HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini – Specs and upgrade options

This makes a competent Win-11 desktop with up to 32Gb of DDR4 laptop RAM. Small enough to mount on the back of a monitor or TV, some folks use these for HTPCs. https://www.hardware-corner.net/desktop-models/HP-EliteDesk-800-G4-Mini/

Space Elevators are still conceptual - Earth's Gravity doesn't help

Space Elevators would be easier to construct (and probably more secure from terrorism) for the Moon and Mars.  Of course, Earth would benefit most, but to overcome Earth's gravity, we still need some refinements or breakthroughs in materials science.

Space elevator:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator

"The main component would be a cable (also called a tether) anchored to the surface and extending into space. An Earth-based space elevator would consist of a cable with one end attached to the surface near the equator and the other end attached to a counterweight in space beyond geostationary orbit (35,786 km altitude)."

" With the tether deployed, climbers (crawlers) could repeatedly climb up and down the tether by mechanical means, releasing their cargo to and from orbit.^[2] The design would permit vehicles to travel directly between a planetary surface, such as the Earth's, and orbit, without the use of large rockets."

"One of the most significant challenges in manufacturing a space elevator for Earth is the strength of the materials utilized for its construction. Considering the structure must be designed to be sufficiently strong to hold up not only its own weight but also the payload it may carry, the strength-to-weight ratio, or specific strength, of the elevator's construction material needs to be extremely high."

" For locations in the Solar System with weaker gravity than Earth's (such as the Moon or Mars), the strength-to-density requirements for tether materials are not as problematic. Currently available materials (such as Kevlar) are strong and light enough that they could be practical as the tether material for elevators there.^[44]"

The Modern Day Space Elevator is Closer than You Think!  https://www.isec.org/

Could We Build a Real Space Elevator in Our Lifetime?

https://www.sciencenewstoday.org/could-we-build-a-real-space-elevator-in-our-lifetime

How Space Elevators Will Work:  https://science.howstuffworks.com/space-elevator.htm

"A space elevator made of a carbon nanotubes composite ribbon anchored to an offshore sea platform would stretch to a small counterweight approximately 62,000 miles (100,000 km) into space. Mechanical lifters attached to the ribbon would then climb the ribbon, carrying cargo and humans into space, at a price of only about $100 to $400 per pound ($220 to $880 per kg)."

Note that other materials are now being considered due to the difficulty of producing very long carbon nanotubes.

5 Linux terminal apps better than your default

 5 Linux terminal apps better than your default - and they're all free

When you're working with the command line, you'll want a terminal app that either makes the job easier or is awesome enough that you don't mind using it. Here are my five favorite options.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/5-linux-terminal-apps-better-than-your-default-and-theyre-all-free/

7 Best Tools to Connect to UNIX Server (PuTTY like)

https://geekflare.com/dev/best-tools-to-connect-unix-server/

"There are actually a lot of terminal emulators available that can help with controlling the UNIX server, some of which outperform the traditional PuTTY in terms of features and abilities.

These alternatives come packed with powerful tools and nifty features that can greatly enhance your server management experience. So why settle for average when you can simplify your UNIX server management tasks with cutting-edge software?"

MobaXterm is an ultimate toolkit that is jam-packed with extensive features specifically designed for network engineers and IT administrators.

MTPuTTY, the utility that allows you to bundle countless PuTTY sessions in a tabbed GUI interface without ever having to tangle with separate PuTTY windows again!

Solar-PuTTY is a powerful and user-friendly Windows-based application designed to professionally manage remote sessions.

SecureCRT is a powerful and feature-rich terminal emulator that supports secure file transfers, remote access, and data tunneling capabilities across a range of different platforms.

mRemoteNG is a remote connections manager that allows users to manage multiple remote connections to servers or devices that use different protocols.

Tabby is a cross-platform application that can run on various operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.  https://github.com/Eugeny/tabby/blob/master/docs/readme-ssh.png

Xshell 7 is a powerful terminal emulator software that enables users to connect to Unix/Linux hosts easily and securely from their Windows computers.

Linux as a Terminal Server - for thin clients or whatever

Linux as a Terminal Server: An In-Depth Guide: 

https://linuxvox.com/blog/linux-as-terminal-server/

Use with thin clients ...
Focused on XRDP & VNC, but the principles apply to other software.

Linux Terminal Server Project:  https://ltsp.org/
"Linux Terminal Server Project helps in netbooting LAN clients from a single template installation that resides in a virtual machine image or a chroot on the LTSP server, or the server root (/, chrootless). This way maintaining tens or hundreds of diskless clients is as easy as maintaining a single PC."
Installation:  https://ltsp.org/docs/installation/
"The LTSP server can be headless, but it's usually better to install the operating system using a "desktop" .iso and not a "server" one. All desktop environments should work fine, but MATE receives the most testing. Any .deb-based distribution that uses systemd should work; i.e. from Ubuntu Xenial and Debian Jessie and onward. If you choose Ubuntu, you may also consider removing snap to avoid some issues."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_Terminal_Server_Project

Top 10 Best Terminal Server Software of 2026: https://gitnux.org/best/terminal-server-software/
There are a few free tools here ...

