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Mini PC in an Actual Lunchbox

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the now-isn't-that-cute dept.

schnell29 writes "I am looking for a small case and such to house my next computer, and I have seen many mini, micro, flex ATX cases, but mini-itx.com has caught my atention. I like the lunchbox pc. With all the talk about quiet, small pc's this might be the ticket. And hey, they even report that VIA is now Microsoft CE .NET 4.1 certified."

162 comments

  1. Tasty by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Mmmmm this computer looks good enough to eat!

    1. Re:Tasty by cioxx · · Score: 3, Funny

      Mmmmm this computer looks good enough to eat!

      Seeing how it's powered by Windows, it probably eats all the RAM all by itself.

      NO LUNCH FOR YOU PENGUIN BOY!

    2. Re:Tasty by 5etanta · · Score: 1

      The picture of the MoBo reminded me that I havent had "Big Red" chewing gum for ages. Must get myself some of that big red goodness today, mmmmmm.

      --
      "I see lots of Pengins, is that good?" "Thats good Dad, click yes."
  2. Batman Lunchbox by Blackneto · · Score: 5, Funny

    Pfft! I'll put mine in an Incredible Hulk lunchbox.
    It will kick this guy's ass.

    --
    Ursula Andress, Catherine Deneuve, and Charo, twice...
    1. Re:Batman Lunchbox by The+Original+Yama · · Score: 3, Funny

      I'd like to see someone install a Red Hat system in a... (wait for it) red hat! Now that would kick some serious tail. I wouldn't want to wear it, though.

      If I put my PDA in my hat, does that count?

      --
      OLPC Australia
    2. Re:Batman Lunchbox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why don't you just put your PDA in your ass, and quit trying to be funny? It isn't working.

    3. Re:Batman Lunchbox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sir, I have watched many episodes of the justice league on the cartoon network. What have I learned? Anyone from gothem is a better then the other supper heros/villians.

    4. Re:Batman Lunchbox by l1ghtfoot · · Score: 1

      How about inside a yellow dog?

      --
      _____
      If you can't hear the voices in my head, then you're just not listening hard enough.
  3. Linux? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Would Linux work as an OS? It only mentions Windows XP.

    1. Re:Linux? by Max+Romantschuk · · Score: 2

      Mini-ITX is a motherboard form factor, and doesn't really relate that much to what software runs on top of it.

      It should run Linux.

      --
      .: Max Romantschuk :: http://max.romantschuk.fi/
    2. Re:Linux? by Simon+Lyngshede · · Score: 4, Informative

      Of cause it run Linux, and *BSD. Via is even developing Linux drivers for the Eden platform. This enables you to use features like the TV-Out.

      www.viaarena.com has a forum for Via Eden Linux users.

  4. And when you boot it... by darkov · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Oh God, not Windows again! I told her I hate windows..."

    --
    Reliable, Great Value Hosting: $7.95/mo 2.4G/120G
  5. Great! by The+Original+Yama · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now I can cook my lunch at work on my Athlon!

    --
    OLPC Australia
    1. Re:Great! by vb.warrior · · Score: 0

      You called Bill Gates 'Gay', your so funny!! Wow man, how did you get such a cutting sense of humour? Bet that pick up line works all the time.

    2. Re:Great! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The guy regurgitated the standard, still lame "Athlons are hot" `joke' as the core of his posting, so what do you expect?

  6. this will make bullies happy by StefMeister · · Score: 5, Funny

    Beating up geeks to steal their lunch (money) will become much more profitable.

    --
    "Son, in a sporting event, it's not whether you win or lose, it's how drunk you get" - Homer J. Simpson
  7. slashdotted. by caino59 · · Score: 2, Funny

    well...I almost feel obligated to ask

    Are they serving the site of that lunchbox pc?

    caino

    Don't touch my .sig there!

    1. Re:slashdotted. by auroran · · Score: 2, Funny

      It wouldn't surprise me if that site was hosted off that lunchbox pc. We /.ers have a tendancy to eat servers for breakfast
      or in this case maybe lunch :)

    2. Re:slashdotted. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Erm... I really should have moved the site over to the server farm last week. DNS changes ahoy!!

      Ewan
      mini-itx.com

  8. Nowonder Microsoft is certifying this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I mean, everyone knows Microsoft wants their OS on every desktop. They've found the only way of penitrating the mess hall - the Lunchbox XP computer with genuine Windows XP/CE(TM) inside.

  9. It took just 2 mins... by Memetic · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    to get /.'ed

    1. Re:It took just 2 mins... by anakin876 · · Score: 2

      anyone got a cached picture (at least) that they could post?

    2. Re:It took just 2 mins... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      uh ,not google

      posed AC to not Karma Whore - Hes Nikke

  10. Little Jonny starves to death... by MosesJones · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is ridiculous and irresponsible, mothers will be sending kids to school without food by mistake.

    This MUST carry a large warning label that clearly states "contents are not edible".

    --
    An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
    1. Re:Little Jonny starves to death... by nentwined · · Score: 2, Funny

      contents may provide food for mind, none for belly choose wisely my son

      --
      heaven
    2. Re:Little Jonny starves to death... by esper_child · · Score: 1

      what will be worse is when the mom puts curry in the computer by mistake and sends the real lunchbox in with extra RAM

  11. YHBT YHL HAND DS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ok you hooked him boy, now let the line play a little... steady... now reel him in!
    YHBT YHL HAND DS

    1. Re:YHBT YHL HAND DS by RupW · · Score: 1

      YHBT YHL HAND DS

      unless, of course, that was a serious question about chipset support / compatibility and drivers for the on-board video and audio :-p

      There's a Linux section in the FAQ so it should run fine.

  12. Cooling Fan by theedge318 · · Score: 5, Funny

    You can also eliminate all those pesky cooling fans ... just use those refreezable ice packs.

    Honestly ... should we really be trying to put a computer in a lunch box ... how about putting it in a keg. Not only can it serve up your DIVX movie collection, it can provide you an all your guests with your favorite frosty beverage. Again the need for the cooling fan is eliminated by the kegerator.

    Does anyone know where to get a kegerator with RJ45 and Composite/RCA connections?

    --
    Sig Nazi- "No Sig for you, come back 1 year."
    1. Re:Cooling Fan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      what's this? a computer in a keg?

  13. Imagine ... by BabyDave · · Score: 5, Funny

    a five course dinner of those!

    1. Re:Imagine ... by zrk · · Score: 2

      ...A Beowolf Cafeteria of these!

    2. Re:Imagine ... by kylecito · · Score: 1

      Link the lunchboxes using spaghetti and broadcast the dinner to half a million nerds advertising it as "First Beowulf Dinner" ®

      --

      --
      Backup not found: (A)bort, (R)etry, (S)uicide

  14. arrrrgghhh...too many thens....hurts bad..... by mabinogi · · Score: 1

    How is it that anyone can possibly get then and than mixed up, when they mean such totaly different things, and sound so totaly different?

    I don't think I can take much more......

    --
    Advanced users are users too!
    1. Re:arrrrgghhh...too many thens....hurts bad..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      'plant pot plant in plant pot'
      The plant feels much happier now.

      (Output from The Pawn adventure game, whilst playing about with their parser)

    2. Re:arrrrgghhh...too many thens....hurts bad..... by z0 · · Score: 1

      In some dialects of Englihs, particularly those spoken throughout the American Midwest, "then" and "than" sound a lot alike, and are often misused in print for that reason.

