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10GB In A Linux PDA

Posted by timothy on from the off-camera-storage dept.

Deep Penguin writes: "Perhaps attempting to captitalize on the concept of data mining (mixed with turtles?), Serial Systems of Singapore has announced the Terapin Mine, a hand-held the size of a 35mm camera that looks to be a fusion of a double-fistful of geek toys: network storage (10-12Gb), audio record/playback, digital picture display (composite video out), PCMCIA reader and e-mail sender. It's attached to the world via 10BaseT, USB or whatever I/O card is in the PCMCIA socket (modem, LAN, wireless, etc.) Of course, all complex systems evolve until they can read Usenet news, leaving them an upgrade path to version 2. Price? $599. Delivery? End of August, they say. And it runs Linux, so no Microsoft tax." An anonymous reader points to this CNET article on the device as well. I was afraid this would live as vaporware on the Terapin site forever.

2 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Risk of disk crashes? by pyrrhos · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Actually, smaller hard disk are more resistant to shocks. The smaller the parts, the higher the mechanical eigenfrequencies. Therefore, a shock is experienced by the miniature part as a smooth motion.

  2. Useful Indeed by Mr.+Fusion · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I deal with large files all the time, and I'm constantly looking for work arounds that don't involve lugging my 8-pound laptop to another workstation or burning something on CD. This little device would revolutionize my life if it lives up to its vaporware specs. Consider the following:

    After shooting 5 minutes of DV footage on someone else's camera, I want to bring the video home to edit on my PC. Instead of borrowing their DV camera or buying my own, all I need is a PCMCIA FireWire card to transfer footage and a NIC to bring it back out to my laptop editing machine.

    or...

    I want to listen to MP3s in the car, but I'm on a 4-hour road trip and compressing all my songs to 64k mono versions for my old 32mb Rio just doesn't cut it for me. Now you can take those 7 gigs of Elton John and Styx without sacrificing quality.

    but what about...

    You've been taking a lot of pictures at some social event for the company you worked for, but you'd rather not go download all those photos into your computer in the other room nor do you want to be the nerd behind the laptop for the party. Transfer all your images into your silver device, and as an added bonus, you can even have everyone view those pics on TV when it's over. I'm sure this also would apply to making and giving presentation. Much cooler than Powerpoint when done right.

    and let's not forget...

    Looking at pr0n on your computer in your office isn't as appetizing as viewing it on the couch in your living room.

    -Mr. Fusion