[Arm-netbook] Two Questions: MEB/Card/Case and VGA Proto

[Christopher Havel]

On 11/4/2013 5:00 AM, Aaron J. Seigo wrote:
> On Sunday, November 3, 2013 14:03:57 Christopher Havel wrote:
>> (1) *approximately* how much would it cost me to get an MEB, a current
>> CPU Card (I assume that'd be A10 based?) and a case, almost-ready-to-go
>> (as in, assemble the case, stick in the card, and drop on an OS),
>> including shipping...? I'm in NC, US -- ZIP+4 for me is 27344-6644.
>> (...or are we not quite there yet? I'm a little confused on that one.)
>> To be super de doober clear -- estimate, not quote :P
> When do you need it by?
>
> If you can wait ~8 weeks for delivery: US$75 for MEB + A20 card. I will know
> Wednesday when this will launch, but I’m hoping we’ll be taking orders next
> week.
>
>> (2a) how realistic is the idea of putting together a prototype of the
>> VGA adapter I came up with using perfboard? (I can't afford custom PCBs,
> We already have a prototype VGA adapter done up. We’d like to offer it as an
> add-on but have not yet decided on pricing or worked out logistics for it.
> Most likely we will be releasing project files for it and you can whip one up
> yourself that attaches to the 44 pin DIL on the MEB.
>
"Need" is a bit of a strong word... but I really really really really 
want one ;)

Alas, $75 is not something I can just throw around, to say the very 
least. I'm quite poor. The super-brief explanation (probably the best, 
here) is that I live with my disabled mother -- in return for helping 
her with what she needs, I'm provided with a home and food and all that 
good stuff. Unfortunately, her check is only about $1k/mo -- she made 
the "mistake" of being mostly self-employed during her ~55 years of 
being a working person (that sort of thing screws you over if you get 
disabled, apparently). So we're technically in the black, but only just 
barely. I really don't know how she does it -- but finances are total 
wizardry to me, to begin with...

A $75 want goes on either my birthday list or my Christmas list 
(depending on what time of year it is) -- since it's well past June, 
it'll be on my Christmas list this year. *shrug* it's just how it goes. 
It's hard, but what choice do I have?