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Stealth Computers: NY Times on Mini ITX Modding

Posted by michael on from the omnipresent dept.

securitas writes "What's smaller than a breadbox? Or a toaster? Or a teddy bear? The New York Times has just discovered mini-ITX based computers (Google /CNET mirror, minus the pictures). It's a nice overview of the mini-ITX scene and suggests that small form computers are a hot growth area while the traditional PC business languishes."

2 of 185 comments (clear)

  1. What I would like to see. by niko9 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Things I would like to see.

    A new Linux distrubution, one aimed at including the most efficient
    programs currently being developed: Blackbox, Thunderbird, Firebird, Dillo,
    etc. Debian C3?

    A 2.6 kernel running on these things so they're more desktop resonsive, work on swsup to be stable enough that the computer will always be instant-on available, thus
    never needing a reboot.

    Start a project that aims to develop extremely efficient programs designed
    to run very well with slow procs like these. Hell if you can web browse
    on a C64, this can be done.

    If word of this can get out, then more people will question the Intel and
    Microsoft monopoly.

    Any other suggestions?

    --

  2. Putting together a low-wattage server by wjr · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Just this morning I put in an order for the parts required to make a new server for our home network. The principal requirement was that it be low-wattage: living in California (home of the gouging power companies), I didn't want to leave a 100+ watt machine turned on all the time.


    After reading a lot of info about the various mini-ITX boards, cases, and so on, I settled on this configuration:

    • VIA EPIA ME6000 fanless mini-ITX motherboard (has audio, 10/100 ethernet, USB 2.0, 1394)
    • Morex 2699 mini-ITX case
    • 512M PC2100 DDR memory
    • 120GB disk
    • Slimline CD-ROM

    The total was less than $500, and I could have reduced it some more if I'd been willing to place orders with 3 suppliers, rather than getting everything from one place (logicsupply.com).


    While this machine is underpowered for a lot of computing tasks, and is a joke for playing games on, it should do just fabulously as a SMB/NFS file server, web server for pictures of the new baby, and so on. I'm downloading the Fedora beta (Severn) as we speak.


    The total power draw for this machine ought to be about 30W. Even at inflated California prices, that's less than $5/month to run. Plus, since the motherboard and case are both fanless, it should run very very quietly, and should be small enough to just tuck away on a shelf somewhere.


    Now I get to wait anxiously and see if my expectations match reality.