Comments | latinstorm: Tiny computing

latinstorm

Tiny computing

Mar 02, 2008 22:24

I'm thinking about buying a tiny computer. I'm already running a fanless tiny computer as a server and it's great, but I kind of want a case. Also the switch to a laptop hard drive would cut down on the sound and power. Does the lazyweb have any comments or suggestions?

Comments 12

loganb March 3 2008, 07:08:13 UTC

I had one of these (well, mini-itx version) PXE booting off my linux server and hooked up to my TV. It was great until it overheated in the summer and died. The 1Ghz CPU is pretty gutless; it's much slower than say a PIII @ 1Ghz, but it was fast enough to playback MPEG4 at standard definition w/o hardware acceleration.

latinstorm March 3 2008, 07:18:09 UTC

I'm only looking at running Apache, Squid, and a few random other things. Maybe XBM when they get the linux port finished.

latinstorm March 3 2008, 07:23:30 UTC

XBM = XBMC.

frappajon March 3 2008, 07:21:18 UTC

Oooh, and it has a com port, which would be great for communicating to the roomba it could ride around on. One of those projects I've been wanting to do but has little redeeming value.

lantius March 3 2008, 07:50:22 UTC

are you planning on having it actually be a fileserver, or just a box for applications? if so, skip the laptop drive and go straight to a cf/sd card. no moving parts! 16gb is like $60.

i went for a dedicated nas to handle my fileserving needs, the d-link dns-323. i use it for smb and daap.

latinstorm March 3 2008, 07:54:59 UTC

It might be file server too. The lure of Enhanced CTorrent is great. Also add a splash of development in there too.

evan March 3 2008, 15:31:02 UTC

Another good option for keeping heat/space/sound down is to netboot it. That requires you have another machine elsewhere that's always up, though...

latinstorm March 3 2008, 17:29:24 UTC

I was thinking about that too. I think if I ended up with more than one (and I don't know why I would) I would definitely netboot any extras.

Thread 6

zenithnadir March 3 2008, 08:36:44 UTC

u should check out the eeepc - 2lbs laptop. connect ur monitor when u need it as a desktop, carry it to go when ur on the road. ppl usually add 2 gigs and install xp.

harrchenone March 3 2008, 16:03:35 UTC

I have had an EEE for a month now and absolutely love it. Never going back to a bigger laptop. Macbook Air's got nothing on the EEE.