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3 micro-computers you can use everyday

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Re: 3 micro-computers you can use everyday

#2

Post by lgeek »

I've never heard of the allwinner A10 before, and it looks great on paper: 1.5ghz Cortex-A8, 1 GB RAM, SATA, 3d graphics and hardware video decoder, and the other usual stuff like SD, HDMI, Ethernet, NAND and various other I/O ports, plus full GPL source code (I was under the impression that ARM don't release the source code for MALI drivers under GPL?).

However, it looks like they haven't produced a single unit yet. It's vaporware. They hope to sell an initial batch for something closer to $70, which seems more realistic, but I still think they're overly optimistic.

On the other hand, Raspberry Pi is looking good. They've had considerable delays (I think initially they were intending to start selling the boards in November), but they're making good progress and seem to have plenty of traction. Their target price seems more easily reachable considering the lower specs compared to the allwinner A10.

Re: 3 micro-computers you can use everyday

#3

Post by unwind »

If we're talking about small computers that are okay to be announced but not 100% ready to ship, I think the Open Pandora (http://www.open-pandora.org/) deserves mention.

There are some ... production kinks left to iron out, but I'm sure we'll see them shipping with some kind of predictability in, say, two months time.

Currently production is being re-targeted to Germany, with what seems to be awesome results, so far. I'm very impressed by the guys behind this project, if I'm sounding very much tongue-in-cheek that's just because I bought mine in March of 2009, and am still waiting for it to ship. :)

Re: 3 micro-computers you can use everyday

#4

Post by asb »

lgeek wrote: post #2

I've never heard of the allwinner A10 before, and it looks great on paper: 1.5ghz Cortex-A8, 1 GB RAM, SATA, 3d graphics and hardware video decoder, and the other usual stuff like SD, HDMI, Ethernet, NAND and various other I/O ports, plus full GPL source code (I was under the impression that ARM don't release the source code for MALI drivers under GPL?). However, it looks like they haven't produced a single unit yet.…

November might have been mentioned as a possibility, but end of the year or December has afaik always been the stated target. I'd hardly say delays so far are 'considerable'.

Re: 3 micro-computers you can use everyday

#7

Post by lgeek »

asb wrote: post #4
lgeek wrote: post #2

I've never heard of the allwinner A10 before, and it looks great on paper: 1.5ghz Cortex-A8, 1 GB RAM, SATA, 3d graphics and hardware video decoder, and the other usual stuff like SD, HDMI, Ethernet, NAND and various other I/O ports, plus full GPL source code (I was under the impression that ARM don't release the source code for MALI drivers under GPL?). However, it looks like they haven't produced a single unit yet.…

November might have been mentioned as a possibility, but end of the year or December has afaik always been the stated target. I'd hardly say delays so far are 'considerable'.

Well, I remember them mentioning late November as a likely time to start shipping boards. You'll find some references to this on their [FAQ page](http://www.raspberrypi.org/faqs). We're in late December and they haven't even sold the beta boards (although that will probably happen soon). Manufacturing and actually shipping the first large series will take some time.

I'll agree that 'considerable' might be a bit too much, but they're late according to the initial schedule.

Re: 3 micro-computers you can use everyday

#9

Post by sourc3 »

hopeless wrote: post #6

From the title I'd thought this would be about practical uses of this hardware. They sound really cool but I haven't seen the big "need" that they're fulfilling.

I think these will power the next generation home entertainment centers in our living rooms.

Considering all the cool hacks (streaming Pandora, looking at albums from a computer etc) the TV is going to be the giant screen hooked up to all sorts of content. Having a tiny, silent box running right behind my TV would be good.

Re: 3 micro-computers you can use everyday

#10

Post by otherpope »

lgeek wrote: post #2

I've never heard of the allwinner A10 before, and it looks great on paper: 1.5ghz Cortex-A8, 1 GB RAM, SATA, 3d graphics and hardware video decoder, and the other usual stuff like SD, HDMI, Ethernet, NAND and various other I/O ports, plus full GPL source code (I was under the impression that ARM don't release the source code for MALI drivers under GPL?). However, it looks like they haven't produced a single unit yet.…

"plus full GPL source code "

This is the relevant page and it does not look good: http://rhombus-tech.net/allwinner_a10/kernel_compile/

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