Really tiny computers - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

Marks256 · 3rd March 2007, 01:12 AM

http://www.gumstix.com/index.html

I think they look neat. They look as if they would be fun and easy to use, too.

What do you think?

mramos1 · 3rd March 2007, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marks256

http://www.gumstix.com/index.html

I think they look neat. They look as if they would be fun and easy to use, too.

What do you think?

I did not read all about them.. Do they come with Linux pre-loaded? Interface to the board (if pre-loaded)? If RS-232, that would be pretty neat.

They are not cheap.

I will be ordering maxstream.com parts Monday. Company is gonna let me order them and play.. But that does look neat, loading Linux on them and via what interface, that could be some work.

Marks256 · 3rd March 2007, 01:46 AM

From what i got from the reading, Linux is pre-flashed. There is also a service (charges $10) for re-flashing. If i can get ahold of $130 i just might buy one... fun to play with!

I would like one of these better;
http://cgi.ebay.com/AMPRO-LB3-486-Em...QQcmdZViewItem

If i had the money right now, i would place a bid, but it is a little higher that what i can afford.

Sceadwian · 3rd March 2007, 04:41 PM

Sure, biscuit PC's been around for ages. The question is what're you going to do with it? =)

Marks256 · 4th March 2007, 12:30 AM

Is that the proper term for them? "Biscuit PC's"? Cool....

What couldn't you do with one? They look freaking awesome! You could load DOS and QB on it, and you would have a portable hack station! 486's rock.

mramos1 · 4th March 2007, 01:14 AM

You can do Linux and QB on them too. Works well. On what I call the pizza box machines. They are 16" x 16" x 5"

Torben · 4th March 2007, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mramos1

You can do Linux and QB on them too. Works well. On what I call the pizza box machines. They are 16" x 16" x 5"

Also, for $130 US (not including dev kit/power supply etc) you can get a TS-7400 200MHz ARM board--about 6cm by 10cm or so. I've got one--works beautifully. It has a whack of I/O, and has several siblings if you need i.e. 10 COM ports or prefer DOS.

It can also boot Linux in 1.1 seconds.

http://www.embeddedarm.com (I am not affiliated in any way).

Haven't tried a Gumstix, but they sure look fun.

Torben

Marks256 · 4th March 2007, 04:14 AM

Thanks for the link. They look great! uhh, i want a small computer sooo bad (no reason, just so i can play with it...

)

arunb · 4th March 2007, 06:41 PM

Would the TS-7400 200MHz ARM board work in an industrial environment ??

Sceadwian · 4th March 2007, 06:45 PM

Shuttle makes minature cases that hold micro ATX motherboards. They're affectionatly known as shoebox PC's because they're about that big, good for lan parties, and that's about it.

mramos1 · 4th March 2007, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sceadwian

Shuttle makes minature cases that hold micro ATX motherboards. They're affectionatly known as shoebox PC's because they're about that big, good for lan parties, and that's about it.

Nah. Think smaller, not bigger.

SMDR report machine, parking lot RFID collection and reporting (also to tell the security recorder to snap-shot the plate as they swipe the card, and so on.

They have a lot of uses.

Use the PIC or AVR to talk to them as well.

I am going to look at the X-Bee Pro to kill some of the wires I have to deal with next.

Marks256 · 4th March 2007, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sceadwian

Shuttle makes minature cases that hold micro ATX motherboards. They're affectionatly known as shoebox PC's because they're about that big, good for lan parties, and that's about it.

Shuttle PC are nice, but not quite what i would think of as "portable." Yes, they are great at lan parties (i have seen them in action), but not the most ideal computer for strapping your your belt.

I was actually thinking of a computer worthy of a HMD, and maybe a webcam with a few homebrew programs on it.... let your mind wander

mramos1 · 4th March 2007, 09:49 PM

Marks256 (Borg-man), get a PDA phone and work from there.

