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First Menlow Board Released

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the size-does-matter dept.

nerdyH writes "German board vendor Lippert has unveiled what it claims to be the first motherboard based on Intel's 'Menlow' chipset for ultra-mobile PCs. The CoreExpress-Menlow is smaller than a credit card, yet clocks to 1.5GHz, has 1GB of RAM soldered onboard, has multiple PCI Express lanes, USB 2.0, HD audio, an IDE interface, and a digital LVDS video interface. The board is the first in a proposed 'CoreExpress' standard motherboard form-factor measuring 2.6 by 2.3 inches (65 x 58 mm)."

5 of 45 comments (clear)

  1. And it's probably going to be damn expensive by Enleth · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Which is a pity - it would be perfect for a SLAM-capable robot project I've got on hold since half a year because even the crappiest embedded motherboards out there are damn expensive when you want to buy just one or two of them and are a student...

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    1. Re:And it's probably going to be damn expensive by TheRaven64 · · Score: 3, Informative

      It's probably slow too. The Ars Technica analysis implied that it would be slower, clock-for-clock, and use more power than most ARM variants. It's a shame, considering that ARM is the most widely deployed architecture that there aren't many boards that are cheap in lots smaller than a thousand. Something like this would be really nice to play with.

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  2. Applications barrier to entry by tepples · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The Ars Technica analysis implied that it would be slower, clock-for-clock, and use more power than most ARM variants. I think the point of this board that is that proprietary applications for Windows Mobile, which are compiled for ARM, tend to have less functionality than the corresponding proprietary apps for Windows XP, which are compiled for i686. People want full-size versions of familiar apps on a pocket-size device, and only a processor with the i686 instruction set can deliver this.
    1. Re:Applications barrier to entry by poot_rootbeer · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I think the point of this board that is that proprietary applications for Windows Mobile, which are compiled for ARM, tend to have less functionality than the corresponding proprietary apps for Windows XP, which are compiled for i686. People want full-size versions of familiar apps on a pocket-size device, and only a processor with the i686 instruction set can deliver this.

      Riiiiiiiiiight.

      It was very smart of Intel's engineers to design and implement the CABPWAPF (Clear 'Artificial Barrier to Proprietary Windows App Performance' Flag) instruction that's in the i686 instruction set.

  3. Re:Power by lenski · · Score: 4, Informative

    There are several inexpensive ARM boards available in small quantities, look in any recent Linux Journal. I am currently running several systems built by Gumstix which work well for me and for my customers.

    I have no financial relationship with Gumstix. I have several of their systems. Cheap, effective, and supported by an exceptionally active, friendly and supportive mailing list.

    Your post doesn't describe required specs or desired features, so it's not easy to know what you're looking for.