[Community] About the status

[Dr. H. Nikolaus Schaller]

Hi,

Am 09.06.2013 um 00:01 schrieb Bob Ham:
> 
>>> As an EOMA user, I will be able to push a button on the side of my EOMA
>>> tablet, eject the CPU, and then insert it into my EOMA desktop.  Or into
>>> my EOMA laptop.
>> 
>> Yes. But what is it good for?
> 
> There's an FAQ entry here that seems appropriate:
> 
> http://elinux.org/Embedded_Open_Modular_Architecture/EOMA-68/FAQ#OK.2C_but_why_do_you_want_EOMA_to_be_installed.2Fremoved_more_often_-_I_want_to_understand_why_granny_would_want_to_do_this.3F

Unfortunately it does not answer *why* granny would want to swap cards. It just says that if she wants, it is more reliable than other connectors because it is designed for this purpose.

And it does *not* tell why a professional would have many EOMA68 compatible devices to swap CPU boards.

To me it still looks like a solution to a not existing problem (well, I am an engineer myself so I like inventing solutions - but others decide if they have a problem to be solved).

Generally speaking EOMA68 is the idea to define a new standard for connecting swappable modules. A standard defined not by ISO or someone else but by a small group of people. It competes against USB and Bluetooth (and others) that all have the same target: easily and reliably allow to modify and swap parts of the computer system to reconfigure or extend it.

What I am missing is
1. why the world needs a new standard (what is bad with the existing ones?)
2. and why EOMA is better (user benefit) than these other solutions

> 
> 
>>> PCMCIA had above ISA, Cardbus had above PCI, and ExpressCard has above
>>> PCI-E, EOMA68 has above the GTA04 B2B connector.
>> 
>> Eh? Sorry but I don't get it... EOMA is NOT PCMCIA. I.e. you can't plug it into
>> an Sharp Zaurus or can you?
> 
> No, that's not what I'm saying.
> 
> EOMA68 is to GTA04 B2B, (roughly) as PCMCIA is to ISA.  The relationship
> between PCMCIA and ISA is similar to the relationship between EOMA68 and
> GTA04 B2B.
> 
> PCMCIA is a mechanical and electrical standard for pluggable modules.
> EOMA68 is a mechanical and electrical standard for pluggable modules.
> 
> ISA was a standard for internal connection of expansion cards.  The
> GTA04 B2B specification is for internal connection of the GTA04.
> 
> 
> EOMA68 satisfies a different use case to the GTA04 B2B connector.
> 
> EOMA68 cards are meant to be plugged and unplugged by members of the
> general public.  The end-user for the GTA04 B2B connector is an
> electrical engineer or designer.

Ok, now I get the argumentation. EOMA is the more reliable connector for swapping
modules often. I started with the idea that the community wants a really open tablet
device, i.e. openness in schematics etc. is the most important part. A GTA04 based 7004
would give that. For Vivaldi it (now) appears that using EOMA is important.

I am still trying to understand why people should want to swap CPUs instead of USB
peripherals or simply exchange data (memory cards or wireless).

BR,
Nikolaus

PS: there was already a device allowing this. The Always Innovating Smartbook had
the concept of keeping the display and swapping the CPU.