because the keyboard not respond when I type.

Can I remove Fluxbox and Openbox? Because I am not using them right now. Thanks.

By the way, I like MX tools, especially the conky. Nice work.

[Jerry3904]

Fluxbox can be removed in Package Installer.

Openbox has nothing to do with MXFB, but I imagine you can just uninstall the package in the usual way using the command line (sudo apt remove openbox) or Synaptic.

[mikefeign]

Thank you Jerry, I've cleaned them and everything is still working fine. I also discover the battery of the keyboard is low that's why I got no response. After changing a new battery, everything is fine now.