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

Discuss hardware related to portable usage, including the kind of storage devices people use, and how they use them.
Message
Author
Hydaral
Posts: 194
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:36 pm

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

#16 Post by Hydaral »

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.

User avatar
m^(2)
Posts: 890
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 2:38 am
Location: Kce,PL
Contact:

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

#17 Post by m^(2) »

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

ashghost
Posts: 384
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2008 2:55 pm
Location: South Carolina

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

#18 Post by ashghost »

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
Posts: 194
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:36 pm

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

#19 Post by Hydaral »

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.


User avatar
guinness
Posts: 4118
Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:00 am
Contact:

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

#21 Post by guinness »

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

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

User avatar
m^(2)
Posts: 890
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 2:38 am
Location: Kce,PL
Contact:

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

#22 Post by m^(2) »

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.

User avatar
SYSTEM
Posts: 2041
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 1:19 am
Location: Helsinki, Finland

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

#23 Post by SYSTEM »

VIA has initiated a competitor for Raspberry Pi.

http://apc.io/
My YouTube channel | Release date of my 13th playlist: August 24, 2020

carbonize
Posts: 363
Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2008 1:16 am
Location: Bristol, UK
Contact:

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

#24 Post by carbonize »

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

User avatar
Midas
Posts: 6706
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:09 am
Location: Sol3

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

#25 Post by Midas »


User avatar
m^(2)
Posts: 890
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 2:38 am
Location: Kce,PL
Contact:

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

#26 Post by m^(2) »

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-unvei ... ed-pc.html
http://liliputing.com/2012/03/mele-a100 ... ed-pc.html

References:
http://www.reghardware.com/2012/05/10/p ... _the_rest/
http://www.instantfundas.com/2012/05/5- ... n-buy.html
http://www.instantfundas.com/2012/05/3- ... n-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.

User avatar
Midas
Posts: 6706
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:09 am
Location: Sol3

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

#27 Post by Midas »

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:

User avatar
Midas
Posts: 6706
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:09 am
Location: Sol3

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

#28 Post by Midas »

Last edited by Midas on Thu Sep 13, 2012 2:09 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
Midas
Posts: 6706
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:09 am
Location: Sol3

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

#29 Post by Midas »

Kind of old, but this is a really cheap PC-on-a-board by VIA: http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/22/30367 ... -announced

Image

User avatar
Midas
Posts: 6706
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:09 am
Location: Sol3

Re: Gigabyte BRIX

#30 Post by Midas »

Old topic update: just found about the Gigabyte BRIX, a sandy bridge mini PC with some impressive specs -- integrated Intel graphics adapter, 1x HDMI, 1x Mini Display, 2x USB 3.0 (1 front), and Gigabit LAN... I think it qualifies as portable. :mrgreen:
  • Image

    Image
In the news: http://techbeat.com/2013/05/gigabyte-la ... x-mini-pc/

Product page: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/list.aspx?s=47&ck=104

Post Reply