Tuesday, November 28th 2006

Linutop shows off tiny Linux web browsing computer

Nov 28th, 2006 17:06 Discuss (24 Comments)

Linutop recently made a very small and powerful Linux based machine. Measuring a very small 9 x 3 x 1.5cm, the box is certainly not loaded with the latest and most powerful hardware. It has 4 USB ports, microphone and earphone sockets, 100Mbps Ethernet and a VGA port. The Linux operating system is stored on 512MB of ROM, and comes with a word processor, Firefox, a media player, GAIM, and a PDF reader. . The machine has 256MB of RAM, and has an AMD Geode processor of unknown clock speed. The machine is really meant for anyone hoping to set up public internet access facilities, as well as people who just need a simple and cheap internet browsing machine. You can get yourself one for $368 (€280/£190) here when it's released.

Source: The Register

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24 Comments on Linutop shows off tiny Linux web browsing computer

jocksteeluk

thats a good idea and with software included thats a good price an alternative would be a used p2/p3 system with windows98 for around £100 you could possibly get a monitor with it for £10

Jimmy 2004

Very nice IMO. It would be good as an extra PC for a family which shares one PC, I would consider one but £190 is a bit much for what it does considering I have a PC and it would be better value to upgrade that. Doubt it will have much success TBH, but I hope it does.

wazzledoozle

Not much of a market for it at that price. People who set up internet cafes usually go with older computers on the cheap.

kakazza

Just that this thing will probably use like 5-15W power maximum. That's just my guess, ok. But the MacMini already doesn't consume anything notable (15-40W maybe) and this thing is certanly a bit smaller and slower.
Also no noise :)

Great doing! But yes, the price is a bit high :/

PVTCaboose1337

Graphical Hacker

I am so getting one. Linux FTW!

jocksteeluk

mac mini's are too exspensive, apple have missed a big opportunity to claw into the pc market. This linutop would hve benifited from using windows for pocket pc rather than linux as the majority of regular folk may not want to chance using something other than a windows based product

Dippyskoodlez

jocksteelukmac mini's are too exspensive, apple have missed a big opportunity to claw into the pc market. This linutop would hve benifited from using windows for pocket pc rather than linux as the majority of regular folk may not want to chance using something other than a windows based product

Yeah, because $500 for a core duo........ is actually a better performance/$$ than this thing is....... you get os X with it too.

wazzledoozle

DippyskoodlezYeah, because $500 for a core duo........ is actually a better performance/$$ than this thing is....... you get os X with it too.

There is no $500 model, it starts at $600.

Dippyskoodlez

wazzledoozleThere is no $500 model, it starts at $600.

Still $200 more, for a CPU more than twice the speed, double the ram, a much nicer OS, and a CDROM.... 60gb storage... and a GMA950..

#10

wazzledoozle

DippyskoodlezStill $200 more, for a CPU more than twice the speed, double the ram, a much nicer OS, and a CDROM.... 60gb storage... and a GMA950..

Or 50% more costs, which is considerable when buying a lot of computers.

For personal use, the Mac Mini is definitely worth the extra cost though.

#11

ktr

not bad, i have only seen unit of that size containing that slow c3 eden cpu <---and costs more.

but yea, just get a macmini, and use bootcamp.

#12

XooM

for 368 dollars, i could build a dual-core PC with integrated graphics (and better than the aforementioned GMA950 at that) and run linux on *it*

i guess i kinda see the point, but its a damn small market at that pricepoint.

#13

PVTCaboose1337

Graphical Hacker

But look how small it is. That is the big thing...

#14

Dippyskoodlez

PVTCaboose1337But look how small it is. That is the big thing...

and the *only* differentating factor..

#15

ktr

google "nano-itx"

motherboards that are 12cm x 12cm!

and the cpu is 4 times smaller than the northbridge...lol

#16

Frick

Fishfaced Nincompoop

Mmm.. Sexy little thing! I REALLY like it! :) It looks perfect for a neat freak.

#17

jocksteeluk

effectively this has the capabilities of a PDA with a weaker Cpu, no doubt someone could reconfigure the internals of a pocket pc and create a more user friendly device

#18

Dippyskoodlez

jocksteelukeffectively this has the capabilities of a PDA with a weaker Cpu, no doubt someone could reconfigure the internals of a pocket pc and create a more user friendly device

Nah, a geode will pwn a PDA anyday.

Its an athlon XP.

#19

kakazza

jocksteelukeffectively this has the capabilities of a PDA with a weaker Cpu, no doubt someone could reconfigure the internals of a pocket pc and create a more user friendly device

Yes, I always hook up my PDA to my monitor. Cause all PDAs have an VGA port! And a mouse, and a keyboards and...

for 368 dollars, i could build a dual-core PC with integrated graphics (and better than the aforementioned GMA950 at that) and run linux on *it*

Better not be a Pentium D :P

#20

XooM

nope, 3800 x2 :) either AM2 or 939, comes out to a similar price with 6100/6150 IGP (just one of many options)

#21

jocksteeluk

DippyskoodlezNah, a geode will pwn a PDA anyday.

Its an athlon XP.

Following the buyout of Cyrix by National Semiconductor and the sale of the Cyrix name and trademarks to VIA Technologies, the core was developed by National Semiconductor into the Geode line of processors, which was subsequently sold to Advanced Micro Devices

it looks like AMD has vast experience in wrapping their name over other products, so i very much doubt these Geode chips could outperfprm a dual core intel xscale or samsung dualcore Arm chips for that matter

#22

XooM

not neccissarily. there are 2 lines of Geodes: the NX and the GX. one is the cyrix rebrand, the other is athlon XP based. these *probably* use the XP-based ones.

#23

Dippyskoodlez

XooMnot neccissarily. there are 2 lines of Geodes: the NX and the GX. one is the cyrix rebrand, the other is athlon XP based. these *probably* use the XP-based ones.

Yep.

#24

Judas

I don't know ..i like the idea if you just want some thing to get on the net with ,this will do the job and its not big either

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Linutop shows off tiny Linux web browsing computer

24 Comments on Linutop shows off tiny Linux web browsing computer

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