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Saintsong Releases A New Mini PC
A reader writes "Saintsong, our favorite manufacturer of tiny PC's (see here and here) is at it again. They've released the TX2 version of the Cappuccino PC everyone drooled over not to long ago. It's designed by Gingko corp., the same folks who designed the iMac. The new unit includes 2 Firewire ports and an additional 2 USB ports over it's predecessor, the Cappuccino GX1. Unfortunately it appears that Saintsong is only distributing it in kit form, so you'll have to supply your own socket 370 processor, RAM, hdd, etc. No prices are listed, but it's still a slick looking toy."
In contrast, I can get a Dell Inspiron 8100 with not-quite-comparable specs for $1700-1800 (Dell's improvement prices are steep) or a WinBook with very similar specs for about the same. Oh, and those include a built-in UPS, a keyboard, and a monitor.
Overall an interesting toy, but I can't really see what advantages it has. With all the ports on the sides and back there'll be cables sticking out all over (besides, it needs airflow) and the fourth side has to be kept clear for the CD/DVD drive. I can see it as a prototype for a gaming or set-top box, but that's about it.
fencepost
just a little off
No need to hurry up to get a second post.
Think about what you say instead. Why would you wear a PC with a 2.5 inches hd and a mile long power cable instead of any new 200MHz/16bit color/1GB microdrive hand-held device ?
They are just cramming more stuff into the motherboard.. not nearly as impressive as any Sony or Toshiba notebooks.
It's a cool computer but it's nothing close the wearable.
it has two 1394 ports to "speed up fire transfer".
I was a little confused when I read the story (maybe they were trying to increase the hit count from Apple users that click on any story that mentions Apple, iMac, etc.)
I thought the iMac started the return of Apple doing their industrial design in-house. Jonathan Ive, who heads the group, has been doing some great stuff: the iMac, PowerBook G4, (illfated) Cube, G4 Power Mac, all great designs. Prior to that Apple used to hire outside companies to design their products.
This isn't the first time they've had someone take credit for Apple's in-house work. The original Mac was designed by someone within Apple, but FrogDesign has been taking credit for it ever since. If I remember correctly, it turns out that FrogDesign put together the design language for Apple's post Apple II products (namely the Apple IIc), but not for the Mac. Later on, the Mac was redone to take that language into account -- I believe it was started with the Mac SE. But the original toaster design was done by some guy at Apple who's name escapes me.
Insert simplistic political, ideological, or personal proselytization here.
Now if only I could find a dual ethernet version I could make a mini-firewall.
now we need to go OSS in diesel cars
What are you smoking? Sure, it sounds good on paper, but have you priced PC104 motherboards lately? That's the form factor you're looking at here, and it's an industry standard so it should be cheap (at least, cheaper than building a custom motherboard from scratch). Find me one with a 486 or better for under $100. No, really, please find me one -- I can imagine a Beowulf culster of them, and I'd love to build one, but at current prices it's just not an option.
If all this should have a reason, we would be the last to know.
You're right! I was "fixing" the link in the earlier post but didn't realize it was simply wrong. Whoops. Somebody please mod me back down if you have the points to burn.
Q:How many libertarians does it take to stop a Panzer division? A:None. Obviously market forces will take care of it.
This is the previous rendition (USB x2 and no 1394).
This is the direction things are going. The latest form factors (flexATX and VIA's ITX) are quite small, packed with goodies, and cheap to produce. With VIA's ITX especially, you'll going to see very quiet, low power 10x9x3" boxes with ample capabilities for _most_ home/business uses.
Hey, look at the operating system configuration options: $75 off without Windows. This is the first time I've seen anybody offer that, I hope it's a trend.
Life's a bitch but somebody's gotta do it.
This is plain to see. The machine is small enough, you can mount it inside your CRT monitor and have your own x86 imac!
--------
It's OK to be social, just don't tell anyone about it.
They also designed Linux.