  15. Only problem with x86 architecture by tulare · · Score: 5, Insightful

    is that the manufacturers still insist upon maintaining obsolete interfaces on their mobos. Seriously, how many of you are going to buy a printer tomorrow that is parellel-only? The echos resound through the hall. Similarly for the serial port. These ports are only there to support older hardware for those too uncreative to go find dongles if they're stuck with crufty old hardware. One serious advantage of, say, an iBook over a comparable PC laptop is that the designers were free to be more creative because they weren't stuck with a bunch of zillion-pin garbage sticking out the back of the computer.

    Seems to me it's time to clean up the x86 motherboard. I've been happily not using parallel or serial for about two years now. YMMV.

    --
    political_news.c: warning: comparison is always true due to limited range of data type
    1. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by tulare · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Actually, come to think of it, ps/2 is also a thing of the past. Imagine how much more you could get out of a mobo like this if you replaced the ps/2 ports, the parallel port, and the serial port with, say, 6 usb and 2 firewire ports. Again, why not?

      --
      political_news.c: warning: comparison is always true due to limited range of data type
    2. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by orangesquid · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I am frustrated when PC's come with only one serial port instead of two. Serial ports are incredibly useful for connecting external modems (sorry, but winmodems are solid cpu-using crap and there's no guarantee an internal modem isn't a winmodem) and for serial consoles. When you want to remotely administer a server that can't connect to the network, do you login through the serial port, or do you talk instructions over the phone to some idiot who doesn't know the difference between a PC and a lunchbox? Oh, wait...

      --
      --TheOrangeSquid Is it any wonder things seem so awry? We swim in a sea of confusion and don't have to think to survive
    3. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by AftanGustur · · Score: 5, Interesting

      is that the manufacturers still insist upon maintaining obsolete interfaces on their mobos. Seriously, how many of you are going to buy a printer tomorrow that is parellel-only?

      Dohhh ? Isn't that like claiming that Floppies are obsolete since no software is delivered on floppies any more ??

      I think you should instead think about the number of printers in-use that are parallell-port only, and then think about if the parallell port is "obsolete".

      --
      echo '[q]sa[ln0=aln80~Psnlbx]16isb572CCB9AE9DB03273snlbxq' |dc
    4. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by tulare · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Not a bad point, although I have to add that, given the spaghetti that passes for wiring at my workplace, I don't remotely administer anything that can't talk to the network. Unless you consider remote to be the distance between the keyboard and the comp. Besides, I'm perfectly content using my usb-to-serial dongle on those blue moon occasions and forgetting about the ugly mess that my laptop doesn't have.

      --
      political_news.c: warning: comparison is always true due to limited range of data type
    5. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by sql*kitten · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I think you should instead think about the number of printers in-use that are parallell-port only, and then think about if the parallell port is "obsolete".


      But those printers are in-use on hardware which does have parallel ports, and if you assume computers generally outlive printers (true, IME) then there's no problem manufacturing motherboads without the legacy ports. The only problem is if you need to run the new printers on those old PCs...

    6. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by miketang16 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Only after a port has used up all possible usefullness. When all the parallel printers and external modems are "recycled"(Sent to China) and no networking company uses the serial Console port on their products anymore. THEN, you can get rid of those legacy ports. Think about the people trying to abolish floppy drives from computers... Is making a boot CD as easy as making a boot floppy? Are you going to use a 700 MB CD-R for a 40k document?

      --
      -------
      "In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."
      -- George Orwell
    7. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by Seahawk · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Well - I havent had a floppy drive in my machine the last 2 years - and what should i use it for?

      As soon as you have a CD-RW drive I fail to see why anyone would need a floppydrive...

    8. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by Seahawk · · Score: 1

      No - offcourse you wont use a CD-R for a 40k document - you would probably mail it!

      Offcourse there are the need of legacy hardware in some situations, but in most there wont be a need - so why dont get rid of them and save the cost/space?

    9. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by tulare · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'll take this one at a time:

      "Isn't that like claiming that Floppies are obsolete..."
      Yes. Floppies are obsolete. Rely on them at your peril. I won't. I will still use them for those machines which I have to manage which are so obsolete as to be unable to boot from cdrom, but that's it as far as their usefulness goes. Rate of failure alone is a great reason to trash the floppy disk.

      "I think you should instead think about the number of printers in-use that are parallell-port only..."
      Yes, some printers still are parallel-only. How many of those are laser printers? Not very many. IMO, inkjets are almost never worth saving when you re-up your system, and most laser printers have multiple interfaces, so you're not tied to the parport to use those. One exception to the above is the occasional pen plotter... many of those are parport-only and definately worth saving if you need one. Which is a good reason to buy a "specialty" computer to manage it, or, um (jetdirect) an external (jetdirect) print server. (jetdirect)

      All I'm trying to say is that not every single x86 mobo needs to have all this old crap hanging off the back of it. Be nice to clean things up a bit, while maintaining special models for people who need them for a particular purpose. Kind of like how you can still buy boards with ISA slots on them. Anyone want to argue that ISA isn't obsolete?

      --
      political_news.c: warning: comparison is always true due to limited range of data type
    10. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by gl4ss · · Score: 2

      they insist maintaining them because people WANT them.

      FYI there are several mobos with only usb for keyboard/mouse/other hid.

      why would you like to buy a new keyboard just because the mobo manufacturer didn't include ps2(which, added, costs just about the price of the plug)? most people don't.

      legacy support goes to hell too.
      some more exotic hw rely on being able to use 2 serial ports on pc for example.. (some weird military radiomodems for example)

      and isa is much more usable than that stupid amr(seriously, i have not seen ever one amr card in my life, in a computer or on a computerstore shelf)(granted pci is better, but again, legacy support.).

      if you don't want serial/parallel/ps2 ports on your x86, buy a mobo that doesnt have them.. the (only) good thing about x86 hardware is that you can make that choice. but don't come bitchin when your usb keyboard fails and your backup keyboard is ps2/din.

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    11. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by thunderbee · · Score: 3, Informative

      I'll address the serial port issue only. Try configuring a Cisco (or about any worthy piece of network equipment, Suns included for that matter) without a serial port. *boo*
      But hey, I work with my computer, I guess Josticks all come in USB now so you don't really mind.

      --
      In my opinion, Scientology is a cult you should avoid.
    12. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by barzok · · Score: 2

      I bought a GPS unit only a year ago. It came with a serial cable. I'm "creative" enough to find a dongle but I refuse to pay $25 for a Serial-USB adapter. Same for my old Palm Pro that I still use because I can't justify buying a new one - that's got a serial connection on the cradle.

    13. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by yuri · · Score: 1

      Interesting, didn't it say there wasn't a floppy connector.

      I also think they are in a different area than Apple. Apple is selling more expensive machines to less technical users than this company. Apple users are less likely to require a floppy/serial port/printer port anyway (reasoning that their hardward will be newer), and they can reasonably expect that users that do will fork out for the shiny USB version they conveniently sell.

      This company will lose sales if they don't include things that people need. People wont buy the external USB version, a) because of the extra price, and b) because if you want a small computer you don't want large bits hanging off it.

    14. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by roseanne · · Score: 1

      You can actually buy legacy-free mobos these days. Although -- I have a friend who almost bought one of those, he planned to connect an old microcontroller kit he used for home automation. His kit only had a serial interface; he eventually decided against a legacy-free PC. I'm not sure he did enough research; i think serial-to-USB interfaces should be available (any ideas?)

    15. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      my battery backup only has a rs232 interface, does that make it obsolete as well?

