While smartphones are getting bigger by the day, consumers are now leaning towards compact, portable desktops for their workflow. As a result, we have seen innovative startups come up with unique computer systems in different form factors. Now, we have the “Abacus”, which essentially comes in a computer-in-a-keyboard form factor and is designed to be portable, affordable, and even biodegradable.
- Design
Designed by a young England-based engineer Joon Sang Lee, the Abacus is primarily a combination of a keyboard and a trackpad with which you can magnetically attach a modular computer system to get a full-fledged PC experience.
Design
Internals
Speaking of the internals, the system packs Intel’s X86 quad-core processor and comes pre-installed with Ubuntu Linux and Windows 10 out-of-the-box. It can pack up to 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM and up to 128GB of onboard memory to store files. It also features Intel’s 8th-gen HD graphics memory and can output 4K content at 30FPS.
- I/O and Connectivity
The Abacus comes packed with 2x USB 3.0 ports, 2x USB 2.0 ports, a MicroSD slot, an ethernet port, an HDMI port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Connectivity-wise, the device features high-speed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 as well.
I/O and Connectivity
Biodegradable Housings
Apart from being compact and ultra-portable, the Abacus is also an environment-friendly product. The housings of the modules are composed of a biodegradable thermoplastic that is made from tapioca roots, waste cornstarch, and sugarcane. As a result, the Abacus has a 65% less carbon footprint compared to its contemporaries.
The Abacus comes with a price tag of £98 (~Rs 8,860) and is currently available on Pentaform’s official website, which is Lee’s startup. Currently, as per the developers, the device is out of stock. However, the team is working to re-stock them. In the meantime, you can pre-order the Abacus computer at a discounted price of £89 (~Rs 8,050).
