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AdvantageSix Promises a Tiny ARM-based Computer

Posted by timothy on from the that-looks-tasty dept.

oberondarksoul writes "Drobe, one of the leading RISC OS news websites, is reporting that AdvantageSix have displayed an in-development version of their forthcoming A9home system. Running on a 400MHz Samsung ARM9 processor, and measuring approximately 6.6x4x2 inches, this ought to be a cheap -- and reasonably powerful -- RISC OS-based alternative to small form factor PCs or the Mac mini."

5 of 191 comments (clear)

  1. Not really a competition for the mini by FidelCatsro · · Score: 5, Informative

    Looking at the specs sheet and the expected price It really is not any competition for the Mac mini, so its expected to retail for around 499GBP+vat(17.5% on top of that) in the UK (if UKP means UK pound ?, ) which is already alot more than the price of the 1.42ghz g4 based mac mini , which comes with double the ram , double the harddrive .It will probably make a great ARM development machine but i don't think its trying to compete with SFF PCs and MacMinis.
    -Comparing it to a macmini is really doing it a great dis-service

    --
    The only things certain in war are Propaganda and Death. You can never be sure which is which though
  2. Re:where's the ethernet port? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    next to the keyboard mouse ports. there's a photo, I suggest looking at it. and specs listed too.

    RTFA and all

  3. Re:That sounds like a lot of of money by oberondarksoul · · Score: 5, Informative

    It runs RISC OS natively, which - although not nearly as popular as in its hayday - is still used by a fair number of people. Certainly they're more expensive than the average Intel, but they do have several advantages.

    For instance, the entirety of the RISC OS is in ROM - this gives machines ludicrously good boot times, as well as making it virtually impossible to accidentally hose the system. It also has a familiar and easy to use GUI, using the middle-button for all menus - no menu bars cluttering up every window, and has features such as font anti-aliasing built in (since 1989).

    --
    And tomorrow the stock exchange will be the human race
  4. Photos and videos of the A9home by monkeyson · · Score: 5, Informative

    There are loads of pictures and videos of the A9home - including comparisons to a 50 pence coin and a Mac Mini - on The Iconbar's show report:

    http://www.iconbar.com/news/wakefield2005/report/

  5. Re:Interesting by roxtar · · Score: 5, Informative
    As well, they will be a hit with developing countries. Cheapness without the ambiguity of a white-box.

    Another thing these are not at all cheap in developing countries. I'm from India. The A9Home costs 499 Pounds which translates to around 40,000 Indian Rs which is a lot for a desktop computer which doesn't have a monitor. We can get assembled PCs (with monitor, speakers etc) for around 25,000 Indian Rs