      I guess it is the American way to throw a perfectly functional device in the garbage when something new comes out (and with a Mail-in-rebate, none the less.)

    16. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by GigsVT · · Score: 2, Interesting

      you assume computers generally outlive printers (true, IME)

      Maybe those throwaway ink jet printers, but my main printers are Epson KXP-1124 dot matrix, from circa 1994. Here at work we still have plenty of LaserJet 4 series printers. Our high speed dot matrix line printer is from sometime in the late 80s. Of course you can use network print servers, which is what I do, which kinda makes the whole argument moot, but I take issue with you saying that computers outlive printers, in my experience the opposite is almost always true.

      --
      I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
    17. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by itsme1234 · · Score: 1

      What the heck is wrong with legacy ports ? You can buy for about 50 $ a decent mobo for the latest Athlon WITH all the legacy ports. Of course it's very good for the hardware manfct. to sell you a dongle for 25+ $ (and you need to install drivers, and to find out that it's working only with windows XXXX and so on). And no, it is not creative to go and spend 25$ / pice to connect an old printer/digital camera/scanner/etc. to your new shiny mobo only because somebody decided to save some cents.

    18. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by billwashere · · Score: 1

      They do make USB to Serial converters for just that purpose :)

      --
      Billwashere

    19. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by chiark · · Score: 1

      There is no floppy drive interface on this motherboard :-) .

      To flash the bios, guess what... ...Yep, make a boot CD

      (Or buy a USB floppy drive)

    20. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by itsme1234 · · Score: 1

      You can get a serial to usb dongle but:

      1. it will cost too much (something like a good fraction - up to half- from the mb price)

      2. most likely you'll have to install drivers

      3. it is possible to not work with all the programs

    21. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by Lumpy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I am GLAD that I have serial and parallel ports. Only crappy modems (yes some people HAVE to use modems yet they dont live in gattica like you...)
      use anything but the serial port... Please tell me where I can get a US robotics V.everything modem that is USB or PCI... you CANT. and the parallel ports.. I have several devices that use the paparle ports... tell me where I can get a USB eeprom burner or Pic programmer...

      How about a UPS that has usb out to signal the server to shutdown or my critical workstation..

      How about a Professional BetaCAM deck that has control vis USB? hell shw me one professional device that has USB for control.

      now let's look at scientific... Ph meters, mass spectromaters... no usb on them.. only serial.. good old RS232..

      thousands more people than you depend on the RS232 and parallel ports every day.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    22. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by debest · · Score: 2

      I don't have a problem with legacy ports on full-size ATX motherboards. Desktop and tower PCs have a requirement in my opinion to try to be as flexible as possible, which means being able to connect older and diverse hardware.

      On these mini-ITX motherboards, on the other hand, I agree wholeheartedly. These things are *small* (less than 7" square), and are ideal for tiny form factors. They would be even more attractive if they didn't have to be so tall, because all the I/O (a *lot* of I/O) is all stacked on top of each other. Take a look here to see what I mean.

      A modern, tiny motherboard like this should be able to do with VGA for a display and USB/Firewire ports for *everything* else.

      --
      Look at the tomato! Isn't it sad? He can't dance! Poor tomato!
    23. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by Lumpy · · Score: 2

      ince no software is delivered on floppies any more ??

      please show me how to flash your BIOS without it.
      Microsoft Operating systems DO NOT ALLOW direct access to low level hardware.

      until the BIOS manufacturers start releasing bootable ISO's of their flash program and BIOS updates you have to have floppy there...

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    24. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by roseanne · · Score: 1

      Thanks. I guess that's why my friend chose not to get a legacy free PC.

    25. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by eht · · Score: 1

      actually both my aapc ups's have usb out, one i bought 3 years ago, the other i bought last week, it kinda annoys me, i'd rather have serial, one cable is actually a rj45 looking connector but with 10 pins going to a usb connector at the other end, weird

    26. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by Ed+Avis · · Score: 2

      Can someone summarize the differences between ATX, mini-ITX, mini-ATX and whatever other form factors are out there?

      PS why does a motherboard have to be flat? Why not L-shaped?

      --
      -- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
    27. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by shepd · · Score: 1

      >Seriously, how many of you are going to buy a printer tomorrow that is parellel-only?

      Ohh, so that's what that's there for. I always thought it was the quick-hack port for your electronic projects. It's a real bummer when I don't have one of these on my machine.

      >Similarly for the serial port. These ports are only there to support older hardware for those too uncreative to go find dongles if they're stuck with crufty old hardware.

      Damn. Well, if it weren't for the recent change in the laws in Canada, I'd have said these were for hacking Satellite TV. Ho hum...

      >One serious advantage of, say, an iBook over a comparable PC laptop is that the designers were free to be more creative because they weren't stuck with a bunch of zillion-pin garbage sticking out the back of the computer.

      Yeah, that's one of the main reasons I don't have any Apple hardware in my house. I just can't hook much of my stuff up to it! Not to mention I wouldn't be able to laugh at how Apple thinks PC machines do nothing but "beep!BOOP!beep!beep!". Having to use a USB to PS/2 dongle for my external keyboard on my PC laptop is pain enough! Using an Apple would simply complicate my life beyond belief.

      --
      If you could be told what you can see or read, then it follows that you could be told what to say or think - BoC
    28. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by Cpt_Kirks · · Score: 2

      Those little USB/Flash keychain thingies should eventually replace floppies.

    29. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by Lumpy · · Score: 1

      I only have APC's that are rack mounted and they told me that nothing was offered other than serial in any of the professional models (1400 or higher) until you get to the larger ones with ethernet.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    30. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by shepd · · Score: 1

      Here you go. (warning: pop-up hell alert!)

      My personal favourite is NLX becuase it's been around the longest, and you could have built a box thinner than these Shuttle PCs a few years ago with it (but that's what happens when you don't market, market, market!).

      I guess that's why I just don't get worked up about small PCs. To me they're OLD news. And hard to work inside. I have a half-emply full-tower case for a reason... :-)

      >PS why does a motherboard have to be flat? Why not L-shaped?

      No reason other than (possibly) longer traces, which at today's speeds could be a bad thing. Not to mention it's usually a bit of a waste of space.

      --
      If you could be told what you can see or read, then it follows that you could be told what to say or think - BoC
    31. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes it would be nice to upgrade your computer to find that you cant hook up your $50,000 lab equipment's serial cable to it.

      Serial ports are simple and good enough.

      Look at USB and firewire... it's like software. Every few years comes a new revision, backwards compatible or not, it sucks.

    32. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by irc.goatse.cx+troll · · Score: 2

      "Please tell me where I can get a US robotics V.everything modem that is USB"
      here (that merchant code is for google, btw.)

      --
      Pain lasts, kid. Its how you know you're alive. Sometimes I think this growing up thing is just pain management-TheMaxx
    33. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by ShavenYak · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Imagine how much more you could get out of a mobo like this if you replaced the ps/2 ports, the parallel port, and the serial port with, say, 6 usb and 2 firewire ports. Again, why not?

      I use a Via Epia motherboard in my MAME cabinet. Between the need to hook up a keyboard encoder, and the fact that it's running FreeDOS, using USB would not be an option.

      These would also make great platforms for car audio and home theater machines, where you're likely to want to run a small LCD or VFD display, most of which will need a serial port. There are still plenty of good reasons to keep the legacy ports, and if you need that many USB ports, you can get a USB hub.