I can see you now with a Treo 700 strapped on.. And yes I have code on my phone (treo-650) I wrote..

hjames · 4th March 2007, 11:37 PM

Nokia's N800: utterly expensive, but it's a full-fledged linux machine with better specs than the first two laptops I've had - 128MB ram, 800x480 screen, 300MHz ARM. I think GCC run's ludicrously slow when compiling on it, but it is possible. Scripting languages would probably work better. That and a bluetooth chording keyboard, and you're all set. It even has the webcam built in...

Hero999 · 5th March 2007, 12:44 AM

That sounds fast enough for most things I use a computer for. Firefox should work well and I could use ABIWord or OpenOffice 1.1.5 for wordprocessing, spreadsheeting etc.

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3rd March 2007, 01:12 AM	(permalink)
Marks256	Really tiny computers http://www.gumstix.com/index.html I think they look neat. They look as if they would be fun and easy to use, too. What do you think? __________________ There is no "I" in "team", unless Apple makes it... Then it would be iTeam.

3rd March 2007, 01:46 AM	(permalink)
Marks256	From what i got from the reading, Linux is pre-flashed. There is also a service (charges $10) for re-flashing. If i can get ahold of $130 i just might buy one... fun to play with! I would like one of these better; http://cgi.ebay.com/AMPRO-LB3-486-Em...QQcmdZViewItem If i had the money right now, i would place a bid, but it is a little higher that what i can afford. __________________ There is no "I" in "team", unless Apple makes it... Then it would be iTeam.

3rd March 2007, 04:41 PM	(permalink)
Sceadwian	Sure, biscuit PC's been around for ages. The question is what're you going to do with it? =) __________________ "Because I be what I be. I would tell you what you want to know if I could, mum, but I be a cat, and no cat anywhere ever gave anyone a straight answer, har har."

4th March 2007, 12:30 AM	(permalink)
Marks256	Is that the proper term for them? "Biscuit PC's"? Cool.... What couldn't you do with one? They look freaking awesome! You could load DOS and QB on it, and you would have a portable hack station! 486's rock. __________________ There is no "I" in "team", unless Apple makes it... Then it would be iTeam.

4th March 2007, 01:14 AM	(permalink)
mramos1	You can do Linux and QB on them too. Works well. On what I call the pizza box machines. They are 16" x 16" x 5"

4th March 2007, 04:14 AM	(permalink)
Marks256	Thanks for the link. They look great! uhh, i want a small computer sooo bad (no reason, just so i can play with it... ) __________________ There is no "I" in "team", unless Apple makes it... Then it would be iTeam.

4th March 2007, 06:41 PM	(permalink)
arunb	Would the TS-7400 200MHz ARM board work in an industrial environment ??

4th March 2007, 06:45 PM	(permalink)
Sceadwian	Shuttle makes minature cases that hold micro ATX motherboards. They're affectionatly known as shoebox PC's because they're about that big, good for lan parties, and that's about it. __________________ "Because I be what I be. I would tell you what you want to know if I could, mum, but I be a cat, and no cat anywhere ever gave anyone a straight answer, har har."

4th March 2007, 09:49 PM	(permalink)
mramos1	Marks256 (Borg-man), get a PDA phone and work from there. I can see you now with a Treo 700 strapped on.. And yes I have code on my phone (treo-650) I wrote..

4th March 2007, 11:37 PM	(permalink)
hjames	Nokia's N800: utterly expensive, but it's a full-fledged linux machine with better specs than the first two laptops I've had - 128MB ram, 800x480 screen, 300MHz ARM. I think GCC run's ludicrously slow when compiling on it, but it is possible. Scripting languages would probably work better. That and a bluetooth chording keyboard, and you're all set. It even has the webcam built in...

5th March 2007, 12:44 AM	(permalink)
Hero999	That sounds fast enough for most things I use a computer for. Firefox should work well and I could use ABIWord or OpenOffice 1.1.5 for wordprocessing, spreadsheeting etc. __________________ I also post at the following sites: http://www.stop-microsoft.org http://www.heated-debates.com Screen name: Aloone_Jonez And http://www.silicontronics.com, same screen name as here.