[Arm-netbook] early alpha production run of libre laptop PCBs, microdesktops and CPU Cards

[Luke Kenneth Casson Leighton]

it's a little early but i wanted to get a poll out of people who might
be interested to buy the PCBs (and other parts) as a kit, for both the
libre laptop PCBs and the microdesktop units.

when i say "early" i mean "there's pretty much no software" - i have
preliminary working firmware that i'm using to confirm that various
hardware functions work (keyboard, touchscreen, battery monitoring),
however as for actual "useable drivers", those do not exist and will
need to be written.

this is therefore a solicitation for assistance in writing the drivers
as much as it is an offer for people to be involved and have
extremely-early hardware.  the casework for the laptop is available as
GPL pyopenscad files: i could potentially print some up for people but
would prefer it if you used an online 3d printing service or local
hackerspace.

the micro-desktop, in direct contrast to the laptop, requires
absolutely no drivers whatsoever and works straight away.

estimated low-volume (5-10) pricing is going to be somewhere around:

* eoma68-jz4775 CPU Card: $300 (cost of 5 PCBs is $1500)
* eoma68-a20 CPU Card: same.
* laptop main PCB1: $150
* laptop E/C PCB2: $120
* laptop PMIC PCB3: $120
* microdesktop PCB: $150
* laptop battery: $12
* 15.6in LCD: $50 (obtainable on ebay)
* Chicony Keyboard: $20 (again, obtainable on ebay)
* USB-UART: $5 (obtainable on ebay or adafruit or digikey or anywhere)

there are various other sundries that are needed - cables, connectors
etc.  i can put together kits for people.

if we can get as high as 25 units on particular boards, that pricing
is likely to drop by something like 25%, at least.

if anyone is considering this, please *do* consider prioritising
getting the micro-desktop as well, i find it is very useful to have a
working setup with the micro-desktop, separate from the laptop PCB, in
a totally separate area of my desk.

please also bear in mind, i am going through to a 2nd revision of all
of the above PCBs, so we will be looking at about 2 months before
these boards can go to a (larger) run - i wanted to give people an
opportunity to say if they'd like to be involved.

l.