      --

      Hey kids, there's only 5 days left 'til Yak Shaving Day!
    34. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by fireboy1919 · · Score: 2

      You bet I'm going to use a 700MB CD-R for a 40k document, just as soon as Linux has CDR UDF with variable packet sizes and the ability to deal with open UDF discs.

      Examine the costs:
      CD: about $.01/per if you buy them in bulk
      Floppy about $.005/per if you buy them in bulk

      CDs also don't wear out due to age (the magnetic field of the earth eventually wears out floppies), only due to heat.

      So I don't mind putting a 40k document on one CD, as long as its as easy to use as a floppy is.

      --
      Mod me down and I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine!
    35. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by really? · · Score: 1

      The same way I just flashed my Mini-ITX C3 ... with a bootable CD ...???

      --

      "Consistency is contrary to nature, contrary to life. The only completely consistent people are the dead." A. Huxley
    36. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by checkyoulater · · Score: 1

      Similarly for the serial port. These ports are only there to support older hardware for those too uncreative to go find dongles if they're stuck with crufty old hardware.

      I'd like to see you design your own device that can interface with a USB port. I for one could not do it. On the other hand, it is trivial to interface with a serial port. The pinouts are common knowledge, and anybody with even mediocre soldering skills can put something together. A USB connector requires much more skill with electronics. Much more, in fact, than simply soldering a few wires together.

      --
      Is that a real poncho? I mean, is that a Mexican poncho or is that a Sears poncho?
    37. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by jhines0042 · · Score: 2

      Interestingly enough a friend of mine got an old printer from her father (deskjet) and asked me to help her plug it into her computer. So I said, "sure thing, no problem."

      One problem.

      Her Gateway computer didn't come with a parallel port. Why? Because when she bought the computer she didn't need a parallel port because she was not buying a printer and so Gateway didn't include the port.

      Ok, fine. I figure I can go get the little cable thing that connects to the MB to give the parallel port connection out the back. $5 later I have the cable.

      I open up the case, I go to plug it in, and then I realize to my sheer horror that the MB does not have the required socket. It has the solder points where the socket would be. It has the solder points where the Parallel port control chips would be. But no chips, no sockets, nothing. This MB was designed to have a parallel port and because she wasn't getting a printer they gave her a MB that didn't have the chips or sockets!

      So $50 later she had a USB to Parallel port cable and a working printer.

      Then the printer died.

      There was a point to this story but I think it broke off.

      --
      42 - So long and thanks for all the fish.
    38. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by GigsVT · · Score: 1

      That should read Panasonic. I always get that mixed up because they use the epson ghostscript driver.

      --
      I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
    39. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by debest · · Score: 3

      Can someone summarize the differences between ATX, mini-ITX, mini-ATX and whatever other form factors are out there?

      Same page that I linked to above has an excellent graphic of the size difference between mini-ITX, Flex-ATX, micro-ATX, and full ATX.

      PS why does a motherboard have to be flat? Why not L-shaped?

      If you had a dedicated PC that needed a very low profile (think super slim), then a L-shaped motherboard might be necessary to squeeze in things like the power supply, hard drive, and CD drive. The problem is that this had better be a high-volume item, otherwise you wouldn't recoup the costs of producing a board useful for only this device.

      Also, you would likely be looking at a less than optimal layout design (odd shapes mean longer traces), which could lead to performance and stability issues.

      BTW, I assume by your references to "flat" and "L-shaped", you are not asking about a motherboard that is literally bent into a third dimension. If you are, this is impossible to manufacture. Circuit boards cannot be printed by machine unless they are flat. If you require a device that has main boards on two planes (one laid horizontal, one 90 degrees vertical), then you would need two separate boards and some type of connector (like a motherboard and a AGP or PCI card).

      --
      Look at the tomato! Isn't it sad? He can't dance! Poor tomato!
    40. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by agallagh42 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I've upgraded or replaced my computer FOUR TIMES since I bought my printer. It's a Canon Bubble Jet 4100C, and it's still functioning like the day I bought it, which was 7 years ago. It is, of course, parallel only.

      --
      Carpe Cerevisi - Seize the Beer
    41. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by graikor · · Score: 1

      it would be easy enough to to what you suggest and distribute the .iso for a bootable CD-ROM.

      In theory, it would be possible to have a tiny OS to boot from CD-ROM that could read NTFS (because of the proliferation of WinXP), so you could store the ROM image on the HD, and the CD would be reuseable for all firmware upgrades for that piece of hardware.

    42. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by tulare · · Score: 2

      Well, whenever I have to blow out a 2600 (about three times a year - the 3com switches hereabouts are much more frequent violators of common network expectations and common sense), I reach into my desk drawer and pull out - get this - a DONGLE that converts USB to SERIAL. Oh, my. Oh, my. And to think I could have had one of those ugly blue ports jutting out the side of my laptop for food to get caught in...

      --
      political_news.c: warning: comparison is always true due to limited range of data type
    43. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by agallagh42 · · Score: 2

      "Microsoft Operating systems DO NOT ALLOW direct access to low level hardware."

      Bull. So how does Asus EZFlash work? How about Matrox ProgBios for windows. Both allow BIOS flashing from within windows, no floppy required. I believe the IBM ThinkPad also has BIOS updates for windows.

      --
      Carpe Cerevisi - Seize the Beer
    44. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by stanmann · · Score: 1
      Are you going to use a 700 MB CD-R for a 40k document?
      Yes, Last I checked I can get CDRs effectively free. simply by submitting my name and address to another mailing list. SOOO.. Why wouldn't I ??
      --
      Food not Bombs is a nice platitude but it breaks down when you notice that the Bombees are usually well fed
    45. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0



      "Those little USB/Flash keychain thingies should eventually replace floppies."

      When they retail for $0.10 each, and can be mailed at letter rate, sure.

    46. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by Ed+Avis · · Score: 1

      I thought you could make a flat board and Uri Geller it into a 3D L shape. But I suppose that even if the plastic can bend, the traces won't.

      --
      -- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
    47. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by melt · · Score: 1

      Lumpy writes:
      > I am GLAD that I have serial and parallel ports.

      Me, too. Highly useful for attaching home automation controllers.

      Serial ports. They're not just for modems anymore.

    48. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by Cpt_Kirks · · Score: 2

      For that, we are back to using a CD...

    49. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by TClevenger · · Score: 1


      If you need the low profile and don't need the superfluous stacked ports, couldn't you go in there and clip them off the motherboard? I don't think anything would need to be tied back together. Granted this doesn't reduce the size of the motherboard, but it does eliminate the need to provide holes out the back for those ports.

    50. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by YellowBook · · Score: 2
      But those printers are in-use on hardware which does have parallel ports, and if you assume computers generally outlive printers (true, IME) then there's no problem manufacturing motherboads without the legacy ports.

      In my experience, this isn't true. My printer at home is the workhorse of the printer world, an HP Laserjet III. I've probably gone through four computers (or at least, four mainboards) in the lifetime of that printer. IMO the only printers which are regularly outlived by computers are consumer-grade inkjet printers, which are rightly regarded as disposable.

      --
      The scalloped tatters of the King in Yellow must cover
      Yhtill forever. (R. W. Chambers, the King in Yellow
    51. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by DarkZero · · Score: 2

      Dohhh ? Isn't that like claiming that Floppies are obsolete since no software is delivered on floppies any more ??

      Actually, floppies pretty much are obsolete, not only because no new software comes on floppies, but also because it's so incredibly easy to move data from your floppies to a much more reliable CD.

