Building an Open-Source Eink Laptop
summary
Project builds a proof‑of‑concept laptop called Archer with an i.MX7 dual mainboard and a 10.3" Waveshare panel; boards have arrived and initial 3D‑printed chassis is working. Team develops a open hardware EPDC called Caster implemented on an FPGA M.2 e‑key dev board to produce reusable waveforms hosted on GitHub. Key hurdles are proprietary waveform NDAs, display MOQ ≈ 10,000, injection‑molding cost, and software: aiming for a minimal Linux stack and a FreeCAD parametric chassis with Hackaday Prize and 2022 crowdfunding on the roadmap.
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chapters (17)
- 0:00Introduction
- 1:05ei2030 project
- 2:07Community e-ink laptop
- 3:18E-ink display challenges
- 5:07Archer hardware
- 6:33Chassis design obstacles
- 7:59Current OS gaps
- 9:44E-ink display sourcing
- 11:28Prototype manufacturing
- 12:09Next steps
- 13:12Q&A
- 14:57Hardware goals
- 16:42Open hardware benefits
- 17:23Outdoor usability
- 18:06Linux software limits
- 19:09Software reuse
- 20:11Closing remarks
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