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This machine may be built using micro PC kits that are very reasonably priced; with a bit of careful shopping, it may be built at a component cost of less than $700.
This article will describe the process for creating a Linux-based GCompris children's game machine that is suitable for offline use in a public or school library setting. This machine may be built using micro PC kits that are very reasonably priced; with a bit of careful shopping, it may be built at a component cost of less than $700. This article is targeted at those who have some prior experience using the Linux terminal or Windows command line, as well as assembling or swapping out components on desktop PCs and laptops. Extensive information about all of the games available in the GCompris package is available at gcompris.net/screenshots-en.html.1
Hardware
Although this unit may be built with a Raspberry Pi, a more robust micro PC platform is strongly recommended. Recommended platforms include Gigabyte BRIX micro PCs or ASRock Industrial micro PCs. While it is not necessary to spend extra money on a very high-spec gaming PC, the builder should purchase a unit that has at least a quad-core processor and capacity for 8GB of RAM. These micro PCs are often sold as bare-bones kits that have no RAM, hard drive, or OS installed. For this particular purpose, it is recommended that the builder purchase a bare-bones kit and install those components yourself, rather than pay for a complete machine with a Windows installation that you'll be overwriting.
There are a variety of instructional videos on YouTube that will show a new builder how to install RAM and a hard drive into a micro PC chassis. It is recommended that you do a search for how to install those components for the unit you plan to buy before you place a purchase order for that item. I recommend Gigabyte BRIX and ASRock Industrial micro PCs because there are a large number of instructional videos on YouTube for models from those two manufacturers. Many of these units can use either an M2 hard drive chip or a SATA hard drive. SATA hard drives are generally regarded as having a longer lifespan than the M2 chips. The...