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Android tablet + termux + bluetooth keyboard is cheaper, and better performance in some ways...

The only problem is Google slowly locking down and squeezing the life out of termux.

I carry a folding bluetooth keyboard when I'm on call and just use my phone to SSH to another system. It's a great setup in a pinch. Decent battery life, built in 4G and close to a full sized keyboard which is much easier for typing than these micro PCs.

I've also used my phone connected to a screen/keyboard/mouse through Samsung Dex and it was a very desktop like experience for my use case. Although it's rare that I'd have the required equipment and not be carrying a full sized laptop.

I have tried that with tablets. Its decent when you have a table to set it on, but sitting somewhere where you have to place it on your lap (train, bus, bench) the laptop formfactor works much much better.

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