Entire computer on a thumb drive (not just the OS)

Hydaral · **Joined:** Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:36 pm **Posts:** 197

m^(2) wrote:

Hydaral wrote:

I think it might be a little difficult to squeeze a CPU, GPU, RAM, North/Southbridge, etc into something the size of a USB stick.

So now you see you're wrong. It is not only possible, it's done.
And think about cell phones. There are small ones and they need whole lot of other things, battery, screen, antenna, speaker, microphone etc.
Technically, this computer is very very close to a phone.

Well, obviously small computers have been built, but they are generally not very powerful, I assumed the OP was referring to a "PC" type of machine that you could actually do real work on, ie something like an ASUS EeeBox but much smaller.

m^(2) · **Posted:** Wed May 11, 2011 12:29 am

This PC is as powerful as an average smartphone. Maybe a little less than average.

ashghost · **Posted:** Wed May 11, 2011 2:54 am

Hydaral wrote:

I assumed the OP was referring to a "PC" type of machine that you could actually do real work on, ie something like an ASUS EeeBox but much smaller.

The OP was referring to something that's been built, and provided a couple of links. It's a "PC" the size of a thumb drive, but it's not very useful without accessories - a USB hub to provide external storage and/or network access while allowing you to connect a keyboard, not to mention the HDMI monitor.

Hydaral · **Joined:** Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:36 pm **Posts:** 197

ashghost wrote:

Hydaral wrote:

I assumed the OP was referring to a "PC" type of machine that you could actually do real work on, ie something like an ASUS EeeBox but much smaller.

The OP was referring to something that's been built, and provided a couple of links. It's a "PC" the size of a thumb drive, but it's not very useful without accessories - a USB hub to provide external storage and/or network access while allowing you to connect a keyboard, not to mention the HDMI monitor.

I thought webfork was asking if there were any other small "PC" type machines.

lautrepay · **Joined:** Sat Mar 26, 2011 2:31 am **Posts:** 646

http://www.raspberrypi.org/
http://www.element14.com/community/groups/raspberry-pi

guinness · **Joined:** Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:00 am **Posts:** 3738

I saw this on the BBC a couple of weeks ago about Raspberry PI.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17190918

m^(2) · **Posted:** Tue Mar 13, 2012 10:01 am

Raspberry Pi could be fine if they didn't choose a Linux-only chipset....I like the concept a lot, but as it is it's worthless for me.

SYSTEM · **Posted:** Mon May 28, 2012 9:35 am

VIA has initiated a competitor for Raspberry Pi.

http://apc.io/

carbonize · **Posted:** Mon May 28, 2012 10:03 am

Except APC runs Android so is not as easy to write for as PI.

Midas · **Posted:** Mon May 28, 2012 12:07 pm

Similar hardware (but not price...) available on the Net:

Aleutia Fanless PC: http://aleutia.com/

ARMini Computer: http://www.armini.co.uk/

Compulab single board computer: http://compulab.co.il/

CuBox: http://www.solid-run.com/products/cubox

Egreat Router/Mediaplayer (German): http://www.egreat-hd.de/

FitPC: http://fit-pc.co.uk/

Trimslice: http://trimslice.com/web/

EOMA68: http://rhombus-tech.net/

Beagleboard: http://beagleboard.org/

Pandaboard: http://www.pandaboard.org/

Plug Computer: http://www.plugcomputer.org/

Finally, check these two entries at specialized website Liliputing.com:

http://liliputing.com/2012/05/via-unveils-amos-3002-fanless-rugged-pc.html
http://liliputing.com/2012/03/mele-a1000-is-a-70-hackable-linux-friendly-arm-based-pc.html

References:
http://www.reghardware.com/2012/05/10/product_round_up_arm_mini_computers_the_best_and_the_rest/
http://www.instantfundas.com/2012/05/5-ultra-portable-computers-you-can-buy.html
http://www.instantfundas.com/2012/05/3-ultra-portable-computers-you-can-buy.html

m^(2) · **Posted:** Tue May 29, 2012 8:28 am

Midas wrote:

Similar hardware (but not price...) available on the Net:

Aleutia Fanless PC: http://aleutia.com/

ARMini Computer: http://www.armini.co.uk/

Compulab single board computer: http://compulab.co.il/

CuBox: http://www.solid-run.com/products/cubox

Egreat Router/Mediaplayer (German): http://www.egreat-hd.de/

FitPC: http://fit-pc.co.uk/

Trimslice: http://trimslice.com/web/

EOMA68: http://rhombus-tech.net/

Beagleboard: http://beagleboard.org/

Pandaboard: http://www.pandaboard.org/

Plug Computer: http://www.plugcomputer.org/

Finally, check these two entries at specialized website Liliputing.com:

http://liliputing.com/2012/05/via-unveils-amos-3002-fanless-rugged-pc.html
http://liliputing.com/2012/03/mele-a1000-is-a-70-hackable-linux-friendly-arm-based-pc.html

References:
http://www.reghardware.com/2012/05/10/product_round_up_arm_mini_computers_the_best_and_the_rest/
http://www.instantfundas.com/2012/05/5-ultra-portable-computers-you-can-buy.html
http://www.instantfundas.com/2012/05/3-ultra-portable-computers-you-can-buy.html

Thanks for the link, I was looking for a cheap computer to use as a FreeBSD/ARM development board and a home server recently. I've seen some 3 computers and FreeBSD had support for neither, hopefully one on the list will be better.

Midas · **Posted:** Tue May 29, 2012 4:26 pm

m^(2) wrote:

Thanks for the link

Only glad to be giving back.

m^(2) wrote:

I've seen some 3 computers and FreeBSD had support for neither, hopefully one on the list will be better.

I'm sure I've seen BSD support somewhere, just don't know where... :roll:

Midas · **Posted:** Sun Aug 12, 2012 5:55 pm

Just found this:

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/07/mk802-android-4-0-mini-pc-hands-on-impressions/

Midas · **Posted:** Thu Sep 13, 2012 2:07 am

Kind of old, but this is a really cheap PC-on-a-board by VIA: http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/22/3036745/via-apc-android-computer-announced

Entire computer on a thumb drive (not just the OS)

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