PCMCIA Computer Project Aims Even Higher (and Cheaper) Than Raspberry Pi 161
lkcl writes "An initiative by a Community Interest Company Rhombus Tech aims to provide Software (Libre) Developers with a PCMCIA-sized modular computer that could end up in mass-volume products. The reference design mass-volume pricing guide from the SoC manufacturer, for a device with similar capability to the Raspberry Pi, is around $15: 40% less than the $25 Raspberry Pi but for a device with an ARM Cortex A8 CPU 3x times faster than the 700mhz ARM11 used in the Raspberry Pi. GPL Kernel source code is available. A page for community ideas for motherboard designs has also been created. The overall goal is to bring more mass-volume products to market which Software (Libre) Developers have actually been involved in, reversing the trend of endemic GPL violations surrounding ARM-based mass-produced hardware. The Preorder pledge registration is now open (account creation required)." Of course, the Raspberry Pi is not only only much further along, but has recently announced an expansion module (the Gertboard).
Lotsa Talk (Score:2, Insightful)
There has been a lot of talk about these ultra low cost(and low power) computers recently. But, until something ships, meh.
Where is my Raspberry Pi?
Where is my Chumby NeTV?
So far, the only ones to ship have been the Plugcomputers and they haven't been cheap.
I'll wait until ... (Score:4, Insightful)
Until that time it's just vapourware - same goes for the Raspberry Pi, unless you want a keyboard sticker, they've got nothing on the market.
Computer on a PCMCIA card (Score:4, Insightful)
Great, so this low cost computer can be plugged into the PCMCIA slot of a laptop. Or you couyld just use the laptop. Am i missing something here?
Re:computer in your wallet (Score:4, Insightful)
You mean.. like a phone?
Re:Computer on a PCMCIA card (Score:4, Insightful)
Perhaps the project leaders should instead think before writing marketing copy.
Comment removed (Score:4, Insightful)
What is this going to mean for me, the end-user? (Score:4, Insightful)
I'm not a programmer or a hardware hacker. I don't know anything about soldering circuit boards. I'm just a guy who likes to surf the net, write stories, play games, hang out on-line, and so on. What is the availability of this $15 device going to mean for me?
I mean, at least (as far as) I know the Raspberry Pi is going to be producing fully-realized devices that I can buy, plug in a keyboard and monitor and Ethernet cable, and I'm done. It sounds like this project is just about building a circuit board. And while it's nice it will be 40% cheaper and three times as fast, I'd like to know what I could do with it if someone came up to me on the street and handed me one.