Fwd: Small Form Factor PCs

[matt-urrlRJtNKRMsHrnhXWJB8w at public.gmane.org (Matt Shields)]

On Mon, Jun 13, 2011 at 2:26 PM, Chris O'Connell <omegahalo-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org>wrote:

> Yeah, sorry about the Windows question,  I figured I could tap into
> the knowledge of the group.  I recently purchased a pair of the Genesi
> Smarttops that run Ubuntu for another small "appliance" type project I'm
> creating.  I love Linux too, but sometimes it's not the right fit for every
> job/project.
>
> The Genesi boxes would be a perfect solution, except that due to the
> processor being ARM based I don't think I could install my OS of choice for
> this particular project.
>
> The name of the software is HomeSeer.  HomeSeer allows for the control of
> everything from light switches, thermometers, fans, electrical outlets,
> cameras, thermostats... etc, all through one central administration system.
>  My friend who has been experimenting with Homeseer says there are some
> Linux alternatives, but none work as well or as reliably as the Windows
> software.  There's been some talk about virtualizing this software, but IMO
> that's just one more thing to break.
>
> So again, sorry about asking for a Windows specific solution, but my
> question is really more about a small form factor than an operating system
> specific computer.
>
> Thanks for the feedback!  I'll check out the links you sent me.
>
> --Chris
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 13, 2011 at 2:17 PM, Mark Woodward <markw-FJ05HQ0HCKaWd6l5hS35sQ at public.gmane.org>
> wrote:
>
> >  On 06/13/2011 08:28 AM, Chris O'Connell wrote:
> >
> > 1)  This is something I would like to productize eventually.
> >
> > If this is so, an up-front investment in sing Linux will be make your
> life
> > much simpler.
> >
> >  2)  Preferably Windows XP or Windows 7.
> >
> >
> > Ok, so it isn't too specifically Windows. Depending on I/O requirements
> it
> > may be possible to use Linux with Wine.
> >
> >
> >  3)  That's what the home automation software runs on.  I didn't write
> it.
> >
> > Which software is it? Is it for X10 hardware or something else?
> >
> >
> >  4)  I want something small with maybe 2GB ram, 16GB of storage, hard
> > wired 100MB ethernet (or more).  I want something prebuilt (IE, I don't
> want
> > to have to assemble myself).
> >
> > There are a lot of these systems available. The embedded market has some
> > keep and small PC type computers.
> >
> >
> >  The FIT-PC seems to be pretty good, but it's price preloaded with
> Windows
> > on it ($500 is the cut off point).  This little start up project is going
> to
> > cost me at least 1,000-1,200 with all the accessories.
> >
> >
> > There are a lot of small systems available, here's two
> >
> >
> >
> http://www.amazon.com/Athlon-1-5GHz-Barebone-System-ZBOXHD-AD01/dp/B0043DMPTO
> >  http://www.mini-box.com/Car-PC-Automotive-Computing-Solutions
> >
> > Chris
> >
> >
> > One last postscript. IMHO and this being a Linux/UNIX mailing list, you
> > should really try to go Linux on this. It opens up far more
> possibilities.
> > I'm not sure what home office automation software you are using, but I'd
> be
> > quite surprised if there were not an equivalent system on Linux. Then,
> when
> > you productize, you don't have to buy a Windows license for each unit.
> >
> > Also, there are a bunch of guys on this board that are really smart, and
> I
> > bet we'd have a bit more emotional investment in helping you succeed if
> you
> > weren't using Windows :-)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Sun, Jun 12, 2011 at 4:06 PM, Mark Woodward <markw-FJ05HQ0HCKaWd6l5hS35sQ at public.gmane.org
> >wrote:
> >
> >> On 06/12/2011 10:31 AM, Chris O'Connell wrote:
> >>
> >>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> >>> From: Chris O'Connell<omegahalo-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org>
> >>> Date: Sat, Jun 11, 2011 at 11:49 PM
> >>> Subject: Small Form Factor PCs
> >>> To: blu<discuss-mNDKBlG2WHs at public.gmane.org>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> I'm looking for a very small form factor computer to install some home
> >>> automation software on.  The software is not very resource intensive.
> >>>  Here
> >>> are the key requirements for the system:
> >>> 1.  Must be able to power back up  without human intervention if power
> to
> >>> the unit is lost.
> >>> 2.  Should be small and less energy intensive than a regular PC.
> >>> 3.  I would like it to be less than $500.
> >>> 4.  Must be capable of running Windows (so either an AMD or INTEL cpu).
> >>>
> >>> Can anyone make any suggestions about what might work well for me?  I
> was
> >>> looking at the Dell Zino, but am unsure if a better option exists.
> >>>
> >>  I know I replied once already, I want to ask a quick couple questions.
> >>
> >> (1) Is this a on-off or do you intend to productize your system?
> >> (2) What version of Windows? You can use Wince.
> >> (3) umm, why Windows?
> >> (4) What do you expect for $500, a full PC or just the components. $500
> >> is, IMHO a very generous number.
> >> (5) If this is a one-off, I have a VIA-800 miniitx motherboard with 512M
> >> of ram and an IDE compact flash adapter that makes a neat little
> >>  pseudo-embedded disk-free system that was removed from my robot last
> year.
> >> I could probably let it go for $100 bucks with a standard ATX power
> supply.
> >>
> >>
> >> With regards to #1, if you are going to product-ize this, you may want
> to
> >> consider a lower cost platform such as ARM.
> >> With regards to #3 and maybe #1, unless there is a REALLY specific need,
> >> Windows is a very poor platform for this type of application.
> >>
> >> Also, take a look at www.mini-itx.com
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>

I picked up one of these a few month's back to replace one of my home
servers, it's been great.  Extremely quite and cool and it uses almost a
little power as my mac mini server.  I believe my mac mini server uses
around .3 watts and this uses around .5 (according to KillAWatt)

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/myaopen/MP45.html

Matthew Shields
Owner
BeanTown Host - Web Hosting, Domain Names, Dedicated Servers, Colocation,
Managed Services
www.beantownhost.com
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