1.0GHz P3 In A CD-ROM Drive Bay

Migraine Man writes "Similar to the PPC-based Briq, the folks at Stealth Computer have introduced an Intel-based PC that's built into a 5.25" CD-ROM-sized enclosure. It's got a 1.0GHz P3, 256M RAM, 20G HD, 10/100 eth, CD-ROM, USB, FireWire, video, and sound. At USD 995, it's reasonably priced too. You could put three of 'em on a 1U rackmount shelf, or stuff several into a mid-tower and build your own desktop cluster. A summary datasheet is here. Very cool."

Comments

Servers

[MattCohn.com]

I totaly agree, I think those are very cool. Especialy for servers. Imagine having a stack of 10 dedicated servers you were leasing out in a neat little stack. Only question is... upgradeability? Are these going to be disposable computers, or will one be able to replace parts inside? (CPU/RAM/HD...)

Re:Servers

[Golias]

If you were worried about keeping up with hardware advancement via upgradability, you would not be buying a 1 GHz P-III computer right now, woudja?

Heat dissipation?

[JessLeah]

What happens if you shove four of these in four consecutive (vertically) 5.25" drive bays? Would they overheat? That might limit the usefulness if you had to space them out... you'd have to buy twice as big a case as physically needed. Maybe if you alternated... P3, coolerunit, P3, coolerunit, P3.... ;)

Why the CD ROM?

[melonman]

Wouldn't it be about 3 times smaller if it didn't have the CD ROM? Then you could plug in a USB one when you need it, or share one CD between half a dozen units, or whatever.

Re:Huh?

[Catbeller]

It's the slim slot running along the top of the faceplate, methinks.

This is truly cool. Car use? You can pop it out when you park and put it in your backpack. Take it home, network it to your main box and load up them MP3s and Divx files.

It wouldn't take much to hook up a teensy LCD screen to this. Fold out a mini keyboard from the bottom of the unit, flip up the screen from the top, and you have a nano PC.

Nice but..

[grub]

As nice as these small units are, I'd like to see some wee machines built that stick in dual processors and a couple of 10/100/1000 NICs. No fancy 3D video, no firewire. Just beef to cluster together.

Re:In the COP car?

[turtleshadow]

Ahem, apparently the company already has an idea of where these ought to go.

"Stealth Computer Corporation is an ISO9001 Canadian owned and operated company with its headquarters in Woodbridge Ontario. Stealth continually develops innovative products designed to meet the exact needs of their clients. For over a decade Stealth products have been used in industrial, commercial, scientific, Government and military applications. Stealth enjoys an impressive customer list of Fortune 500's, Governments and Military's worldwide."

Coming soon, to a law enforcment vehicle near you, the onboard highpower neato small computer which will make the time pass quickly as Officers of the Peace run your license plates, determine your horoscope sign and find out who was your Den Mother in cubscouts.

Really nice tech; if mixed with GPS and GIS and a few other things you could have realtime tracking of where all the squad cars are located.

Re:What niche

[ChronosX]

Your arguments are sound. The folks at Stealth Computers Corporation appear to agree with you. They aren't going after those markets.

The webpage the Little PC's outlines some targeted markets:

Applications:
Digital Signs & New Media Applications
Kiosks & Public Access Displays
Information Appliance
Embedded Systems
Process Control & Factory Automation
Mobile Applications, trains planes & autos
Ideal for any space constrained application

If you're making a digital sign or a wall mounted kiosk in a mall, you could literally screw this little beast to the back of the unit (or inside) and no one would ever know it's there.

The size does make all the difference in the world when you want the computer out of sight/out of mind and space is a luxury you don't have.

It doesn't appear this device was ever meant for home use or a replacement for blade servers.