After reading up on it, I'm actually interested. The modem issue can be circumvented no problem. Slap a fat HD in this badboy and you at least have a decent side box to store and work with differant media. The TV out is handy, and is the biggest feature I see. Might use it as an Arcade Cabinet brain. Stick in on a wireless LAN and you have some interesting gaming options...
Blog Prophyts - Right On, Man
If you're going to mock one's mastery of the English language, you should probably spell "sentence" and "edited" correctly.
This sig is xenon coated, and will glow red when in the presence of aliens
;^)He he! I liked this one: Two FireWire (1394) ports speed up fire transfer.... Yes, it is very important that the transfer of fire in to and out of computers is quick. Burn!
main(O){10<putchar(4^--O?77-(15&5128 >>4*O):10)&&main(2+O);}
I can't imagine how it would create less of a table mess than the standard PC case. At least with my other computers all the wiring comes out of one side. This thing looks cute, but with wires coming out of three sides of the unit it wouln't be possible to sit it next to anything else. The keyboard and mouse connections at the very least should either come out the front or the back.
Come to think of it, as long as you can install Windows on something, regardless of extra drivers, you should be able to install Linux, too.
In fact, for install purposes, bare-bones Linux can be more flexible than bare-bones Windows.
What's this Submit thingy do?
You have just described a console.
If only they soldered on a Geforce2Go... then you'd see some *real* lan party action in an itty bitty nice case.
And whatever happened to that blue colour iMac is/was famous for? I was hoping for a cooler looking casing.
===> An eye for an eye makes everyone blind - MG
It looks kinda like a fat walkman. The idea that this thing can fit current technology (hdd, cpu, etc) is a pretty good indicator that "wearable" computers and other supercool technology isn't too far behind (in usable form, that is).
And yes, I can imagine a beowulf cluster of these.
I own one of these... it makes a neat little server box. Get your own CPU, RAM, hard drive, and you're good to go. No need for another monitor, I've got it's video out plugged into the TV.
Only down side is the thing is that it is fairly loud, for something so tiny. I've got it sitting in my living room, and it's fan noise is rather noticable. My dream is to have an appliance-like system I can use for general purpose stuff. Sort of like a TiVo, but with more oomph, and of course. general purpose. And quiet. Until then, though, the Book PC is a nice, cheap alternative.
I agree wholeheartedly! I was thinking of using a system like this as a TV-top PC that could connect to my central Linux box, download MP3's, movies, games, etc, dynamically and play them on my home entertainment system. This would have been a much better solution than either a laptop (too much $$$) or a stand-alone full-size PC (too big). Without a decent video card, though, I'll be waiting a little longer.
Clever translation of the logo into ASCII, if you ask me. Too bad they didn't italicize it. Pentium !!!
Dong. Dong Dong Dee-Dong.
It doesn't support Windows XP? How disappointing!
Not like I wouldn't love a GeForce2Go in one of these, but perhaps overheating is an issue? The description mentions some of the design methods they used to effectively dissipate heat but that might not be enough with a graphic chip like that. Sure they're designed for laptops but we're talking a much smaller form factor. (and laptops are thinner over a wider surface area)
When is the industry going to realize that we need a new compact format PC. This thing looks great but its pricey when you compare it to the costs of off the shelf components.
How about a "disposable" PC form factor? Currently, you can get a mini-ATX with integrated LAN/video/modem/sound for well under $100 US. Pitch the dimm slots, processor ZIF socket, and PCI/ISA slots for non-expandable, non-upgradeable permanant RAM, processor and a firewire or USB expansion standard. This would cut even more overhead off the cost of the individual components. Buy them all on one small board. This improves reliability in harsh environments as well. Screw upgrading things on an individual basis. You can get a Duron 750 for under $30. Have you seen the price of RAM these days?
There is so much computing power to be leveraged by other markets. This may very well be the thing that brings the PC to other markets.
Life is the leading cause of death in America.