      Then again, this also illustrates why floppy drives are being taken out of new PCs, but serial ports, PS/2 ports, and parallel ports aren't. Mediums for holding data can have their files easily transferred over to new mediums, but printers, keyboards, mice, joysticks, gamepads, and other old hardware are not so easily, nor cheaply replaced. And besides, moving from a PS/2 keyboard and mouse to a USB keyboard and mouse gives you no additional performance, whereas moving from floppies to CD-Rs is a huge leap in performance and usefulness.

    52. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by DarkZero · · Score: 2

      But hey, I work with my computer, I guess Josticks all come in USB now so you don't really mind.

      No, joysticks do not all come in USB now. If you're willing to take the serial port version of a joystick, you can get it for $3-$7 at just about any store that carries them in the United States, including Wal-Mart and Target. If you want the USB version of THE SAME DAMN THING, you have to pay at least $20 for it. Yet another reason why the serial port is a Good Thing for everyone that uses computers.

    53. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by lobotomy · · Score: 1

      There is one big group that you are neglecting in your analysis -- the group that is most likely to actually buy these small systems: data acquisition and embedded systems people.

      All of the people out there who collect data for a living live and die by serial ports. I work at a lab and get requests for computers with the only requirement being "must have serial ports!" Some of the data acquisition boxes are moving toward USB, but the vast majority remain serial. I had a guy doing environmental monitoring in a vehicle that requested a PC with 12 serial ports.

      The people I work with who do embedded systems wouldn't even consider a board if it didn't have serial ports.

      I helped a guy set up a laptop that connected to the on-board computer in big rigs. He was doing collection of engine data. The port it used? Parallel.

      Just because *you* don't use them, do not assume that no one else does.

    54. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You either don't have much imagination or experience
      in The Real World.

      Do the words, "BIOS update" ring a bell?

    55. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by Eil · · Score: 2


      I've been happily not using parallel or serial for about two years now. YMMV.

      The "YMMV" part is the answer to your own question. Obviously *you* can use up precious desk space with hubs and cables that don't stay in their socket, but many of us still actually *use* parallel and serial ports and like them just fine. A paralel port I could probably part with, if forced to, but I'd still want at least one machine with a parallel port just in case I needed to do something odd.

      Serial ports are a different story. My wife and I use serial cradles for our PDAs. I only buy external serial port modems. Just about every OS in the known universe that can run on semi-modern hardware has support for serial ports and their devices (modems, terminals, etc). But if you want all of your external peripherals from mice to cameras to scanners to modems to ethernet headers to printers on USB only, then your only choice is Windows 2000 or Windows XP. (And even there, USB can be rather crufty.) Some support for some of these devices already exists in Linux, *BSD, and OS X but they're still years behind Windows. I want "legacy" ports on the back of my machine because I want my machine to have that kind of flexibility. Many businesses have custom applications and or hardware and *must* have those ports on their machines in order to get their job done.

      And don't forget that the entire reason that the x86 is the dominant achitecture today: backwards compatibility. Hardware manufacturers might be happy enough to sell new goods that aren't even remotely compatible with the stuff manufactured yesterday, but businesses in particular aren't keen on the idea of upgrading their whole IT infrastructure just because some goons drafted a new standard.

    56. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by Jhan · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      Only after a port has used up all possible usefullness.

      You know what, you're so right, and insightful!

      When all the parallel printers and external modems are "recycled"(Sent to China) and no networking company uses the serial Console port on their products anymore.

      Yes, exactly! It's not as if there was a way to hang an old parallell printer on some sort of network connected gadget to make it behave as a network printer! And, I mean, we all know it's impossible to connect a serial device to a USB chain. No-one has ever made a converter (damn shame).

      THEN, you can get rid of those legacy ports. Think about the people trying to abolish floppy drives from computers... Is making a boot CD as easy as making a boot floppy? Are you going to use a 700 MB CD-R for a 40k document?

      Indeed. For that 40kb startup I'm definitely going to use a 500kB 8 inch floppy. Better fit. Cost conscious. Legacy.

      Unless I can get a pile of punch-cards or perhaps a team of men to flip dip-switches or reconnect wires to enter the data. Even better.

      PS. HIBT?

      --

      I choose to remain celibate, like my father and his father before him.

    57. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by Eil · · Score: 2


      1) Serial ports on laptops have doors to cover them up.

      2) I cannot imagine getting food *inside* a serial port unless you were doing something extraordinarily messy or morally unclean.

      3) By purchasing a dongle, you are paying extra for the privelidge of being able to reclaim about 7/8 square inch of space and shout at the world that you are free of serial ports.

      4) A serial port attached to the machine is a lot harder to lose, step on, smash, throw, or steal than a dongle.

    58. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by tulare · · Score: 2

      You make good points, and very funny, but...
      Let me answer in order:
      1) Serial ports on some laptops have doors, which often are broken off within a year or two, to cover them up.
      2) You obviously don't have kids, work around kids, or ever have to work in anything other than a very controlled office setting. I don't have that luxury. My hapless laptop is set down wherever it may happen to be needed, which can be in fairly unfriendly environments from an equipment point of view. It's what I do.
      3) Really? I think I have a much cleaner-looking and handling computer without the serial port. I need the dongle about three times a year, and the rest of the time it is safely put away.
      4)Similar to 3), with the addition that I'd be about as likely to step on my laptop, or the external firewire drive, or my mouse, or my other foot as I would be to step on my serial dongle. If I choose to throw the dongle, it's good that I had it to throw instead of the laptop, don't you think?

      --
      political_news.c: warning: comparison is always true due to limited range of data type
    59. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by benson+hedges · · Score: 1

      you can take my serial port from my cold, dead hands... seriously, I need that thing. for minocom to talk to my ipaq, for kermit to talk to my low-tech laptop.. and, pray tell, how would you program an usb cardreader? not at all. see? you need the serial port.

      --
      Karma : Soylent Green (Mostly due to eating junk food and mocking religion)
    60. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by bhima · · Score: 1

      Actually I do use these ports for scientific instruments, and I've found that some OEM serial ports are not particularly well behaved (Dell & HP) so I'm stuck buying an additional card anyway.

      --
      Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
    61. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by clasher · · Score: 1
      Agreed.

      My primary machine right now is running an Intel D810EMO legacy free mainboard. It has 4 usb ports, a built in network card, sound, and video. For my workstation I didn't need any more. The board uses the FlexATX form factor and is less bulky than others like it because it doesn't need to maintain the infrastructure for legacy port.

      I agree that people have uses for serial ports and parallel ports. Considering I wrote a HOWTO on placing linux on floppy for my firewall, I know that there is a place even for people using floppies still. But why is it so difficult for manufacturers to offer more choices for legacy-free mainboards. Last I saw even Intel doesn't have a legacy-free board available. Aren't they supposed to be some sort of technology leader?

      While it is nice to have some boards with serial,etc, if we ever expect to rid ourselves of a dependency on outdated devices we must have some more legacy-free options available.

    62. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by SectoidRandom · · Score: 2

      I agree completely, sure there are still uses for serial ports and printer ports, but on a small foot print M/B such as these where they have even cut it down to just one pci slot, look how much space do those ports take up on the back panel.

      I would guess with just a little more modification to the mATX standard back panel you could fit one or two more pci(/agp) slots instead of those 20 year old printer and com ports!

      I know over two years ago I disabled all my printer and serial ports on my home PC to free some IRQ's, I only recently noticed that they were still disabled, shows exactly how much I use them! :)

    63. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by skintigh2 · · Score: 1

      As much as I agree with you, I own TWO laser printers with parallel cables. And I only own 2 printers. As for my serial connection, I've used it with my UPS and with my Handspring when my wife left the USB cradle on the opposite side of the country.

