> While it looks neat, I’m not convinced we’ll see barebone single board computers where users can insert their own eMMC flash and RAM any time soon, since it would likely add to the overall costs. A more likely use would be for board vendors wanting to test RAM chips from various vendors and of different capacities.
Most SBCs use socketed eMMC chips available in various capacities. Pine64 and Odroid's eMMCs are compatible, at least, and live on a tiny little board you can swap out.
I don't see the cost and complexity as being worth it, though. Just stuff the things full of RAM, have lower capacity options, and solder it - same as we see today. Yes, it's nice on paper to swap the RAM out, but I guarantee these sockets aren't cheap, and for something that's used once or twice, eh. Not worth the hassle...
I like things that are easily repaired, but I also don't see a huge wave of ARM SBC RAM failures. They're already repairable, it just requires hot air rework and a bit more skill than swapping a DIMM.
Most SBCs use socketed eMMC chips available in various capacities. Pine64 and Odroid's eMMCs are compatible, at least, and live on a tiny little board you can swap out.
I don't see the cost and complexity as being worth it, though. Just stuff the things full of RAM, have lower capacity options, and solder it - same as we see today. Yes, it's nice on paper to swap the RAM out, but I guarantee these sockets aren't cheap, and for something that's used once or twice, eh. Not worth the hassle...
I like things that are easily repaired, but I also don't see a huge wave of ARM SBC RAM failures. They're already repairable, it just requires hot air rework and a bit more skill than swapping a DIMM.