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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."
Something like a VIA EPIA EM 6000, for way way less $. (eg: under half the cost). And you would have a system that is Mini-ITX Form Factor, Micro ATX Chassis Compliant. - Not a custom hard to fix type system.
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...)
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.... ;)
Honey, I shrunk the Cygwin
So techincally I could put these in the open 5 1/4" bays in my desktop? And have a self contained beowulf cluster? And enough heat to make the sun seem insignificant? w00t Where do I sign up???
Someone needs to buy the biggest computer case they can find...fill it with half a dozen fans, neon lights, a see-through panel, colored wiring... ...and then just slap one of these bad boys in the 5.25" bay. Hilarious!
I'll form my OWN solar system! With blackjack! And hookers!
This isn't a troll, but what exactly is the niche? For not a lot more size, but less money, you could have a shoebox PC like a Shuttle SS40. For not a lot more space you could buy a laptop of the same performance, and have screen and keyboard. And you still have to plug all the wires in the back and (by the looks of it) provide top and rear venting, so you can't just pack 'em in a rack like crazy.
So, serious question: what's the niche? They're cool, yes, but beyond that?
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.
Virtually serving coffee
The Cappucino TX-3 has had similar or even better specs for quite a while now, and its pretty similar in size:
-Intel 815 motherboard
-1.2 Ghz Intel Pentium III processor
-512MB 144-pin PC133 RAM
-30 GB internal hard drive
-Your choice of 24x CD-ROM, 8x DVD-ROM, or 8x/8x/24x/8x DVD/CD-RW combo drive
-Built-in 10/100 base-T ethernet (RJ45)
-Internal 56K V.90 modem
-Four USB ports (USB 1.1)
-Two FireWire ports (IEEE 1394)
-No operating system installed.
-All standard I/O ports built-in
-Dimensions: 6" x 5.75" x 2.25"
-Manufacturer Warranty: 1 year
Also, CappucinoPC have the Mocha P4 machine which is slightly bigger and has specs rivaling current fully loaded computers.
Check out these links:
Cappucino TX-3 at Thinkgeek
Mocha P4 at Cappucinopc.com
A review of what appears to be the Mocha at Tomshardware
All you're missing are links to this product as seen on ThinkGeek.
--sdem
Imagine a Bluetooth beowulf cluster of these watches from the combined people walking around Times Square at any given moment.
-N
I've nothing to say here...
This would be a great thing to install in your dashboard. You could have a self-contained computer that works as a GPS moving map (connect the GPS antenna to the USB port), CD/DVD player, MP3 player, game system, wireless internet, and so forth. You'd just need to pick up an LCD screen to go with it.
Not that I'm advocating people typing email messages or playing UT while driving -- they're distracted enough as it is. But this would be great for the passengers, especially on road trips!
Too late to be known as Bush the First, he's sure to be known as Bush the Worst.
You can get the barebones version of this computer from caseoutlet (http://www.caseoutlet.com/NWPc/Sumi/Sumi.html) for significantly less (about $330 to be specific). it you put a via c3, which can be passively cooled, you have a ultra small, super silent puter. of course, you'd probably be better off getting one of the new via epia m mother boards and putting it in a custom case; it end up being about the same size, cost less, and offer more (usb 2.0, tv out, etc).
miniaturization does carry a price, and people do pay more for small computers. This article illustrates the differences between the market that asks for speed, compared to the market that asks for good design.
this computer is not powerful at all, but how much power would someone need for office chores? this is perfect for the office environment. good for anything that can't have a large bulky computer case lying around.
I think it's laudable that mfgs. build different designs, especially smaller designs. i think that computers would be way more useful if they were designed for the purpose in mind, rather than simply cramming a hot running processor into the cheapest, ugliest box and calling it a "gaming machine". once people start thinking of computers like appliances rather than "OMG 3ghz box!" then we'll see a dramatic change in the way people use computers.
Gradually, we'll see people become less concerned about raw speed and more at making computers actually fit your lifestyle, rather than the other way around.
When I saw the pictures of this tiny little unit, I thought one thing: HTPC (That's Home Theater PC).
It would be especially nice to fit these units with a DVD-Rom to make a compact home-brew DVD/PVR/Photo/Video Jukebox. Especially considering your video input options for the PVR portion: DV/Firewire, USB capture device... whatever.
i swear my userid used to be lower.
The power input is a barrel jack, and you'd need an adapter if you wanted to put it inside a regular PC chassis. It's clearly not really intended for this application. They also spec the power requirement at 12V*5A=60W. That's not a ton of power, but you'd only be able to put two in a typical PC without overcurrenting the 12V rail. On the other hand, it'll run off the accessory plug in your car without blowing the fuse (or needing a pesky inverter.)
1414 C
This doesn't have TV out, which would be nice for making a PVR box. Are there any USB TV in/out adapters (supported in Linux, natch) that could be used with this thing?
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.
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.
Trolling is a art,
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.
How about the following:
US Dollars --> $
Canadian Dollars --> 2/3$
Australian Dollars --> 1/$
Hm, that's interesting but as a node in a mosix or beowulf cluster one doesn't need audio, firewire, usb or 3d video (I'd go another step and say "drop all onboard video and use a console port") Once all that extra real estate is freed up, another CPU might fit in well without all the costs associated with the extraneous crud I mention above.
Not that I don't think firewire etc is nice, I do, but on a cluster its just more circuits to potentially fail.
Trolling is a art,
So, let me guess, this is made by a company in
SOVIET RUSSIA
In Soviet Russia the computer goes into the CD-ROM....