      As for replacing them with other connections, I bet that would increase the cost of mobos. Doesn't firewire cost $1 per chip in royalties alone?

      It will die out, but things take time. Heck, my parents are still using a computer with one of those "overdrive" thingies in it.

      Not everyone is a krad hax0r.

    64. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by SectoidRandom · · Score: 2

      Only on slashdot where a topic starts talking about removing ports that are unnecessary on a purpose built compact pc would someone be modded up for saying that these "compact purpose built pc's" would now be unusable as SERVERS, or for scientific equipment!?

    65. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by piznut · · Score: 1

      There are many legacy-free x86 motherboards, and integrated x86 systems available. Do yourself a favor and search it on google.

      With x86 you can have legacy or not. There is a hardware configuration to suit almost any need or desire. One serious advantage of say, an x86 desktop pc over a comparable Apple desktop.

    66. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by piznut · · Score: 1

      I should also mention that various companies have been selling (HP) legacy free x86 notebooks for almost 2 years now.

    67. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by JeremyALogan · · Score: 0

      Um... Not EVERY x86 MB has all that legacy cruft on it...

      Check out Abit. I know of (at least) 4 boards that they make that has no seriel, parallel, ps/2, etc... check out the IT7, IT7-Max, AT7, and the AT7-Max2. They rely on USB, USB2, and IEEE-1394 (firewire) for periphrial usage.


      --
      Jeremy Logan's Website.
    68. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by dasunt · · Score: 2

      Lumpy write:
      Please tell me where I can get a US robotics V.everything modem that is USB or PCI...

      Right now, I'm using a USR 56K FaxModem with a 5610 Chipset, which is a PnP PCI Hardware modem. Newegg sells it for $70 about. But wait! There is the OEM version, which NewEgg used to have but is out of stock. It runs about $45 dollars, and goes by the name of a USR Robotics 2977 Modem. I own the OEM version, which does identify itself as a 5610 under lspci. Its a solid modem, purely hardware based - just needs a basic serial driver.

      I'm quite fond of external modems, since they are easy to debug and setup, but my server is relatively free of cord tangle - only power, network, printer and phone. (Printer sits on top of it.) I didn't want to go to the hassle of finding a spot for an external modem.

      Now serial and parallel ports rock for home electronics - The kits to develope on USB can be rather pricey. And I have been burned enough with USB in the past (back when it was new) to realize that some OSes and hardware start to have problems as soon as you have a half dozen USB devices.

    69. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by Yakko · · Score: 2, Interesting
      and forgetting about the ugly mess that my laptop doesn't have.

      So you have another mess -- a USB dongle with 6" of cord and a serial port on the end hanging from your Vaio as you're fumbling down the aisle to the console port of the Cisco that's broken.

      Just be careful to not accidentally pull the dongle out when Tera Term is trying to use it. You'll pay with a BSOD. :o)

      I guess it's the lesser of 2 evils.

      My main problem with lack of legacy ports (especially serial!) is that freebie or linux may not support my particular device.

      --

      --
      Me spell chucker work grate. Need grandma chicken.
    70. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by tulare · · Score: 2

      Heh, you may have a point there. I do have to highlight the astonishment I would feel in the event that my iBook 2001 running Gentoo ever returned a Blue Screen of Death while running Tera Term - such a happening as this would almost certainly qualify as unique and worthy of an entire Slashdot story, complete with digital pics on a soon to be whallopped server somewhere.
      In truth, I only need that silly dongle maybe three times a year, and the rest of the time, it's put away in a safe place. And I think you'll find that Linux support for usb-to-serial converters is getting pretty darn solid :)

      --
      political_news.c: warning: comparison is always true due to limited range of data type
    71. Re:Only problem with x86 architecture by miketang16 · · Score: 1

      Sounds great, just tell me how you're gonna use one of those with no OS. Maybe if BIOS can support drivers for them.

      --
      -------
      "In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."
      -- George Orwell
  16. Dammit. by Civil_Disobedient · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Jesus H. Slashdotting. Not even 50 posts up yet.

  17. what's the point by dr.Flake · · Score: 3, Insightful

    beside's the usual answer: "because i can do it !"

    He still needs a backback to bring along his keyboard, mouse and monitor. Plus 500 meters of power cable so he can sit in the park and eat his lunch (from his other lunchbox) and type some letter.

    and with these specs? get a laptop.
    But i like the whole idea of very small but complete boards. Nice hack.

    --
    Why are other peoples sig's always more witty ???
    1. Re:what's the point by MarcQuadra · · Score: 1

      Ahh, but there is a point to having very small PCs like this. I have an EPIA here that I use to clone hard drives at client's sites (so I don't build monsters out of their machines while cloning). I also take it to sites where I know I'll be bored, I plug it into the customer's 'net connection and surf all day while I wait for the phone to ring. Sometimes I use it to show off a product, like a drop-in replacement to an aging 486 server, just to prove to clients that when I run a Linux server they won't notice a thing on their Windows workstations. I paid $400 for the thing, it's got 512MB RAM and a 5GB drive (which is plenty for what I do with it). I don't need to pay $1000 for a laptop with similar specs (and much less durable case). I'm not using it 'on the go' I'm using it 'there'.

      --
      "Sometimes, I think Trent just needs a cup of hot chocolate and a blankie." -Tori Amos on Nine Inch Nails
    2. Re:what's the point by crawling_chaos · · Score: 2
      beside's the usual answer: "because i can do it !"

      I'm curious why you think that there needs to be any other answer than that. Now if he started a business to sell these things, I would question his sanity.

      --
      You can only drink 30 or 40 glasses of beer a day, no matter how rich you are.
      -- Colonel Adolphus Busch
    3. Re:what's the point by slashyam · · Score: 1

      I agree. If you're going to go to all this trouble, you should just stick a keyboard, screen, and battery in there too so you can actually tote the thing around.

  18. Re:it's 06:50am by nentwined · · Score: 0

    03:55 here (other side of the US). I haven't seen any slashdot posts about life... maybe you should submit it. :)

    --
    heaven
  19. Cheater! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    There are two ways to get a computer into a lunchbox:

    1. Shrink the mobo
    2. Get a HUGE lunchbox

    He opted for #2.

  20. linker error: undefined reference to `CE .NET 4.1' by AftanGustur · · Score: 4, Interesting

    And hey, they even report that VIA is now Microsoft CE .NET 4.1 certified.

    ?? Sorry, I mean no offense but I don't get it.. What has a "Microsoft CE .NET 4.1 certification" to do with this box ??

    --
    echo '[q]sa[ln0=aln80~Psnlbx]16isb572CCB9AE9DB03273snlbxq' |dc
  21. In a keg? by FatAlb3rt · · Score: 1

    This is close.

  22. mini-itx.com went down like a 2 dollar.... by mackstann · · Score: 1

    they must not be hosting it on a beowulf cluster of these!

  23. Ubiquity of serial and parallel by chiark · · Score: 3, Informative
    I've got one of these boards, bought it from Ewan at Mini-itx. Top guy, top service :-)



    It's being used in-car. The easiest way of displaying info is still a VFD or LCD model interfaced to the serial or parallel port.



    My car also has an OBDII connector, so I can play with the engine management computer. Which is nice. Serial at 1900-baud - very strange rate.



