The Inq pays attention to Advantage Six’ upcoming A9 Home machine. “AdvantageSix’s new machine is a tiny blue fanless aluminium box about the size of a couple of floppy drives – 168x103x53mm. The A9 Home is a sealed unit – it comes with 128MB RAM and a notebook-size 40GB hard disk – which you can’t upgrade, not that you’d want to; this is masses for RISC OS. There is a small external power supply brick which puts out a stonking 20W. It has to be that much to power a few USB peripherals – the machine itself draws about 3W under load. “That’s actually quite a lot. We haven’t enabled most of the power management yet.”
£600 for that is too much for anyone but RISC OS enthusiasts. Pitty, ‘cos it’s a really nice looking system. It really is very small but for that much I could get two PDAs, each with almost as much power (no storage though), or a mini-itx system with rather more power (but a bit bigger).
Who’s this thing aimed at anyway?
The Inq article says 500 pounds, which is still way over priced. The most I would pay for a system such as this would be around $300cdn. It would be primarily an experiment to see how it works.
I can’t see it working in the market place any higher price point.
I agree with everyone about the price, my mini itx system was cheaper, faster and only a bit bigger. Still, I would consider one at 1/2 to 2/3 the price.
People, of course this box is expensive – it is not a mass-produced machine. Buy more to bring the price down!
But seriously, this is a very cool system (in many ways) and a good proof that a modern desktop machine needs not neccessarily be a multi-GHz whizzing stove – not that we didn’t know that. Nice.
Have you seen this??
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8265824374.html
Another small target for RISCOs maybe? Any volunteers?
F*cking ace! I’m not going to buy one, but if RiscOS can be pulled into shape for the new century and ported to run on generic x86 and other architectures, the ‘OS Wars’ could get interesting.
I had an Archimedes A3000 back in the days when it was the fastest and slickest kid on the block, and would love to see an OS and applications succeed that didn’t make the latest hardware run like treacle.
For its functionality, Windows is a multi-gigabyte install that takes hours. Applications are similarly self-important. Why, why, why? The average desktop doesn’t justify this my a marathon, let alone a mile.
yeah by Microsoft defaults but with nlite Xp could me made installed from scratch in 10-15 minutes
is concerned. I think it is very expensive and no one should take the burden to pay in order to bring the price down. However we can pre-order it at 300 cdn as someone mentioned above. If enough orders are collected ( Advantage must propose a limit otherwise it is unreliable) it should be sold at 300 cdn. I think this is fair for everybody. The base version should be with Linux or NetBSD upgradable to RISCOS when ready at an additional cost. I think this is also fair. Anything else is unfair !!!
I’m very interested in buying an XScale based motherboard and build a slim computer to run NetBSD on it. It has to be a relatively modern device with USB and PCI-e if possible, and will eventually be a desktop computer. What are my options?
this system doesnt have a cpu on the motherboard. it uses a ram/cpu combination card for everything.
Not many my friend. I would also like one like what you have in mind. NPWR is a good idea but it has no graphics/sound and FPU. However if they improve it, it is worth considering.
How about a linksys NSLU2? Check the openslug project, http://openslug.org and http://www.nslu2-linux.org, cheapest xscale devo system yet at around $79USD. Lot of bang for the buck.
What is this for? The only point to small, low-power desktop systems would be if the cost was also low. GBP 499 is a lot of money for 400Mhz, 128Mb ram and a 40Gb hard drive.
I’m sure that is as cheap as these guys can make it because it’s a low volume product, but the question still remains, why bother?
Probably because they like their system
Sorry I have never used RiscOS but I just thought , If it can be so frugal in power and memeory it does not belong as a desktop OS. It should rather take off as a PDA OS.
Well, that would be one thing to do. But it also belongs on the desktop.
Why do desktop OS’es have to be gigantic sloppy constructions, working at a crawling speed (compared with certain OS’es) ?
