Hi, thank to all.
So here it is, after 2 weeks of research and calculation...
I finally found that for my use, the RPI (and compatible) was functional, but no longer economically viable. Due to fashion and lack of components, its price has tripled and it is still a unique card.
The card (8GB) alone is worth 120€ to which you have to add, miniSD card, SSD + support card, case, power supply, fan etc. You can find them in kit at 250€. Not interesting at all.
There are RPI compatible cards, sometimes with better components, but the disadvantage is that they need a linux version with special drivers, so we don't know about the durability
So I studied the miniPCs which are often laptop motherboards. So without screen, keyboard, battery, it comes to almost nothing.
I looked for the best quality/price ratio and took one with:
- Celeron J4125 Quad-core (up to 2.7Ghz)
- RAM 8 Go LPDDR4
- SATA SSD 128 Go
- Space for 1 other NVME + 1 SATA
- Win 10 PRO
- Ethernet Giga
- Graphic UHD600 4K HDMI x2
- Fan (silent)
- Wifi 2.4G/5G Dual wihi
- 1 USB 3.0 de type C
- 2 USB 3.0 (front)
- 2 USB 2.0 (rear (keyboard, mouse)
- 1 SD mini reader
I paid 210€ for the whole set...
I added a second SSD (500Go NVME) to it and it now serves as my NAS and home server.
What's funny is that because of the linux fashion (and/or because of the few sales of this version), the same minipc linux version is sold 60€ more expensive! than the standard one which is however in Windows 10 PRO (!?).
So I was thinking at first to remove Windows 10 and put Linux, but finally I'll maybe keep it, not to have to compile special versions of my programs.
The pro version of Windows has the advantage of offering RDP (remote desktop, which avoids having to install VNC) and you can connect remotely without having to log in locally before, encryption (weak but it exists) bitlocker. And the whole thing installs itself (in all languages), even without needing a Microsoft account (although it insists heavily on all screens) and without installing sticky 30-day demos of third-party products (like some giant antivirus).
Last thing: 10W consumption (measured between 5 and 11)
So I wonder if I'll order a second one to use as a weekend PC instead of carrying a heavy laptop with a too small screen and keyboard. This little 12x12x5 case is finally that heavy and I have screens everywhere I go.
I will not give the reference (no advertising), and anyway we find plenty under different brands.
Well, for the price, don't expect any technical support, even the manufacturer's website doesn't deliver anything, neither info, nor drivers, nor forums. But I'm fine with it.
What a long way since my ZX81 RAM 1K! (forty years). For me who knew all the blue screen versions and personal computing 20 years before having internet, I am amazed and marvelled to see the reliability of the current cheap stuff. And I always laugh inside when I see young people screaming at the first little bug of any hardware or software.