    I have looked at building USB interfaces for the above, but it isn't worth the hassle. There's a PIC that'd do the job of looking after USB, but with low speed transmission, plus the hassle of writing a USB driver it's non-trivial. USB can't speak until it's spoken to, which is fun...



    Also, forgive me for pointing out the bleedin' obvious, but there's 2 USB ports on there, plus 2 USB headers. :-D



    FYI, the EPIA-M will have USB 2.0 too...

    1. Re:Ubiquity of serial and parallel by platypus · · Score: 2

      My car also has an OBDII connector, so I can play with the engine management computer. Which is nice. Serial at 1900-baud - very strange rate.

      Sounds interesting, care to elaborate?

      What kind of "interface" does the mgmt software have? Is there some kind of "client" software out there which is able to speak to your engine mgmt?

    2. Re:Ubiquity of serial and parallel by chiark · · Score: 2

      Certainly ;-)

      I've got a 2000 model year Subaru Impreza Turbo. The connector on it is a standard ODBII type connector, but the signals aren't OBDII. Have a search and you'll find some resources for that particular car (or I can help out). There's also quite a few resources detailing the "official" ODBII standard.

      With my ECU, I can monitor the engine and its sensors in real time, and also actually change the map. Not yet done that part of it, as that's getting a little fast'n'furious, but sometime I may have a play when I'm sure exactly what every part of the map does.

      If you want more info, I have a hotmail account. Look at my user name and you'll guess the address :-D

      Cheers,
      Nick.

    3. Re:Ubiquity of serial and parallel by platypus · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Thanks for the reply, I asked as I was really surprised that these interfaces to the car electronics are open (but I assume probably only the passive ones are open).

      Now I learned through google that there a real scene around car electronics reverse engineering, which I didn't know before.
      There's even a open source suite for that stuff at
      http://freediag.sourceforge.net/
      which you probably know.

      Nice stuff

    4. Re:Ubiquity of serial and parallel by chiark · · Score: 1

      It's "sort of" open ;-)

      A law has been passed recently in the US mandating that these interfaces have to be made public. Which is nice again :)

  24. Linux! by e8johan · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm currently running RedHat 7.3 on one of these. It works like a charm. My only problem was that the DIMM module made it hard to fit the CD reader in the chassis, but as long as you're into case modding that's not a problem.

  25. Re:Here is a mirror by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Mod parent down. Not a mirror, not goatse, but involves nudity.

    Fortunately, I'm at the office early and no one saw it.

  26. telnet by Krilomir · · Score: 1

    I usually use telnet to configure my Cisco Router. I've never tried using a serial port and cable.

    1. Re:telnet by itsme1234 · · Score: 1

      This is because your cisco is ALREADY configured, and NEVER go south and you NEVER have to recover a password, and so on ...

  27. Anyone remember this thread? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Death to the 3.5" Floppy?. I could never do without my floppy drive. It's the only way I have for doing BIOS updates.

  28. Have to say it... by Cpt_Kirks · · Score: 3, Funny

    You forgot:

    3. Profit!

  29. Serial for HA by DeBaas · · Score: 1

    You can use the serial for hartbeat.. (see http://www.procolix.com/ha_cluster for Mini ITX used in a High Availability cluster)

    --
    ---
  30. That's not the problem by sjbe · · Score: 2

    Seriously, how many of you are going to buy a printer tomorrow that is parellel-only?

    Actually the problem (for me) isn't that I intend to get new devices with parallel or RS-232 interfaces. I agree with you completely that we should migrate to USB and/or Firewire with all due haste.

    The problem is that I have an old printer at home which works great (Lexmark 4039-10R) and I'm not about to dump anytime soon. The USB-parallel adapters I've tried simply haven't worked very well and I'm not willing to spend more on them until I'm sure they will work. They're fairly pricey after all. Plus the one's I've tried so far required special drivers (Windows only) which is a big no-no as far as I'm concerned.

    I also have the problem that my Palm dock with the USB interface, for reasons I cannot fathom, does not work. So I'm stuck for the moment using RS-232 as well. Plus my linux install (Mandrake 7.2-yes it's old but I haven't had time to upgrade) can't seem to deal with USB for anything except my mouse. So more legacy ports I'm stuck with.

    Annoying? You betcha. Will I go "legacy free" asap? Yup. Soon as I can get everything to work. Until then, it's like the floppy. I hate it but I need it once in a blue moon because the hardware and system makers can't seem to provide proper migration paths.

    Another example. I'd love to get a Type 3 (the full two slot size) Cardbus firewire & USB 2.0 card for my laptop which only has USB 1.1 right now. Not only does no one make *any* USB/Firewire Cardbus combo card, they all make the interface cards type 2 (one slot) cards which stick out the side of the laptop or use a proprietary interface cable. I'd buy this card in a heartbeat but no one makes it. Sigh. Someday maybe...

  31. server down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    IIS?

    1. Re:server down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      LOL. Yeah. XP and IIS probably aren't the best things to be running when getting /.ed.

  32. Boring.. by stratjakt · · Score: 1

    Yeah, I get it.. The VIA eden platform is small. Real small. 7x7. And it produces very little heat.

    It's also virtually useless for anything but light desktop duties. It hasn't the juice (the next version should) to even playback a DVD without lots of skipping.

    So it's getting less and less impressive everytime someone sticks it into a [whatever].

    Stick in a Shuttle FS50 (same size, but accepts a 478 pin P4), or it's Athlon XP cousin, add real video powers (VIVO, 3D), figure a way to fit in the PSU, find a way to keep it cool and reasonably quiet w/o looking like crap, then I'd be impressed. I'd like to see a powerful gaming/pvr/dvd/divx/ogg media box crammed into a [whatever].

    But the VIA eden thing.. So what? It doesn't even require a real power supply, since it uses DC-DC converters, you can juice it up off a wallbox.

    It's just too easy, and the end result is too useless. Up the ante.

    --
    I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
  33. Lunch is served by LoudMusic · · Score: 2

    from the webserver? Surely they're not serving the site from a lunchbox, but it apparently can't handle a slashdotting, so maybe it is ...

    --
    No sig for you. YOU GET NO SIG!
  34. Only POOR kids bring their computers to lunch by StefanJ · · Score: 2

    The cool kids buy their processing cycles from the school server farm.

    And god forbid they catch anyone with a PLAID lunchbox computer.

  35. ditch the legacy features by poot_rootbeer · · Score: 2

    My 7-year-old Brother personal laser printer is parallel-only. I'll keep it as long as it continues to work and toner refills are available -- I print so infrequently that I have no reason to upgrade the printer.

    If I upgrade my PC, and the new mobo doesn't have an onboard parallel port, no problem. I'll just buy a $10 I/O card and plug that in.

  36. Parallel port good for real-world interfacing by morgue-ann · · Score: 1

    Someone else mentioned serial ports for connecting to LCDs like these. If you want a graphical LCD with a fast update rate parallel may be the way to go.

    Note that I'm talking about small LCDs and VFDs which might be monochrome & only have a resolution of 240x64 or 240x128. While the case modders tend to use them for displaying temperatures, mp3 song titles and spectrum bargraphs, think about the embedded possibilities. Not only are these LCDs smaller, but they draw less power than VGA and better color TFTs.

    You could boot from a CompactFlash card and have a really teeny hot tub controller that uses fingerd to report current temperature & power consumption, using the parallel port to talk to the sensor/control board.

