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Comment by philips | Hacker News Reader

I think about these problems quite a bit myself as I try and choose what technology my kids (3yo and 6yo) get to use with supervision vs “own” and use as their own.

For example, I would like for my kids to own both a music player and video game system at some point.

But, do I just give them a phone? No, I don’t want to manage or supervise an internet connected device. And besides how do they buy and load the music on the phone?

Do I get them a Nintendo Switch and they use cartridges? That would make a lot of sense and they can check cartridges out from the library but a Switch is HUGE for a 7yo compared to a gameboy pocket.

At 7 or 8 I had a cassette player and a Gameboy. But, the analogs to today’s technology are less clear.

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There is a huge ecosystem of small handhelds that either run Linux or Android. For example the Anbernic RG35XX is incredibly cheap and a great form factor. Or a Miyoo Mini. The Switch Lite is also more appropriate for a 7yo size-wize, but it's still no gameboy pocket. I think there's a big Anbernic sale happening right now, coincidentally.

I find the idea of a real, handheld Pico-8 pretty compelling.

Alternatively for music there's kid-oriented products like the Yoto player, which is pretty DRM heavy but fairly customizable.

edit: I see you're already aware of the SBCs. Whatever you choose, it'll be great.

Have you considered an Analogue Pocket? It's like an "upgraded Game Boy" with a better screen that can also play games from the Game Gear, Neo Geo, etc.

Yeah, the trouble is acquiring cartridges in 2024 is just a hot mess navigating knockoffs, etc and expensive.

And if I am going to emulate I might as well get them an Anbernic or Miyoo emulation device. But, those can have complex and annoying user interfaces. I guess it could work and I could make SD cards that just have a handful of games.

FYI the Analogue Pocket supports a number of OpenFPGA emulators quite well, I have several carts but also plenty of harder to find NES, SNES and GBA roms loaded right on.

I bought an Analogue Pocket last November and already the buttons on the front are starting to wear out. The D-pad sometimes doesn't register a click and other times registers two clicks.

Nice device, but for $290 it should last longer IMHO.

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