Last year, a portable monitor called the CrowView Note caught attention for turning a Raspberry Pi into a makeshift laptop. While its HDMI input allows for versatility, it presented a somewhat clunky solution with a single-board computer protruding awkwardly.
In response to the need for a more elegant design, Argon Forty, renowned for their high-quality Raspberry Pi cases, announced the Argon ONE Up – a sleek laptop powered by the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5. This innovative device eliminates the bulky SBC hanging out, featuring a streamlined chassis where users can easily insert the CM5 along with an M.2 SSD or an expansion board like the AI+ HAT.
The Argon ONE Up includes impressive specifications, such as a 14-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1920×1200, a 1080p webcam, a backlit keyboard with a multitouch trackpad, built-in stereo speakers, and a microSD card reader. It also offers a PCIe 2.0 M.2 2280 slot, enabling the use of an AI HAT.
In terms of connectivity, it boasts:
- 2× USB 3.1 Gen1 (Type-A)
- 2× USB Type-C (PD + Data + OTG)
- HDMI 2.0 (4K@60 Hz output)
- 3.5mm audio jack
Additionally, an external add-on allows for a 40-pin GPIO header via the USB Type-C ports, complete with a power button.
The Argon ONE Up is set to launch through a Kickstarter campaign, although details about the price and battery life have yet to be revealed. A preview page for the campaign is currently live, although it’s not yet available for backing.
With a solid reputation in the Raspberry Pi community, Argon products are well-regarded, and excitement is building for the upcoming release.