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PCMCIA Computer Project Aims Even Higher (and Cheaper) Than Raspberry Pi

Posted by timothy on from the concept-that-can-be-turned-into-an-idea dept.

lkcl writes "An initiative by a Community Interest Company Rhombus Tech aims to provide Software (Libre) Developers with a PCMCIA-sized modular computer that could end up in mass-volume products. The reference design mass-volume pricing guide from the SoC manufacturer, for a device with similar capability to the Raspberry Pi, is around $15: 40% less than the $25 Raspberry Pi but for a device with an ARM Cortex A8 CPU 3x times faster than the 700mhz ARM11 used in the Raspberry Pi. GPL Kernel source code is available. A page for community ideas for motherboard designs has also been created. The overall goal is to bring more mass-volume products to market which Software (Libre) Developers have actually been involved in, reversing the trend of endemic GPL violations surrounding ARM-based mass-produced hardware. The Preorder pledge registration is now open (account creation required)." Of course, the Raspberry Pi is not only only much further along, but has recently announced an expansion module (the Gertboard).

8 of 161 comments (clear)

  1. Great by Hatta · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'll buy one of each.

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  2. Why PCMCIA? by bcmm · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Why use the PCMCIA form-factor? It appears they aren't actually using it for PCMCIA. Is it very difficult to design a connector, or is it to do with using existing manufacturing tools originally designed to make PCMCIA cards?

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    1. Re:Why PCMCIA? by petermgreen · · Score: 4, Informative

      PCMCIA was originally designed as a memory card form factor. It was later thickened up for use as an expansion card form factor.

      Also I think being thicker would have doomed it sooner as laptops got thinner.

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  3. No competition, yet by LtGordon · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The Raspberry Pi is expected to ship to mainstream customers early Q1 2012. Per the summary, this group is still in the "could end up in mass production" phase. They can hardly compete if this one isn't being sold.

  4. not a fair pricing comparison by pz · · Score: 5, Informative

    "Mass-volume" pricing is manufacturer speak for wholesale prices, as in buying thousands of units at a time. You expect those prices to be half or less of retail. So a $15 OEM price will be about $30 at retail, generally speaking. That compares reasonably well to the $25 retail pricing of the Raspberry Pi, given that this new board has somewhat higher specs.

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  5. Re:Reptiles are among us! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    As a member of the Illuminati, I can assure you that we have no reptilian DNA at all. You are confusing us with some of our experiments.

    Please leave your Faraday cage, then we can reprogram you with correct ideas.

  6. Re:Reptiles are among us! by oodaloop · · Score: 4, Funny

    I am a reptilian illuminati, you insensitive clod!

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  7. Re:Computer on a PCMCIA card by Rennt · · Score: 4, Informative
    They are just using a cheap connector with plenty of pins. FTFA:

    These pinouts make no attempt to be electrically or electronically compatible with the legacy PCMCIA standard. 16 GPIO pins, 24-pin RGB/TTL, USB2, I2C, 10/100 Ethernet and SATA-II interfaces are included in the Version 1.0 specification.