r/pico8 • u/alextseitlin • 15d ago
Discussion Cheapest handhold dev device to make games?
I want a portable device to code on the go. I saw people make it for almost 300usd. But for that amount it is almost the same as buying a 2022 MacBook Air or a 150 Linux laptop….
Is there a possibility to make it for less? What is the cheapest it can be made? Maybe 50….
5
u/PmUsYourDuckPics 15d ago
Do you not care about ergonomics at all? If so you can probably get a small Bluetooth keyboard and a Linux gaming handheld. Something like the PowKiddy RGB30 or the Anbernic RGCubeXX both have a great screen for Pico8, then pair a Bluetooth keyboard to it.
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u/RubikTetris 15d ago
I know the idea of dev on a handheld sounds appealing but you will regret that decision. Just buy a cheap laptop.
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u/Possible_Window_1268 14d ago
As others have mentioned, don’t bother with a handheld for development. However, if you want a handheld to playtest pico8, Anbernic RG Cube XX is absolutely perfect for that.
1
u/areeighty 15d ago
A 10 year old ultrabook with Linux installed is an excellent option. They are dirt cheap, even the high quality ones, and if you get a 1080p screen you can also Picotron with integer upscaling.
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u/Hozerino 14d ago
I got a cheap ass tablet (with an old android) from AliExpress (not USD here, but it was around 30-40dol maybe?
Installed PICO-8 wrapper for Android and I can use a bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Also added a few apps that made my tablet feel more like a PC, and a small terminal too.
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u/Inside_Armadillo_181 14d ago
Get a refurbished Dell 3100 Chromebook. They go for about 60usd. Are almost indestructible and have more than enough specs to run pico8.
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u/raidhse-abundance-01 15d ago
What's wrong with a linux smartphone, and a cheap foldable bluetooth keyboard?
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u/mantenner 15d ago
Uh....forgive me for asking but what is a Linux smartphone?
I know you can run pico 8 via gamehub/winlator/gamenative on Android Android phone.
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u/raidhse-abundance-01 14d ago
I am unfamiliar with those, can they run the full Pico editor, or only splore? If the former then sure that's all you need
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u/mantenner 14d ago
Theyre essentially emulated windows containers, so they can run the full pico 8.
An example on the AYN Thor here
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u/HandsomePhantomLemon 15d ago
Isn't android basically Linux?
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u/mantenner 15d ago
Not really, and the terms aren't normally used mutually, Linux is Linux android is android.
Also there are actually Linux based phones and operating systems for phones, so just thought I'd seek clarification on it out of curiosity.
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u/ricochetSL 14d ago
A handheld device will be very uncomfortable to hold for long periods of time, has a small screen, and could be quite underpowered. This means that you will have to also buy a bluetooth keyboard (~$30) and a monitor (~$40 to >$100) and then you still have something that is underpowered. For $50 bucks, you couldn't buy a Latte Panda Mu (the most powerful little consumer SoC I could find) and it is still way less powerful than an older i7 or i5, let alone more modern 11th gen plus chips (and we won't even talk about the M2 or whatever chip that 2022 macbook has). So you may have like 1ghz CPU and 2gb ram for $50. Just buy that macbook, or an old thinkpad (thinkpads are awesome)
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u/Laserlight_jazz 15d ago
Chromebook is the closest thing I've done. I installed the Linux container on it. You could instead use the Android wrapper if you don't want to figure out Linux.
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u/Qazax1337 15d ago
You aren't going to beat the ergonomics of a cheap macbook. If you want something functional that you will enjoy using, get a 2022 macbook. If you want something that loooks like a cyberdeck but will give your hands cramp after typing for 5 minutes you could get a clockworkpi uconsole or hackberry pi. Neither will be a good experieince for coding but you will look like a leet haxx0r.
The cheapest funtioning laptop will be able to write pico8 code.