Supports up to 1280 by 1024-pixel at 24bits per pixel 15 pin mini D-sub VGA connector
One S video port
One AV video port
They need to put in a GeForce mobility chip. If you're already going to pay a pretty penny for style, you may as well fork over the extra $80 for a somewhat decent video card.
The wheel is turning, but the hamster is dead.
If I had been paid to write product copy and spit out crap like they did my ass woulda been dumped on the sidewalk years ago. In a world where M$ has proven that "it's all about the marketing", you'd really think companies would take the extra 5 minutes to paint a grammatically accurate image of themselves.
Yeah, that's it: a high qualify image in bright sliver!
While visiting a friend for an extended stay, he lent me his Book PC to anything I needed to do. I thought "Thanks, he won't lend me a laptop or anything, I get stuck with a 'convergence' crap box that probably sucks." I was extremely surprised about how easy and fun this little thing is.
Add a processor, mem, and drive, and it's good to go. Great form factor and most everything is built into the mobo, sound, USB, ethernet, and even a TV out. The intel iCrap chipset needs to go, but other than that, a BookPC with a Happy Hacker keyboard look great and run linux extremely well (except for the modem).
If they only had one for Athlon chips, you'd have an extremely capbale '2nd computer'. I'm going to pick one up the second they have better video cards.
http://www.ibuypower.com/product-pc/pocket-epc2.ht m
I too often use bright sliver to give a product a high qualify image. And sentance fragments! Tasty sentance fragments *drool*.
Believing that this full function Mini Book PC, Cappuccino TX2, will bring you more working space and be far away from the table mess.
Ah, yes I see. When you don't actually plug anything into the unit and just let it sit like a paper weight there's no mess at all.
Don't get me wrong, it looks like a great idea and might actually be done right. Too bad their page appears to be written and editted by a 4 year old.
I build you this mini-book PC in order to have your advice.
Can we get some Imac-style flavors too? I want a Moccachino and a Frappachino PC, please.
Presumably the same place (ibuypower.com) will get them for you.
Imagine how small a Beowulf cluster of these would be!
I suspect you'll have to read it with lynx, because Netscape 4.77 doesn't render it too badly to be able to read.
I don't have any other browsers on-hand to test it with.
What's this Submit thingy do?
If I didn't know better, I would have assumed this to be vaporware.
With a name like cappuccino, could we coin the term "foamware"?
Directron.com sells a similar, if not the same machine for much less than ibuypower.com. Search that site for ezgo and you'll come up with the machine. Also, check out www.atoz-ezgo.com.tw for information on the same sort of system. The systems seem identical. I thought the Saintsong site and the AtoZ site were different fronts for the same company, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
Too bad it wants 18Vdc at 3A. If it were lower voltage, it would be trivial to power it from a car. Might make a neat auto-mobile computer. Also, I wonder why they will not support 512K memory modules??
Z
enough is too much
Why do say that? I don't know about Win98/Me, but NT is pretty decent and 2000 rocks. This piece of hardware supports all major platforms.
...it shouldn't be a problem installing Linux. There doesn't appear to be anything too weird or wonderful in the system specs that would preclude installing Linux.
You're using her as bait, Master!
More likely, the way my desks go, it'll get lost in the mess. It's a good thing it's (UL) approved, but it looks like it'd still be difficult to balance a cup of espresso on.
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
This FAQ says that the iMac was designed in-house by Apple.
Maybe "fire transfer" is what happens when the cooling fan fails...
I wonder if you can run anything other than windows on it???
Only 'flamers' flame!
Well, that's no good
the above poster is linking to the OLDER model, without firewire and with only 2 usb ports. if you want one of those older machines, check out this link:
http://www.directron.com/ezgo.html
You can get the barebones system (no ram, hd, cpu, etc) for only $420. Great if you already have that stuff lying around from previous upgrades.
i haven't seen anywhere selling the newer machines yet.
With the price, the size, and the styling.... I'm in. WAIT A MINUTE. HEY, where's the mini-stick port?