Apache Guacamole is a clientless remote desktop gateway.  https://guacamole.apache.org/
"Because the Guacamole client is an HTML5 web application, use of your computers is not tied to any one device or location. As long as you have access to a web browser, you have access to your machines."

XRDP:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xrdp
"xrdp is a free and open-source implementation of Microsoft RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) server that enables operating systems other than Microsoft Windows (such as Linux and BSD-style operating systems) to provide a fully functional RDP-compatible remote desktop experience."

https://www.xrdp.org/
"xrdp provides a graphical login to remote machines using RDP (Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol). xrdp accepts connections from variety of RDP clients: FreeRDP, rdesktop, NeutrinoRDP and Microsoft Remote Desktop Client (for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android)."

https://github.com/neutrinolabs/xrdp

NoMachine:  https://www.nomachine.com/
"Connect to any computer remotely at the speed of light. NoMachine is the fastest and highest quality remote desktop you have ever tried. Reach your computer on the other side of the world in just a few clicks. Wherever your desktop is, you can access it from any other device and share it with who you want. NoMachine lets you access all your files, display all your videos, play all your audio, print and edit your documents, and move them around from wherever you are. All securely and under your control. Use it to share your desktop on-the-fly, record your screen content and much more. NoMachine is your own personal server, private and secure. What’s more, it’s free and you can go even beyond, using the power of Network."

Thin clients are the best Linux machines nobody knows how to use correctly

https://www.xda-developers.com/thin-clients-best-linux-machines-nobody-knows-use-correctly/

"Thin clients are the kind of hardware that should be a home labber’s open secret, but somehow still feels like insider baseball. They are cheap, quiet, and usually built to last years in the office without developing a personality disorder. That durability makes them perfect for Linux, because Linux loves boring hardware that just keeps showing up to work. The problem is that most people take a thin client home and immediately treat it like a small desktop, not what it actually is.

Used correctly, a thin client becomes a dependable “front door” to your real compute, whether that’s a server in a closet, a mini PC on a shelf, or a VM farm you keep promising to document someday."

"Thin clients earn their keep when you stop judging them like desktops and start using them like purpose-built Linux endpoints. They are not as exciting as a new SBC or a shiny mini PC, and that is part of their appeal. Set the role, keep the OS lean, and make remote access the first-class citizen it was always meant to be."

How to Set Up a Thin Client Environment:
https://itstillworks.com/set-up-thin-client-environment-7810521.html

Sipeed NanoCluster Raspberry Pi Compute Module Cluster Case

https://www.geeky-gadgets.com/sipeed-nanocluster-raspberry-pi-cluster-board/

"The Sipeed NanoCluster simplifies compact cluster computing with a modular design, integrating up to seven compute modules and reducing cabling and power supply needs."

• Key features include an 8-port managed gigabit network switch, USB-C power input (up to 65W), optional PoE, and a built-in cooling system with status LEDs for efficient performance and monitoring.
• It supports Raspberry Pi CM4/CM5 and Sipeed M3H/M4N modules, with adapter boards available for additional functionality like microSD and NVMe SSD support.
• Ideal for lightweight tasks such as Kubernetes clusters, IoT projects, and self-hosted systems, it delivers stable thermal performance and high-speed node communication (up to 950 Mbps).
• Pricing starts at $49 for the basic board, with customizable options and 3D-printed enclosures, making it accessible for hobbyists, developers, and educators.
• "The power input is capped at 60W, which restricts the number of high-power modules (e.g., CM5 or M4N) to a maximum of four.
• Space constraints may arise when using heat sinks or SSDs, potentially reducing the number of usable slots."

"The board excels in power delivery, supporting USB-C power input of up to 65W and offering optional Power over Ethernet (PoE) for added flexibility. 

Essential interfaces such as USB 2.0, HDMI, and Ethernet are included, with slot one designated as the master node for centralized control."

Sipeed NanoCluster:  https://pipci.jeffgeerling.com/boards_cm/sipeed-nanocluster.html

"Sipeed’s NanoCluster is a tiny cluster board that can hold up to seven Compute Module 4/5 boards using small riser cards. These cards use dual M.2 (NGFF) slots to adapt the compute module pins to the pinout expected on the playing-card-size carrier board."

"Because of the limited power budget and narrow space between boards—especially if you fit NVMe SSDs (the riser cards can hold a 2242 NVMe SSD, and/or microSD)—it’s recommended you only run 4 or a maximum of 5 CM5s. CM4s may fit more within that power budget, but I’ve found 4 is probably the best number if you want to get the best performance.

Slot 1 has power control over the other slots through GPIO, as well as optional UART support to at least some of the other slots. There are also USB and HDMI ports wired to slot 1 for external display and keyboard/accessories.

All nodes are interconnected over 1 Gbps links to a RISC-V switch chip on the underside of the board. That is a managed switch which has a web UI for control over port status, VLANs, etc. 

Externally, there is a single PoE++-capable 1 Gbps Ethernet link to the outside world."