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Comment by password4321 | Hacker News Reader

I too have this use case troubleshooting headless computers around the house. I saw an ad for https://www.aurga.com and bought one for $84. It connects to an app on my Android phone as display, keyboard, and mouse. Minor discussion 7 months ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38609526

Long ago I bought a mini keyboard + mouse combo for input; the custom wireless USB dongle edition I have (strongly preferred over Bluetooth when troubleshooting) is no longer for sale. https://amzn.com/dp/B00I5SW8MC

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This looks quite interesting, thanks for the link. It does seem to require a native viewer instead of having a web interface. I would really prefer just a website like the PiKVM. Might still get it.

I have to do an off-topic rant though. The marketing page you linked to does not really state what this device does. It has a nice look into the case and a lot of buzzwords, but nothing like a small section with "HDMI Input" or "USB keyboard emulation". Even the shop page is somewhat light on details, but it at least shows (in GIFs only) that it works as a display and has a USB port. If I wasn't given your comment as context, I would likely not have gotten the use case and closed the tab. Based on the form factor being similar to a Fire TV stick etc. I would have assumed you plug it into a Hotel TV or similar to work on that.

EDIT: Saw your edit now and I think it is kind of funny that the old HN thread is also mentioning the marketing.

Looks like those mini keyboards are available on AliExpress quite cheap!

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804879544433.html

If you don't want to spend a lot of money on this:

1) Get a Bluetooth adapter.

2) One of those cheap Chinese keyboard/mouse combinations like the one you linked (the are many more).

3) Get a cheap Chinese portable monitor with HDMI/USB-C.

4) Optionally, a powerbank for the monitor. Or get one with a battery.

You'll be done with a similar price as this 'Aurga'. Back in the Nokia days, you could use Nokia Linux device as a remote keyboard/monitor/mouse, too. So e.g. Nokia N800/Nokia N810 a better cyberdeck than a Sharp Zaurus.

Logitech has similar devices. This isn't the one I own, but it's close.

https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Keyboard-Touchpad-P...

I have that keyboard and gifted one to my parents. Our use case is the odd chance you need to input text or use a browser on a Smart TV. Works so much faster than the on screen keyboard. With many Smart TVs just being Android under the hood, it just works.

I find for server troubleshooting, I usually have no problem grabbing a random USB keyboard. The bigger problem is finding a screen at a convenient location and connecting that one. It often was easier to carry my server to the screen instead of the other way.

On the topic of niche input methods, I also have an "air mouse" [1] with a full keyboard on the back for my Kodi system or when connecting my desktop to the TV. I essentially never need to use it, but it has come in handy.

[1] https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0B1HKWFQV

The iPad now supports external webcams, so you can use a $5 HDMI capture card (and the free Genki Studio app) to turn it into a monitor.

I have one of these and it's great for this sort of thing. The whole keyboard runs off one AA battery which lasts forever, and it even has a storage spot for the USB dongle.

Those combo devices are incredibly useful in a pinch -- I keep one in my backpack. I've used it countless times while working on interactive installations and also while messing around with Pis at home.

On the other end of the spectrum, searching https://hn.algolia.com/?query=handheld%20comments%3E0&sort=b... I found the $1000 8" GPD Pocket 3 which supports Windows 11 and KVM discussed in 2021: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29110603

https://gpd.hk/gpdpocket3

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