[request] [jolla tablet] M.2 interface [answered]
asked 2014-12-07 04:31:18 +0200
This is a little late to suggest an M.2 interfaced SSD as a replacement for the SDHC stretch goal, to avoid all the licensing that goes along with it. However the M.2 interface is much more useful than just an extra memory storage slot. It turns out that a 3G/4G modem (and many others) can plug into the M.2 interface to provide the host device much greater connectivity.
Let me as a consumer decide what I want to put in my tablet, please consider including an M.2 interface slot.
As an afterthought, maybe an SDHC adapter could be made/included for the M.2 interface, so if somebody wants they could remove it and put whatever else they might want in its place, or leave it in and put an SDHC card in it.
sounds cool!
shfit ( 2014-12-07 04:41:32 +0200 )editThink this is a great idea. The only problem I can see with this right now is the size of a M.2 interface. They are larger then your normal micro-SD slot and even larger then a SD slot. As you can see the devices has been developed. So making space for a M.2 slot could be impossible or very expensive.
DDH87 ( 2014-12-07 15:23:57 +0200 )editThe M.2 interface is more useful than I let on in the post. I realized I did not tag it quite right so I added pcie as a tag. The M.2 is a PCIe 4x lane, in addition to USB and SATA. There are certainly considerations to be made. It seems like a lot of processors are SoC's, which means these interfaces are built into the processor already... but that might not be true for the one jolla is planning on using. The other thing is the kernel. With basically a PCIe slot, a lot more drivers will have to be left in the kernel so when something is plugged in, it will be properly recognized. I'm not sure if jolla planned on cleaning out the linux kernel for unused drivers and stuff, so that might not be a problem to begin with. The other major consideration is power usage: Will the M.2 device (SSD, wifi, whatever I plug in) use too much power?
For me personally, I would much rather have a small (42mm) M.2 SSD than an SDHC memory card. SDHC memory cards are much more likely to fail.
There are, as I outlined a few, many considerations to be made. With as small as the M.2 interface and devices are, I think it should be a serious consideration.
tiwake ( 2014-12-07 18:04:25 +0200 )editI'm well aware of what a M.2 interface is. But it will require a redesign of the tablet. I don't think they will do that. However it will be a great addition to the tablet.
DDH87 ( 2014-12-07 18:11:36 +0200 )editThat's genius! If you want 3G/4G fine, or take your ssd! Simply an awesome idea. The only probleme is space. But i would be okay with some milimeters more and this kind expansion.
DrBlock42 ( 2014-12-07 18:38:54 +0200 )edit