Jump to content

Wireless Tablet-like input device for an external computer

SpartanAmy107
By SpartanAmy107
in General Discussion
 Share
Posted

Basically, I've been using Chrome Remote Desktop a little recently and I've been thinking if it'd be possible to have a tablet device solely purposed to this, without its own operating system wirelessly connected to a computer in another room of the house as both a display and input device. It should be cheaper than a traditional tablet as it wouldn't have it's own operating system or a powerful CPU. 

 

I tried looking through the zero client/ slim client methods but I'm not seeing anything wireless much less tablet based stuff I only want something for personal use.

 

Why fork out loads of money for a tablet with an i5 when a perfectly good, well-cooled, i5 resides inside the desktop computer upstairs potentially just gathering dust...

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted (edited)
28 minutes ago, SpartanAmy107 said:

 

What you're talking about sounds more like a wireless remote display with a touch screen (except of course for the touch screen functionality to work the 'tablet' has to have some sort of firmware at least).  I think it also needs some kind of processor to process the information being displayed and your touch inputs before it transmits them back to the main desktop.

 

I'd actually find such a device very limiting because it would be sort of locked to one host machine.  Not like I can take it with me anywhere and use it with any host without having to go through the trouble of pairing it every time.

 

I prefer a proper tablet with a CPU inside so that I can also use the tablet as a mobile "device" on the go and when I get back home or to the office, it will just sync up with the host desktop.

Edited by AkiraDaarkst

That is not dead which can eternal lie.  And with strange aeons even death may die. - The Call of Cthulhu

A university is not a "safe space". If you need a safe space, leave, go home, hug your teddy & suck your thumb until ready for university.  - Richard Dawkins

Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author
1 minute ago, AkiraDaarkst said:

What you're talking about sounds more like a wireless remote display with a touch screen (except of course for the touch screen functionality to work the 'tablet' has to have some sort of firmware at least).

 

Yes, that would be a more apt description, and yeah it'd need something to sort all the data it receives from the user via the touch screen and code it for transmission... But that should be less demanding than a full OS right? A raspberry Pi could probably do it.

Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
5 minutes ago, SpartanAmy107 said:

Yes, that would be a more apt description, and yeah it'd need something to sort all the data it receives from the user via the touch screen and code it for transmission... But that should be less demanding than a full OS right? A raspberry Pi could probably do it.

Yep something like a Pi may be able to handle it.  I added additional comments to my post.

 

When tablets like the iPad first came out, I was thinking about using them like the PADDs in Star Trek Next Generation.

That is not dead which can eternal lie.  And with strange aeons even death may die. - The Call of Cthulhu

A university is not a "safe space". If you need a safe space, leave, go home, hug your teddy & suck your thumb until ready for university.  - Richard Dawkins

Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author
8 minutes ago, AkiraDaarkst said:

What you're talking about sounds more like a wireless remote display with a touch screen (except of course for the touch screen functionality to work the 'tablet' has to have some sort of firmware at least).  I think it also needs some kind of processor to process the information being displayed and your touch inputs before it transmits them back to the main desktop.

 

I'd actually find such a device very limiting because it would be sort of locked to one host machine.  Not like I can take it with me anywhere and use it with any host without having to go through the trouble of pairing it every time.

 

I prefer a proper tablet with a CPU inside so that I can also use the tablet as a mobile "device" on the go and when I get back home or to the office, it will just sync up with the host desktop.

 

Yeah, I guess a standard tablet would be able to leave your WiFi range and out into the outside world without a problem, but lag might be less of a problem if you only ever needed it locked to on machine.

Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
Just now, SpartanAmy107 said:

Yeah, I guess a standard tablet would be able to leave your WiFi range and out into the outside world without a problem, but lag might be less of a problem if you only ever needed it locked to on machine.

There might be a niche market for the kind of device you've described, however look on Amazon, there are a lot of cheap tablets (mostly Chinese clones I think).

That is not dead which can eternal lie.  And with strange aeons even death may die. - The Call of Cthulhu

A university is not a "safe space". If you need a safe space, leave, go home, hug your teddy & suck your thumb until ready for university.  - Richard Dawkins

Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author
Just now, Naeaes said:

You really should re-consider an android tablet. It's gonna be way cheaper (Yup. Cheaper than RaspPi with thouchscreen) + you can use pre-existing apps and don't have to program one yourself. 

 

Yeah, I am getting the impression that an Android tablet is the way forward instead of trying to find tech that just doesn't exist right now.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing General Discussion

×