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Low-Cost Board Runs Linux, Google Apps

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the cheap-fun-toys dept.

An anonymous reader writes to mention that hardware hacking enthusiasts can now get their hands on the guts of the Everex TC2502 Linux PC for just $60 (USD). The compact x86-compatible "gOS Dev Board" offers a lightweight Linux-based OS designed for use with Google Apps. " Along with a Firefox browser supporting the Google toolbar, gOS includes local productivity applications, such as OpenOffice.org. However, its main goal is "coherently packaging Google Apps to give users the idea that they can use Google as their main environment," explained Paul Kim, of Everex. "

5 of 152 comments (clear)

  1. The Artist Formerly Known as "Thin Client" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "a lightweight...OS designed for use with [web apps]"

    aka: Thin Client

    Coming soon to a handset near you! Oh, wait...

  2. I don't get it by LaughingCoder · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What exactly is the BIG DEAL? I would still need to buy a disk drive ($50), some RAM ($30), a box/supply ($30), a monitor ($100), a keyboard and mouse ($20), and perhaps some speakers ($15) ... the motherboard and CPU are no longer the major expense in putting together a PC. Heck, newegg has the Celeron D315 (2.26GHz) for $38, and an MSI barebones system (box, 300W power supply, motherboard) for $70. Add in another $100 for HD/RAM/KB/Mouse an you have a pretty decent system for $208.

    --
    The more you regulate a company, the worse its products become.
    1. Re:I don't get it by DragonWriter · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The $60 you can spend buying this overstock holdover from 2004 can get your a better motherboard + CPU.


      Most of the alternatives people have posted that are similar in price have some advantages and some disadvantages. None seem to be clearly and unquestionably "better" in every way, just different and in the same general ballpark. So perhaps its not outstanding, just another low-cost option that's well supported in Linux. Which, unsurprisingly enough, is somewhat interesting to a substantial part of the Slashdot crowd.

      It's just a slow-ass VIA-based Mini-ITX motherboad.


      Micro-ATX, actually.

      The fact that Walmart is selling something based on it should already be a warning sign.


      I suppose that we should be suspicious of Linux, too, then...
  3. Re:"dev board" ? by jmorris42 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    > This is just a motherboard, with a C7 processor...

    Ya, that was my problem with the piece too, no reason for it to be on linuxdevices since it is just another Via Mobo+CPU deal, this time blown up to the MicroATX form factor instead of the Mini-ITX VIA normally prefers. $60 for Mobo and CPU is OK I guess but not especially newsworthy.

    "Devel" board to me implies something to develop for an embedded 'target'. What is the target system this board aims at? A PC running an x86 Linux isn't embedded computing. It isn't new, interesting or different. Linux on x86 is now mainstream. A decade ago a commercial outfit pushing Linux systems would have been newsworthy.

    --
    Democrat delenda est
  4. Hahaha Dev Board... whatever... by andreyw · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Apparently the only thing you need to peddle low-performing VIA-based crap these days is just to call it a "Dev Board". Hardware hack? What hardware hack? This is a basic run-off-the-mill PC motherboard. With a sloooowwww C7. If you're not hardware-modding your existing motherboards (via SMBus devices, or something else...) you are NOT MODIFYING THIS ONE EITHER.

    "This is not a "low-cost board running Linux"... this is "a run-of-the-mill PC that can run Linux". And you're kidding yourself if you think that you cannot buy the same motherboard cheaper by going around these wily marketeers. What joke... and a slashvertisement. Buy Everex! Google in Everyone's Home!

    Let's see what it DOESN'T have... This is like, seriously, 2004 tech here...
    1) No gigabit.
    2) Questionable AGP chipset
    3) See 2 - No PCIe, given this is AGP.
    4) VGA? At least not CGA...
    5) Lots of legacy I/O ports no one cares about.

    If you think you cannot by a BETTER motherboard for $60 is... well... I want some of whatever it is that you're smoking.