Subj : got my new pi400 and pi3b
To   : All
From : Daniel
Date : Wed Jun 26 2024 00:58:23

My orders came in separately. The amazon order of the ultra super
ridiculous mode high speed micro sd came in the day before the pi400 and
3b. Didn't waste time and installed the latest image on the flash drive
ahead of time, so the 400 would have something to boot right away.

Initially, it took a long time for the clock to sync. Then it timed
out. I tried everything to get the damned thing to sync. Without that, I
can't do anything online or even get patches.

So I fired up the pi3b and, same thing. That's when I realized it had to
be network related. And sure enough, my firewall had no allow rules for
NTP on the zone they are installed in.

the pi3b is about 80% of what the machine it replaces is currently. Once
I compile one application it'll be sufficiently replaced. It will soon
become a pi-hole too.

The Pi400 quickly established itself as my desktop replacement. The
computer it replaced is currently living in the corner of my study,
waiting to see what it's next phase of life will be. I may install a
fresh image of linux and donate it.

Things yet to do: upgrade the microsd in the pi3 to something newer and
faster. It's currently running a slower 16gb micro from my old
tablet. It failed the system check, as I expected. And in some cases,
the system has a kernel panic during reboot, or it freezes after hours
of my being afk.

I'm 99% sure it's the stupid microsd I put in it. Only temporary that. I
have ordered a much faster 64gb today. I'll have it in a few days.

Now I'll list my minor complaints on the 400:

1. Keyboard is needlessly small.
    *I wonder why the couldn't pick a model that has, at least, separate
    arrow keys from the pgup/pgdn/home/end. Those keys are something I
    use all the time and, awkward it is that I have to use function to
    enable their use.
    *Not sure why they couldn't choose a full-size keyboard model for
    this project. They're plentiful and inexpensive.
    *I hope the Pi500, if they ever make one, will be framed in a full
    sized keyboard.

2. No audio jack
    *What can I say, i still love listening to music, and particularly
    so via an elaborate and broad bash script. I only have wired
    speakers. The old school type with the big box subwoofer.

3. The keys, when new, don't register all inputs.
    *I had to type a bunch of gibberish in emacs for a while to get the
    keys to soften. They weren't getting stuck, but were not registering
    all my inputs. I'd have to go back and retype a letter in a word a
    number of times and it was aggravating.
    *It's more-or-less fixed now.

4. Video output seems to go into strange sleep mode.
   *If I have it inplugged from monitor for extended periods of time,
   upon plugging it back into the monitor, the video doesn't wake up
   anymore.
   *Forces me to hold the power button down and reboot.
   *I'm sure this is a config issue on my end

Things I like about the Pi400

1. A simple swap of the microsd card will have me back in business
within minutes in the event of replacement.
2. Low power consumption, low heat output. It still hasn't hit me that
there's no tower next to me on the rack with a 350w power supply. My den
is noticably cooler during these summer days. My wife doesn't complain
as much either.
3. The big heat sync back plate gives the device a nice hefty feel.
4. The chiclet style keyboard is my favorite form factor.

There should be more, but it's late and the brain is mush.

Daniel

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