not sure if it just me or what.
i can just get those cheap android TV (mk802) for around rm200, comes with a keyboard/mouse/controller

for RPI, i need to add extra keyboard, mouse, wifi adapter, powered usb hub, etc... it will cost me over rm200 (including rpi + sd card)

if i want a android UI/something that just work, for the cost vs benefit wise, i would just choose those cheap android tv (can get from garage sales, ebay, etc)

if i want NAS/BT server/media player/web server/cheap pc/lots of modding/diy/home automation (+arduino)/toy (big boys toy) = i would get RPI


btw, no offend to u...
hopefully i didnt annoy u

RM60 MK802 clone. Delivery maybe 3-4 weeks but worth it.

http://dx.com/p/u2-mini-android-4-0-networ...-iii-1gb-145864

I think for RPi just stick with Linux. For Android, it's matured with A10 or RK3066 or harkernel Exynos boards.

I guess everyone has their own preference. Initially i dont care much about the casing as well. However I come to notice it could easily damaged (water split, vapor, dust) by the environment if you planned to run it 24/7. At least, with a proper case, it has some protection.

Please check your inbox, i had replied you regarding the acrylic casing!

Is this available in Malaysia or the only way I can get it is via buying it online?

can order from elements14 malaysia

just get it online man. i had my doubts before, but it's just way better this way.

Rs online with stock. 3 days delivery

Just had a thought about your button requirements.
Have you considered jukebox type selector keypad to choose ROMs to load?
Two rows of letters and numbers.
For 30 items to choose you'll just need two rows of 5 and 6 buttons.
5 of letters A - E and 6 of numbers 1 - 6.
To select any item, just press A2 or D4 etc., etc.
You'd only need 11 GPIOs and no need for so many wires or diodes as in keyboard hack or the keyboard matrix board.

A keyboard matrix would need far less GPIO no? at least that's what I thought. and I thought a keyboard matrix would do exactly like what you suggested? as in, give a matrix output?

if I could just hack open a keyboard and somehow take out the membrane keys and connect wires+buttons to it..... should be possible kan?

They seems to sell it cheaper.

Yeah, maybe buying online is better and cheaper.

Rs sells it more expensive than elements14, but 3 days delivery is attractive.

Btw, can it boot from flash drives or I can only use SD cards?

can, but still need the sd card. at least for now.

ok thanks.

To matrix 30 keys you'd need 6 X 5 (11GPIOs).
That's plenty of buttons, wires (unless you make a PCB) and plenty of diodes to prevent "phantom" keys.
Plenty of drilling too.

For keyboard hack you'd still need plenty of wires and 30 buttons.
Advantage is minimal coding.

For jukebox type selector you just need 11 GPIOs, 11 wires and 11 buttons.
Coding would be simpler than for matrix.

if element14 has stock, it arrives the next day if u pay in the morning. i've bought many things from them and really quite satisfied.

if they have no stock and it takes very long (i bought the adafruit pi cobbler), they will call and tell u estimated waiting time (my case 4-5 wks )

btw, this is so sweet:

then i suppose i'd be going with the usb keyboard way lah. i'm gonna use a usb hub anyway. just need to figure out how to replace the membrane keys on the keyboard with long wires and switches, if that's even possible (i'm sure it is, just don't quite understand how membrane key works that's all).


in other news, this usb-powered lcd monitor is awesome. no stand though, since it's meant to be portable. so i use my 18kg barite mineral as one



running berryboot, with a selection of raspbian+openelec+rasprazor+puppy+berrywebserver+sugar. screen currently showing rasprazor and my newly-installed chromium, seems to be very fast. uses more memory than midori, but handles just like google chrome. can't show many tabs though... still, impressed with RPi's version of chromium.



This post has been edited by C-Fu: Jan 8 2013, 12:14 PM

Skip the membrane keyboard part and wire directly into the chip.
You just need to figure how the keyboard actually is wired to the chip.

yeah i know. still trying to figure out how

element14 has it. adafruit.com too, as well as on ebay.

element14 no stock but i ordered it anyway. i think sgbotic.com has stock but they dun reply my email so didnt order from them.

the price is same element & rs online