Darn tootin'! How many times I looked at the original Cap and thought "Gee, I wish I didn't have to pay them for the privilege of throwing away their overpriced RAM."
Yeah yeah, so it's off-topic. Anyhoo. The device does look pretty spiffy. Hey, maybe I could get a job proofreading Saintsong's English. ;) Well, back to lurking.
The streets shall flow with the blood of the Guberminky.
I didn't know that FireWire ports could also transfer fire. If only it had an internal battery it would be great for camping trips...
marotti.com
Desk-drawer web server/morpheus server/etc. Pretty cool.
If Slashdot is where the spelling-challenged go when they die, I'm in heaven.
Why don't you friggin mods check the links first??? This is NOT the computer in the article!
Where can we buy one of these kits?
That's the old one.
Anyone know of a US or Canadian Distributor? Wholesale or retail?
The site seems to use flash, which actually is supported by mozilla. I'm assuming you're running linux, so all you'll need to do is install the flash plugin for netscape, and create a symbolic link to it in /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins
Those puppies have really crappy resolution. Even the expensive "borg-look" units have only 800x600 monochrome at best. Fine for portable applications, lousy for doing work that needs lots of screen real estate (like programming)
You either believe in rational thought or you don't
Nuff Said
enough is too much
Righteous!
I read dave clarke instead of dark cave:) Brought to me by w33d-inflicted sudden dislexia. Thank you for the rabbit.
Wow! People still use Adlib? I though Creative/Soundblaster nuked them off the face of the earth!
I'm a writer, a poet, a genius, I know it. I don't buy software, I grow it.
...big f'n slashdot!
See, size does matter.
Is there a smalltalk VM?
Don't click on the FAQ link in the above post!!!
Goatse-o's! Someone has WAY too much time on their hands.
With two more ethernet ports this would make a perfect dsl router/firewall. -- Daniel
Life's a bitch but somebody's gotta do it.
This thing would be very cool if they would drop the friggen modem and add a 2nd nic interface. I'd have my boss purchase one of these devices simply to make the thing into a firewall/proxy server......I know that I wanted to build one of those linux advanced radio terminals (lart)...but I don't have the $$$ or the experience to build the **** thing...
What? Me worry? NEVER.....
http://www.apple.com/powermaccube/
Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
well, i'm sure your point is valid, but you should probably try to post to the right story.
then you could do a beowulf in a breadbox!
whee!
// james
--- The reclining dragon deeply fears the blue pool's clarity.
What's with the parallel and RS-232 ports? For a gadget like this, doesn't it make sense to pare the hardware to a minimum? If you can afford a gadget like this, you can afford to upgrade your peripherals, or at least buy adapters. I'm suprised it doesn't have a floppy drive!
They say it's $599 for barebones, still a bit pricey.
And with MAME and Snes9x (plus a couple USB gamepads), I'd have a nice game console, as well. With some of the best games ever made, natch.
Now, if only the whole thing were cheaper...
as stated here, usb to ethernet adapters are well supported by linux. buy 'em here
This will really help when they create the Magnesium Limited Edition.
Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks: temporary loans from the Public Domain, not real property ("intellectual" or otherwise)
Ethernet and modem are sort of redundant, as you point out. But as I see it, ethernet is more defensible than the other stuff, 'cause a device like this is pretty useless without networking.
When are we going to see a "full" laptop with this form factor? Perhaps a little larger due to a battery (and skip that CD-rom). Then one connects monitor/goggles and a keyboard (if needed) w/ touchpad, to work on the plane...
// Fraxinus
This is stupid. Build a small desktop pc for the same cost as a regular pc.
Why not get a bus based/usb/firewire module for an ipaq which upgrades it to be equivalent to a decent desktop machine with monitor out and full mouse/keyboard ports?
Sorry if this is a touch OT, just wondering if anyone knows where to get one of these babies in the UK, and if so how much does it cost?
Thanks!