The Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 and an in-house RISC-V architecture are among the new SOM family possibilities for the DevTerm.
Clockwork Pi has announced a major addition to its retro-style portable PC, the DevTerm: a new system-on-module (SOM) adaptor that accommodates a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4.
The Clockwork Pi DevTerm, announced in 2020 and released last year, is a plastic-encased small portable computer inspired by the Kyocera Kyotronic 85 and its more well-known spin-off, the TRS-80 Model 11. The kit-form device, which features an ultra-wide display and a compact QWERTY keyboard with a tiny trackball, is powered by a carrier board that houses one of three systems-on-modules: the A-06 range with a Rockchip RK3399 six-core processor, the A-04 with a quad-core chip, or a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3.
The R-01, the company's first post-launch SOM design, was introduced earlier this year, based around Allwinner's D1 system-on-chip, which hosts a single since-opened 64-bit RISC-V processor. Despite being classified as somewhat experimental, owing mostly to continuing software development work, the initial reaction to the gadget has been overwhelmingly favorable.
Clockwork Pi has now announced its second alternative SOM — or, more precisely, an adapter that allows the powerful Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4, with its twin high-density connectors on the underside instead of the Compute Module 3's SODIMM-style edge connector, to slot directly into the DevTerm carrier board.
Once installed, the CM4 should be able to run Raspberry Pi OS directly on the DevTerm — though, at the time of writing, Clockwork Pi hadn't confirmed whether it intended to port its software for devices such as the on-board thermal printer or if it would instead offer its own customized operating system.
There are certain limitations to its use as well. The first is that utilizing the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 disables the DevTerm's internal Wi-Fi, even if you buy one without an onboard radio. The second is that selecting a CM4 with onboard eMMC storage removes the DevTerm's externally accessible microSD slot — but with the benefit of speedier storage access.
The adapter is available now for $19 on its own or $238 as part of a complete DevTerm Kit on the Clockwork Pi shop — but you'll need to supply your own Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4. However, you will receive the adapter, an add-on Wi-Fi antenna, and an "ultra-thin heat sink set" to keep temperatures under control.
