Consider this an ambitious feature request.
I’m a frequent traveler and outdoors person and I only have room for one PC in my luggage or backpack. I do however ocassionally need to rely on an OS like MS Windows, that attracts highly polished well developed applications. Crypto currency apps are a prime example. These are often only available for Windows, OS10x, Android, & iOS operating systems, with no offerings available for 'nix OSs. I do recall seeing something called a “PC Stick” (Windows PC on a USB Stick) available in the marketplace. I’m wondering if this could be a Windows option for Librem users?
PC Sticks are designed to be used as an option to turn a television set or any other HDMI enabled monitor into a complete, if somewhat performance limited, Internet capable personal computer. Some of the current offerings look promising; although the highest rated “Intel Compute Stick” only offers “eMMC” permanent storage, which is slow compared to SSD options.
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/boards-kits/compute-stick/stk2m3w64cc.html
https://www.windowscentral.com/best-stick-pcs
Similar devices are also available for the Google Chrome OS.
https://www.asus.com/us/Chrome-Devices/Chromebit-CS10/
Apple currently has no offerings that I'm aware of; and I suspect this will continue to be the case
for the foreseeasble future, although IMO it shouldn't be.
These devices have an “external” HDMI port to send video to the monitor device, instead of sending data through the USB port, which it uses only as a power supply. I believe they rely primarily on an On-Screen-Keyboard; but I believe they will also accept a Bluetooth Keyboard as well. I could possibly throw one of these onto my hotel flatscreen, if I’m lucky, it has an HDMI port, and I can access it. See (if I’m lucky); but this won’t always be the case. I often sleep in Hostels, when I’m anticipating a major expense, like a Tourist Visa or Airline Ticket. I won’t get to add cables to or monopolize “THEIR” TVs. So I’m thinking “how could I get one of these things to talk to my potential future Librem Laptop?” Well, I have an answer, which you’re probably NOT going to like.
RECODE THE BIOS (recall I said “ambitious” request) to allow the HDMI port, on the Librem, to be bidirectional, so that I can run the HDMI cable to the Librem for video “input;” and allow the Librem keyboard to function as a “dumb” Bluetooth Keyboard. The only problem that now remains is creating an elegant solution for printing, like attaching a wirless printer (I’m sure these PC Sticks don’t have printer ports), or sending the documents to “another” USB stick, which I can then take to an Internet Cafe or copy shop, etc. (In Malaysia none of the Internet Cafes had printers. These were just for gamers: so I had to go to a camera store to get my PDFs printed).
BTW, printing on-the-road is a BIG BIG BIG problem! (for which there is NOT a satisfactory solution). When opening Bank and Exchange accounts or requesting government documents (especially, from the US State Department), or even opening a Private Mailbox (PMB), the PDFs are often required to be Printed First, Then Signed, Then re-Scanned before being re-Transimitting electronically, or delivered by Courier or in-Person. Also, PMB applications (in the US) HAVE to be notarized. The international “Know Your Customer” (KYC) regulations have made these otherwise “ordinary” tasks a nightmare. As a personal commentary, If I’m an ordinary (especially US) national, with little disposable income, I get strip searched when doing any of these things. If I’m Carlos Escobar, I get waved right through. NOT FAIR!
