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Small Footprint Computers

Posted by timothy on from the cuteness dept.

Robert Cliff writes "VIA's Mini-ITX based computers have been covered in Slashdot before, but not by this company. This product is interesting because it is a SiS based, fanless 233 MHZ system measuring only 4.75 x 6.25 x 1.9 inches, and it can run off BOTH AC and DC. If you need something larger / powerful, they have other Mini-ITX based systems, which they claim is built "on same factory that builds the cases for many high-end audio products". These guys seem to be heavily promoting Linux."

8 of 297 comments (clear)

  1. Let me get this straight.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "VIA's Mini-ITX based computers have been covered in Slashdot before, but not by this company."

    Um, this company builds Mini-ITX computers or do they cover/review them?

    Or is it Slashdot that builds them or this company that builds them?

    Errr, um, I'm confused.

  2. hand holding it by pbranes · · Score: 5, Funny

    I don't think I would get near it if that gross hand comes with it.

  3. Nice by fudgefactor7 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now I can have an answer to the age old question "Are you happy to see me or is that a computer in your pocket?"

  4. I've been begging by ToadMan8 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    for one of these for some time now. I would like to put it with wifi in the back of my car and run a custom (read: linux) mp3 server. Now all I need to tack down is the touch screen LCD interface for it (seriously). A little LCD (must be at least 300 whatever brightness units to see in the sunlight of a car interior) isn't bad on it's own, but with touchscreen it's a bit more pricy. Oh, and I don't yet understand how to interface it with a normal OS like a desktop linux or windows (god forbid). Any suggestions? Anybody done anything like this? This appears to be the perfect 'puter for it though ::grin::

    --
    I haven't posted in so long, my sig is out of date.
  5. Re:ac _and_ dc? by Waffle+Iron · · Score: 5, Funny
    Does that mean AC _and_ DC, or AC _or_ DC?

    He says AC and DC. I assume that means it needs an AC waveform superimposed over a DC bias. That seems obscure, but actually any phone jack will supply such a voltage. Therefore, I conclude that this system is powered by telephone dialtones.

  6. Soekris by ziegast · · Score: 5, Informative

    Another company uses the same concept with more of a specialty for diskless firewall products and wireless. The have good support for OpenBSD /w hardware crypto acceleration as well as Linux and FreeBSD.

    http://soekris.com/

    -ez

  7. Advantech by pokka · · Score: 5, Informative

    If you want to build your own system, go to Advantech and choose "Biscuit SBCs". They have fanless, VIA-based 667mhz computers that are roughly the size of 3.5" Hard drives. The computers include almost everything you need: audio, ethernet, VGA, TV out, IRDA, USB, IDE, and CompactFlash support. The only things you need to do yourself would be finding/building a case and finding a stable 5VDC power supply.

  8. Take wi-fi on your vacation trip by ch-chuck · · Score: 5, Funny

    Pack a music/video server into the mini-van and give the kids in the backseat two notebooks to play with on the way to the beach/mountains.

    Jamie: "Mom, Jimmy crashed my Windows again!"
    Jimmie: "heheheh"

    --
    try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }