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Saint Song Releases "Linux-Compatible" Mini PC
10 Yogurts writes: "Saint Song Corp. recently announced the release of the Cappuccino G1, successor to their acclaimed pocket PC, the Espresso. Although no longer a "pocket PC," due to the docking bay's features being integrated into the unit, the Cappuccino is a very small (and very, very cool) set-top box--and Saint Song is specifically touting "Linux compatibility." What does the Cappuccino have that the Espresso didn't? How about S-Video and RCA outs, Ethernet, swappable DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, V.90 modem, 16-bit sound, IrDA support, more bus ports, and a new chipset (i810E), to name a few. Impress Watch (Japanese text) has several photos of the box, including two interior shots. Tsukomo, also in Japanese, has even more photos, and is selling the units for ¥84,800 (about US$720)." It looks like a sleek little device - and is cheaper then the iPaq I bought from the shady looking store in NYC. But does anyone have more detailed information? Please post below, if so.
For some of us (ok, maybe just me) the smaller the better. Right now I use old laptops as my servers to cut down on noise and space. I would like to buy a "slim-pc" like the ones made by Sony or HP, but the cost is pretty high and they're still bulkier than this little puppy.
Oh, and just to note, current laptops are too big for my tastes since I commute on a motorcycle and its a pain to try and safely wedge a Dell Latitude into my tail bag.
I'm sure that most people who only have 1-3 computers have no problem with tower cases, but for those of us that have 5+ boxes and only one spare bedroom to shove them into, these are exactly what we're looking for.
To me, the obvious use is as a router and/or firewall box. The manufacturers obviously disagree, because they've only supplied it with a single network port. With two network ports, I'm sure these machines would have a real niche market to sell to. As it is, I just can't see who's going to buy them...
"The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike." -- Delos B. McKown
I wish that were true. Here in the UK, if you get the USB ADSL option, you can only connect a single computer to it (unless BT are lying to me, which I wouldn't completely rule out...). Thus, I need to get the Ethernet option. I guess I could try and find a USB10baseT converter, and use that to plug into the ADSL box, but it's a lot more hassle than just finding something with 2 network ports. A Qube or Netwinder would be great, but both are waaaay overpriced for what I'm after.
"The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike." -- Delos B. McKown
I don't see why this machine is being compared to an iPAQ.. This is a "set-top box" not a handheld. Don't make us all excited for a *NICE* Linux handheld when it isn't anything of the sort.
Itself could it part of the new trend these days the non-pc. Why have a real computer when you can "something better" an easy to use system that is easy to use and set up. This what is to come in the future.
It looks like a sleek little device - and is cheaper then the iPaq I bought from the shady looking store in NYC.
Hey those guys aren't shady. It just low overhead. You can get some great deals as long as you know what you are buying. I've gotten discontinued laptops from them for well under $1000.
Caveat emptor.
I have discovered a truly marvelous sig, unfortunately the sig limit is too small to contain i
Now, if you've got more bandwidth than G-d, sure, then you're going to want something better, but I daresay you'd not be trying to do it on the cheap, either. Just plunk down the five grand for a Watchguard Firebox and be done with it. (although some of you purists out there will want to wait until they come out with a Linux front end.... :)
-- ;-)
See, you not only have to be a good coder to create a system like Linux,
you have to be a sneaky bastard too
[Linus Torvalds in < 4rikft$7g5@linux.cs.Helsinki.FI > ]
The company that I work for has 8 or 10 of these on order already. I will be beating on one as soon as we get them in and I am willing to post the results here. We had good luck getting Linux to run on the Espresso, even though the USB enet took a bit of work to get running with the 2.2 kernel. Steve Fuller
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That's strange, I thought that SDRAM DIMM's were 168 pin, unless this unit uses the so-called "notebook" DIMMs.
- Mike
... it's a wearable computer! Ok, so it's a bit larger than most of those, but if the price is really ~ $720 (US), then prepare to be frankenborged. Most of it should be obvious: just find the apropriate data I/O devices, plug them in and place it in an apropriately ventilated bag. Only thing I didn't see was a portable power source (did I just miss it, being just barely awake?) Presumably the device has an internal transformer which takes a little space; open box, remove standard power unit, replace with portable fusion reactor. (What?! didn't get yours?)
If you've got the $5k for an M2 monitor, you've almost got a sweet wearable for a total of $6k. That doesn't look bad to me; but then neither does cannibalizing by laptop's monitor and making a computer out of one of those nice leather paper pad covers.
More and more I think the wearable computer market is so small because no one is really trying.
Caveat: I just woke up. A logic functions are presently reduced to mathematical ones.
Here's some information in English:t m
http://www.saintsong.com.tw/it/english/prod/cg1.h
Well, not the Cappucino one, but with the espresso, figure out how to wire in a lcd and small (wince devices had a small keyboard) and you have a full, portable, very functional Linux system. What would ya use it for? PORTABLE MP3's! Will it support VBR? YOU BETCHA! Will it support higher then 128 KBps? YUP! I wouldn't mind having one for on the bus. With a wireless internet connection would make it even better. It's also faster then the Xybernaut! :) Hey I wonder if you can order the Xybernaut wrist Keyboard, and wrist LCD and make it work with this espresso machine! :)
Gorkman
I encountered 2 problems with it-
1- It overheats. if you leave it turned on for a while, and then try to reboot, you're out of luck - you'll have to let it cool down for 15-20 minutes before you can power it up again. it just gets way too hot, and i don't see how the Espresso will be any different.
On a side note, can someone explain to me why it is that when it overheats it hangs on boot up? it seems strange that it works fine while running, but then at boot up it hangs - is it some bios check its doing?
2- size/shape is unwieldy. See the setup they have in the photo? where it's plugged into the computer? that's fine and all, but the cables are so thick compared to the pocketpc that you really need to brace the pocketpc down, or else it'll end up on the floor, like ours did. (though it is durable! a meter drop to the ground and it's still working!) And of course if you plan on bracing it down, keep in mind it needs lots of ventilation.
Otherwise, we haven't really found a use for it. sure it's small, but so is a laptop, and a laptop comes with a battery and pcmcia slots as well. I bet this thing would go nicely in your car as an mp3 player, but once summer comes around, it'll just overheat too much.
-f
-f
www.blackant.net
I was wondering, why get one of these new fangled 'set top mini box PCs', when you could buy one of these old-fashioned 'normal PCs' at half the price?
If you go look at the pictures, you will realise this device is hardly larger than the CD drive!
Any "normal" PC is a large clunky beast in comparison. This thing looks smaller than a Dreamcast.
A bit more expensive than the Japanese price mentioned in the article... never heard of the vendor before...
They list the old model, too.
I was wondering, why get one of these new fangled 'set top mini box PCs', when you could buy one of these old-fashioned 'normal PCs' at half the price? Both of them are Linux-compatible, which is surely the important part?
Does my bum look big in this?
Surely these things (as cool as they are) will be squeezed out by laptops ? I suppose the niche market is impromtue Halflife/Quake/Diablo Lan parties.
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Jon - TheSpork