Video: MiSTer Pi, a much cheaper alternative to the Terassic DE10-Nano for the MiSTer FPGA project.

Submitted by Scott Dowdle on Tue, 11/19/2024 - 12:12

If you buy the original Terassic DE10-Nano, that'll likely set you back about $235 plus shipping... and then you'll likely want the SDRAM addon, USB board, and maybe the Analog I/O board.  A traditional MiSTer FPGA setup will easily set one back around $400.  You can get a complete MiSTer Pi setup for around $180... although shipping from Hong Kong is likely more than we are used to ($31-$40).

Anyway, I picked up two of these systems last night but it'll be a while until they arrive.  The following video highlights the MiSTer Pi system mainly by pointing out the much lower cost while focusing on many of the popular FPGA cores that are part of the MiSTer FPGA project.  Enjoy!

COSMIC DE, A New Linux Desktop Environment

Submitted by putz3000 on Sun, 05/19/2024 - 21:30

I’m pretty sure I am not your typical computer user or Linux enthusiast. At work, I primarily use Windows (about 98% of the time) with a touch of Mac (2% of the time). However, at home, I lean more toward Mac, although I occasionally dabble in both Windows and Linux based on my preferences or needs. Lately, when I explore Linux, I tend to boot up Ubuntu Budgie. It strikes me as one of the more polished-looking desktop environments.

Now, here’s the interesting part: I recently watched the “LinuxFest Northwest 2024: Meet COSMIC DE” presentation on YouTube, and I have to admit, I’m intrigued. COSMIC DE is a new Rust-based desktop environment being developed by System76—a company known for creating Linux-compatible hardware. They’ve also crafted their own flavor of Ubuntu Linux called Pop!_OS which currently uses the Gnome Desktop environment.

A few years back, I briefly experimented with Pop!_OS, but it didn’t quite capture my interest. Visually, it didn’t resonate with me, and—though it sounds silly—the name bothered me a bit. However, COSMIC DE has piqued my curiosity. I’m drawn to its aesthetics and the functionality they’re aiming to develop. System76 is planning to release Pop!_OS with the new Cosmic Desktop Environment sometime this year (2024). Once it’s officially released, I plan to give it a closer look.

Feel free to check out the video and share your thoughts!