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."

This interests me

[KingDaveRa]

I'm the kind of person who would like some sort of constantly running system like this (I want to implement a Cache sometime) so these sorts of systems intrigue me. I couldn't put up with the constant whirr of a full PC, but I could put up with one of these. Trouble is, this one seems so pricey, considering the minimalistic specs. For the price I could build a much faster, more capable system, albeit a lot louder (and a bit bigger - its a MATX case I've got lying about here). Are these guys just aiming for too small a market and pricing themselves out? I think they might be.

$400?

[dafoomie]

It looks cool and all, but $400 is a little much for a 233mhz system without video. Maybe if you had a specific need for something like this. You only need to go slightly bigger (a few of them stacked on top of each other) and you can have a modern system for around that price.

Ah, one more step to my dream computer...

[heironymouscoward]

(Patent pending)

In which the "computer" consists of a number of bricks, assembled much like the child's toy "Lego". The bricks come in standard sizes, half-height, double-length, etc. There are bricks for computing, bricks for storage, bricks for power, for backups, and for i/o.

To assemble a "system" you simply choose your bricks and click them together. Bricks have universal connectors in each "bump" which exchange power and information.

Implementation: each brick is a complete computer, and the "system" is a network cluster. A "storage" brick is simply a PC with a fat HD. A "memory" brick being one with lots of RAM.

When I want a new server, I can simply assemble one from bricks that are lying around. When a PC gets too slow, I can replace or add a computing brick. There is no limit to the size of a system: I could plug together hundreds of random bricks to build a computing wall or desk.

The bricks are built to some specifications so that the OS can work with them easily. But competition between manufacturers will ensure that the most innovative and tasteful bricks are the most popular.

The Bricks OS has no concept of file systems. Instead user spaces are automagically synchronized between storage bricks. No backups are ever needed because all available space is always used to keep redundant copies of data.

Personal user spaces can be held on small bricks that are eminently portable and can be connected to portable power supplies and foldable LCDs (hey, I saw this in /. today!) to create instant portable systems.

Lastly, security. All bricks are marked with a sticker reading "Steal me and the RIAA will sue you!"

quiet bare-bones systems?

[twistedcubic]

O.k., since this little hand-sized thing is overpriced, does anyone know if there is a reasonably-priced (200-300 USD) 1U-sized box that just comes with, say, a motherboard and Via C3? I've got spare RAM and quiet hard drives lying around. Just looking for the bare-bones, small, quiet system.

Re:Perfect for cisco router replacements.

[jtshaw]

You can't very well replace a Cisco router with one of these. One of the selling points of those routers is there ability to push so much data they can fill all there ports with full bandwidth. Try doing that with PCI...

This might not seam important but when you start having networks with multiple routers and switches with such low total bandwidth limitations on each all of a sudden your network will start to really suck.

If you aren't doing complex things like that then I have to ask why the hell you bought a $2500 cisco instead of a $150 linksys to begin with.

No digital media connections (spdif, dvi)

[GodWasAnAlien]

This box is still missing digital connections.

spdif, so I can digitally hook it to my 5.1 channel amp.

dvi, so I can digitally hook it to my 21 inch lcd monitor, dvi projector, or plasma screen. ( assuming that I had those things ...)

how to reconfigure the disk?

[sacrilicious]

For the units without dvdrom, I don't see a way to boot if/when the internal disk develops some problem. Would you just have to ship it back to them for reconfiguring?