Small Footprint Computers

Robert Cliff writes "VIA's Mini-ITX based computers have been covered in Slashdot before, but not by this company. This product is interesting because it is a SiS based, fanless 233 MHZ system measuring only 4.75 x 6.25 x 1.9 inches, and it can run off BOTH AC and DC. If you need something larger / powerful, they have other Mini-ITX based systems, which they claim is built "on same factory that builds the cases for many high-end audio products". These guys seem to be heavily promoting Linux."

Let me get this straight....

[Anonymous Coward]

"VIA's Mini-ITX based computers have been covered in Slashdot before, but not by this company."

Um, this company builds Mini-ITX computers or do they cover/review them?

Or is it Slashdot that builds them or this company that builds them?

Errr, um, I'm confused.

ac _and_ dc?

[Anonymous Coward]

Does that mean AC _and_ DC, or AC _or_ DC? And is pretty much useless, but or would be nice. Even nicer would be if it's capable of switching between them while it's running, as long as at least one is plugged in. Of course, I'm just an AC, and too lazy to actually read the article...

Oh shit, writer's block!

[Anonymous Coward]

This article has nothing to do with the RIAA or SCO. What the fuck am I supposed to complain about in my comment?

Oh god, please stop me.

[tuba_dude]

I don't know, it seems like a pointless plug for these guys, but with linux pre-installed, it also seems worth it.

Also, since I can't resist:
Imagine a beowulf cluster of these...on a BOOKCASE!

hand holding it

[pbranes]

I don't think I would get near it if that gross hand comes with it.

Re:Let me get this straight....

[User 956]

I see your confusion. They also seem to be building their machines outside, on the roof:

they have other Mini-ITX based systems, which they claim is built "on same factory that builds the cases for many high-end audio products".

Nice

[fudgefactor7]

Now I can have an answer to the age old question "Are you happy to see me or is that a computer in your pocket?"

Dear Slashdot

[Donald Knuth]

I'm interested in placing an ad similar to this one for the upcoming release of "The Art of Computer Programming, Volume Four".

Which of your departments at OSDN should I contact to take advantage of this wonderful marketing opportunity? If I wish to purchase more than one article, is there any volume pricing available?

WOW

[countvlad]

BOTH AC AND DC?!?!

That's a buying point if I've ever heard one!

Cool... but...

[tbase]

That little guy has some potential, but that is quite possibly the cheesiest looking case I have ever seen. They should have at least put a blur filter on that picture - Sheesh! How about hitting the mold with a hammer a couple of times to knock the air bubbles out of the plastic, at least for the one you're going to use for the product shot!

233MHz???

[ciroknight]

Phhsht. My toaster has a 533MHz processor, and it runs off of AC, DC _and_ chemical energy (aka toast ;)

Mini-ATX is fine and all

[NightWulf]

But for some reason I think of my computer like my car, if it isn't big, loud and forcing other people to stare at it, it's not good! I want the giant 9 bay tower with the jet engine fans blowing out 100,000CFM of air. Hell you want a nice pc mod, figure out a way to shove a motorcycle muffler on the tower, and add a throttle level to the mouse, rev up your system before the big crunch session.

The above post about power and tower size has no correlation to the size of my genitalia, ah who am I kidding....

Power supply

[worst_name_ever]

Finally a computer for Beck fans: "What about those who swing both ways, AC-DCs?"

RMS

[threephaseboy]

(from the site)The MicroServer supports many x86 operating systems. This includes Windows 9x, Windows CE.NET, Windows XP embedded, GNU/Linux, BSD, and QNX.

This company is really RMS in disguise!

Re:ac _and_ dc?

[Waffle Iron]

Does that mean AC _and_ DC, or AC _or_ DC?

He says AC and DC. I assume that means it needs an AC waveform superimposed over a DC bias. That seems obscure, but actually any phone jack will supply such a voltage. Therefore, I conclude that this system is powered by telephone dialtones.

damn...

[jspectre]

is that a beowulf cluster in your pocket or are you happy to see me?

Worlds fastest coffee-cup-sized computers

[Attitude Adjuster]

In other news, norhtec.com anounce the world's fastest coffee-cup-sized computer (your coffee cup isn't 4.75 x 6.25 x 1.9! How do you get any work done?).

Comparison of SPEC CPU2000 benchmarks against suitably optimized(*) Apple G5 demonstrates mATX computers are infinitely faster than Apples latest offering at both integer and floating point computations.

(*) G5 test optimized by switching it off. "Its faster that way", claim benchmarking company.

Re:Oh god, please stop me.

[merlin_jim]

Also, since I can't resist:
Imagine a beowulf cluster of these...on a BOOKCASE!

I hope it's a metal bookcase and that you took all the books out first.

Cause otherwise that's gonna be real hard to explain to the apartment manager how that fire started...

Take wi-fi on your vacation trip

[ch-chuck]

Pack a music/video server into the mini-van and give the kids in the backseat two notebooks to play with on the way to the beach/mountains.

Jamie: "Mom, Jimmy crashed my Windows again!"
Jimmie: "heheheh"

Easy!

[mhore]

What the fuck am I supposed to complain about in my comment?

Simple! They don't come in Beowulf clusters or run BSD by default!

mike.

Re:Heres an idea....Form factor.

[Anonymous Coward]

" Wrap one of those foldable monitors around one of these, add a roll up keyboard, and you've got one hell of a portable system!!"

Oh lovely. Computers in the burrito format.

Surely...

[gidds]

[fx: resists]

[fx: resists]

[fx: gives in] Why does it need BOTH AC and DC? That's a major disadvantage, isn't it, needing both mains and battery power (or a separate power adapter)?

Erm, unless, erm, it means either AC or DC...

paperback books

[grantsellis]

From the site:

Features: Tiny footprint - the size of a paperback
4.75 x 6.25 x 1.90 inches

At 1.90 inches that's either Robert Jordan or War and Peace.

Re:Oh god, please stop me.

[Surak]

You'd have much better luck starting a fire with a string of miniature christmas lights, or Athlons, or something.

Athlon -- because sometimes your Zippo just runs out of fluid!

This post brought to you by AMD(tm) who invite you to try out their Athlon-series firestarters^Wprocessors!

Re:ac _and_ dc?

[pokeyburro]

More importantly, does it run on either Spinal or Tap?

As Apposed To..

[Myriad]

I don't think I would get near it if that gross hand comes with it.

As apposed to it coming a more attractive, yet equally severed, hand?

Blockwars [blockwars.com]: its multiplayer, try it.

Re:233MHz? Try 100MHz

[TheAwfulTruth]

Well it certinaly isn't in your machine! :)

Re:Take wi-fi on your vacation trip

[boredMDer]

What kind of family is this?

The naming convention, quite frankly,scares me...Jamie, Jimmy, Jimmie, god knows how many other kids named as such...