    Consider a box with a 200GB 3.5" hard drive and a "universal" 12V power supply that'll run from a car, a big battery or a lump-in-the-line (power consumption a bit high for a wall-wart). Not a 1.7" or 2.5" drive, but enough room to hold every CD you own maybe even in FLAC instead of OGG as well as every digiphoto you've ever taken.

    With no CD-ROM or AGP slot, it would be considerably smaller than a Shuttle XPC or even a Cubid. The new VIA EPIA M will have USB 2.0, FireWire and 100Mb/s ethernet for getting stuff in & out of your "All Box."

    For controlling playback on the go add a few buttons and a rotary encoder scanned by the parallel port and a serial LCD (or a PIC to handle user input & a parallel LCD).

    You can build smaller systems for ip to real-world, but this thing runs Linux and BSD, a real 32 bit processor with an MMU and plenty of memory. None of that mucking about with 8-bit assembly or (horrors) BASIC Stamps. Write your nuclear-bomb-tipped earth-boring machine control code in Java if you like!

    Hardware for the embedded market is usually more expensive for equivalent capability as PC stuff. You can get an EPIA board for a lot less than an ARM development kit. [I know about power consumption, cost in volume, etc. etc., but for fun small projects, off-the-shelf wins.]

    By the way, this guy has solve the problem of how to get 802.11b in a teeny box. The mini-ITX boards don't have PCMCIA and a PCI Wi-Fi card is going to take up a lot of room. Solution: gut a USB Wi-Fi box. The Orinoco one has a teensy USB to PCMCIA interface & a regular Wi-Fi card. Dunno 'bout Linux drivers for it, tho.

    All that said, I would like to see a "legacy free" mini-ITX board for building regular-old personal computers.

  37. Dude, yer gettin' a Dell by doggo · · Score: 1

    http://catalog.us.dell.com/CS1/cs1page2.aspx?cs= 04&keycode=6W463&br=2&fm=10266

    I just ordered five of these critters for my office. They're so small and cute. I wish I could take one home and install *nix on it.

  38. cheep! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    CD: about $.01/per if you buy them in bulk

    Floppy about $.005/per if you buy them in bulk

    Is this right? 1 cent for a CD, half a cent for a floppy?!

    Perhaps you meant $0.10 and $0.05 respectively. That's still damn cheap IMHO, though not, I guess, if you're a duplicator.

    1. Re:cheep! by fireboy1919 · · Score: 2

      Yeah that's cheap, and yes, that's correct. At the store they cost what you said.

      When you have something that is easy to store, easy to transport, easy to make, and easy to advertise (via the web), the price of ordering it goes WAY down.

      --
      Mod me down and I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine!
  39. This won't catch on. by Cap'n+Canuck · · Score: 1

    I remember the Sun desktops being called Pizza Boxes. For /. geeks, that's OK, but I don't know about Lunch Boxes.

  40. Mini-ITX inside of a VW New Beetle model car by VisorGuy · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Somebody in my area LUG is very creative!

    They have stuffed a Mini-PC into a VW New Beetle model car...

    --
    This user account is inactive account replaced by the PDA
  41. mmmmm lunch box by jbmoll · · Score: 1

    I guess now that you can burn your penis with a computer you could heat your lunch up with a lunch box pc. Damn the microwaves we have lunchbox pc's!

    --
    J Moll - PC Load Letter - I know what it means!-
  42. Good thing it's not in a matchbox ... by RinkSpringer · · Score: 2

    ...or thanks to the Slashdot effect, it's all go up in smoke ;-)

  43. Embedded use by gilesjuk · · Score: 1

    Some of these boards are used for embedded tasks. USB and firewire are simple too complicated to code for and the timing isn't always accurate enough.

  44. But for not much bigger, you get a real computer by MtViewGuy · · Score: 2

    The lunchbox computer box idea maybe cute, but for not much bigger physical size you can get a REAL computer powerful enough to handle even the most demanding desktop computing tasks. Remember the Shuttle SB-51G case mentioned on /. a few days ago with Intel i845 chipset motherboard that supports even the Pentium 4 3.06 GHz CPU? The one that has USB 2.0, IEEE-1394, and SPDIF connections? With onboard video (which can be disabled so you can install your own graphics card) and excellent onboard audio that supports Dolby Digital 5.1 audio?

  45. Low energy PC? by random_nick · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I am looking for a PC - in a lunch-box or in an other box - which has the same, lower energy consumption as notebooks. Ideally less or no more than 60 Watt, as opposed to the standard 150-250 Watt PC power supplies.
    Any recommendations about power-saving PCs?

    Nick

    --
    Even random is random. My nick, too.
  46. Have you seen the cappuccino pc's. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They are much smaller and cooler pc's than this.
    They even hav a P4 version. My company uses these for Soft Signage at trade show's. We load a powerpoint turn them on and walk away for the rest of the show. They are actually much cheaper than the custom made signage we have to have remade at every show.

    http://www.cappuccinopc.com/

  47. My Lunchbox pc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I had a lunchbox computer that had a 286 moboard and a herc lcd screen. The keyboard popped on top of the LCD and then you picked it up by the handle on top and off you go. I replaced the moboard with a nice Asus P55T2P4 sockett 7 with a 600mhz K6+++ and 128k of 72 pin sims. Popped in a matched pair of 30 gig quantum fireballs, nice pci nic, and RH 7.2 for an OS. Boot the console on the LCD, set the IP address and presto, 60 gig of network attached storage!

    There are a lot of these old cases around, but they all have baby AT form factor, and will probablly need an ISA slot for the video adaptor. I think this is way cool because then you can use the windows machine they give you for your office as an Xterminal.

    >/

  48. Bad idea... by Junior+J.+Junior+III · · Score: 2

    People with kids already have to fish cookies and peanut butter sandwiches out of their drive slots... this "clever" case enclosure can only invite more of the same.

    --
    You see? You see? Your stupid minds! Stupid! Stupid!
  49. Mine uses a Shuttle FV24! by NovySan · · Score: 2

    I really wanted the FireWire. Gigaherz, gigaram, duel boots between Red Hat and Age of Kings. Mine is a standard issue American size lunchbox (7x9x4) and it's a Yellow Submarine lunchbox. Thaks to some fancy stickers that come with Red Hat, all The Beatles are wearing Red Hats! Default boot is monitorless, right into mpg123 for the car. Normal IDE Disk too. Next version will have SlimDVD as well. Love those Shuttle boards!

  50. Hmmm.. by Cruciform · · Score: 2

    Can you get peanut butter flavored thermal paste?

  51. So what? I'm making a lunchbox from a PC case! by Blaede · · Score: 1

    That should blow people's minds at LAN parties when I show up with a Soldam case, plug it in, and start pulling cooked food out of it!

  52. Advantech? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Go look for PC-104 stuff. I used a 3,5" harddisk footprint all-in-one Advantech board (PCM-5820E) as a car MP3 player for a while. Good stuff, albeit expensive.

  53. Last Post! by alpg · · Score: 1

    "Multiply in your head" (ordered the compassionate Dr. Adams) "365,365,365,
    365,365,365 by 365,365,365,365,365,365". He [ten-year-old Truman Henry
    Safford] flew around the room like a top, pulled his pantaloons over the
    tops of his boots, bit his hands, rolled his eyes in their sockets, sometimes
    smiling and talking, and then seeming to be in an agony, until, in not more
    than one minute, said he, 133,491,850,208,566,925,016,658,299,941,583,225!"
    An electronic computer might do the job a little faster but it wouldn't be
    as much fun to watch.
    -- James R. Newman, "The World of Mathematics"

    - this post brought to you by the Automated Last Post Generator...