New Tauon User

Hawk
New Member

Posts: 10

New Tauon User Sept 29, 2021 5:27:17 GMT

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Post by Hawk on Sept 29, 2021 5:27:17 GMT

Hi All,
Just ordered my Tauon PC-1 today and looking forward to it arriving.

I'm not sold on the Android OS yet, as I ran my eeePC on Android for a while and found it difficult to operate without a touch screen. OK for games, but not for everything.

I am very interested in Modern Retro Computers...that is, computers that are in the style of 80s/90s home computers, but made using modern components. I see the Tauon PC-1 as a great example of this. Others include Raspberry Pi 400, TheC64, C64 DTV, FabGL ESP32, Colour Maximite.

I am looking forward to trying BBC BASIC for SDL 2.0 on the Taoun. I hope the versions of Android are compatible.

I like the simple form/factor of the Tauon PC-1 and am looking to make something similar for 3D printing based around the FabGL ESP32. I would like this to have a much simpler OS based around either a BBC BASIC interpreter or Python interpreter.

I like the goals of the Tauon PC-1 as a low cost educational computer. I look forward to seeing how well it meets it's goal.

Cheers,
Mike

mc10guru
New Member

Posts: 24

New Tauon User Sept 30, 2021 13:22:04 GMT

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Post by mc10guru on Sept 30, 2021 13:22:04 GMT

Ahoy and welcome,
I think you will see that the Tauon OS, a custom version of Android 7.1, works well as a desktop. I never have seen an instance when I wished I had a touch screen, unlike Android 6 on my Pinebook. I use Foxit to read PDF files. On the Pinebook, I must grab and move to scroll the pages. In Tauon OS I can use the scroll wheel to do the same thing. So just think of Tauon OS as a full desktop OS not a kludged phone op sys.

If you are looking for the full 1980s "boot to BASIC" experience get Engine BASIC NG at basicengine.org/nextgen.html
You can burn it to a very small sdcard (I use a 4Gb leftover). Boot the burned sdcard and in about 2 seconds you are at a BASIC prompt ready for action. For the full "home computer" experience use a composite monitor with the Tauon.
Have a great time! daveyb

Hawk
New Member

Posts: 10

New Tauon User Oct 1, 2021 3:43:44 GMT

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Post by Hawk on Oct 1, 2021 3:43:44 GMT

Thanks for your welcome daveyb,
I'm happy to hear that the OS operates like a regular desktop OS.
Thanks for the pointer to the BASIC Engine site. I have come across that site quite a while ago when looking for versions of BASIC to use, but hadn't seen the updated version. I will definitely give that a try on the Tauon PC-1.
I also like the earlier version of the BASIC Engine, however the construction may be difficult for the teenagers I had in mind. It could not be easily made up on a bread board or prototype PCB. Also, the composite output would require a TV, rather than the readily available (free) VGA monitors available these days.
I'm sure I will have more questions when my Taoun PC-1 arrives and I start to play with it.
Cheers,
Mike

Hawk
New Member

Posts: 10

New Tauon User Oct 20, 2021 10:53:40 GMT

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Post by Hawk on Oct 20, 2021 10:53:40 GMT

Wahoo...my Tauon PC-1 arrived today, and I'm using it to write this post. :^)
I'm impresssed by the level of effort that the designer has put in to making this product possible. Clearly it is no Raspberry Pi 400, that has been stated on some of the forums that I've visited, but then it doesn't cost as much as a Raspberry Pi 400, and also didn't have the size team that the Raspberru Pi 400 had behind it.
I'm happy to support the developers by buying and trying their product.
I want to load up BASIC Engine, but also want to be able to reinstall TauonOS, so want to ensure that I can get back to where I started.
The only issue I had starting up was getting it to output to my monitor...it didn't like the HDMI to DVI cable. That's a shame, as I really want to run it on some older small Sony DVI monitors that I have.
I was surprised that the CPU runs so hot (80+degC). I guess I'll get active cooling on it to ensure that it isn't damaged.
Thanks very much for a cool little machine.

Last Edit: Oct 20, 2021 10:54:09 GMT by Hawk

Post by Hawk on Sept 29, 2021 5:27:17 GMT

Post by mc10guru on Sept 30, 2021 13:22:04 GMT

Post by Hawk on Oct 1, 2021 3:43:44 GMT

Post by Hawk on Oct 20, 2021 10:53:40 GMT

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