RSC OS and Amiga OS and several others have a place simply to remind us that we can do better
I would say: Why desktop COMPUTERS have to be gigantic sloppy BOXES, working with NOISY FANS like helicopters..
Open your case and SEE how much wasted space there is in it. Now remember, take note that we are near 2 0 0 6 A.D.
With all the devices in my miditower, I’m considering buying a true tower for my desktop pc
But you do realize that the hardware industry would be going nowhere if we kept using “old” hardware by running efficient OS’es
Can’t find a practical use for one. Obviously there is a demand but what are they used for?
for what’s inside the box, that’s way too expensive. youo ca get a fully featured powerful dell laptop for that much these days.
But you can’t run RISC OS. You have to realise that power is subjective to what you want, are used to and what your OS uses. RISC OS is fast and efficient and requires a relatively low spec machine. Imagine trying to get a machine like this produced yourself, it’s not easy at all. And it uses only 3W of power.
When will somebody make a laptop out of this…
I’d love a box like that but running Windows XP. It could replace my noisy Netfinity server running 24/7.
Why would you use that for? :s
Running XP on such a system beats logical sense…
For eMule/Torrent/FTP serving.
Well, you could always buy a cheap campaign PC, and run a standard OS on it.
But with a machine like this at this price, you probably ought to use a RISC OS solution for server related tasks. That would probably also mean more fun for you
I could always buy a cheap PC but in the end it would take up room and be noisy. I want small and out of the way.
RISC OS is not for the average joe. I have no interest in it.
Buy a mini-ITX pc from VIA.
Wonder how you would run WinXP on a “A9 Home” machine, though…
All Mini-ITX boards are junk. Most of what VIA makes is junk.
Some version of WinXP embedded.
VIA rocks. Bringing down the power consumption and helping Linux/UNIX on VIA is good. It is not junk, it is a vision. Junk is only XP
LOL.
Not all mini ITX boards are junk.
The VIA CPUs aren’t fast, but that doesn’t mean they’re junk.
Why would you use an embedded version of XP as a server? And how do you expect embedded XP to run on an A9?
If all you want is a server, go look for FreeBSD since we’re talking FTP-server and such.
NO.
I want a server that is small and doesn’t consume much. That little box is almost perfect.
Yup yup. I get that part. But why use XP even in embedded form?
But I agree, that running a sort of server using such a system could be quite thrilling
Because XP runs all the software that I need. At this moment I couldn’t even replace it with a Mac Mini. Reason: missing software.
If you just need a webserver, XP is overkill. Besides that, I don’t think you can get XP Pro Embedded to run on A9 Home
But the idea of using such a small machine (equipped with a lightweight OS) as a webserver is quite interesting. But performancewise I’d stick with an OS built to be easily modified as small as you’d like it.
>>I’m very interested in buying an XScale based motherboard and build a slim computer to run NetBSD on it. It has to be a relatively modern device with USB and PCI-e if possible, and will eventually be a desktop computer. What are my options?
I use this: http://www1.linksys.com/products/product.asp?prid=640&scid=43
with this: http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/Unslung/HomePage
and this: http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10468
Works fine, as a personal 24/7 server. No fan, no screws.
I see they have a Samsung ARM9 processor; now I understand that the XScale actually drops a number of features for the sake of costs; with the Samsung, does it include a reasonable FPU or is it still rather enemic?
Anyone notice how ‘Linux Is Poo’ hasn’t posted on this?
Clue: No scope for an attention seeking troll to perform.
I thought he’d leap at the chance, an OS he knows nothing about! Why God, that’s heaven!
Linux is poo…
Nah, joke
ARM9 with FPU? I don’t think so…
Hasn’t Apple already integrated all those plus DVD, remote and everything you may need plus elegant design,greater speed,greater software in Imac’s and less or more I guess they cost similiar. Why would anyone consider paying more to get something heavier, slower and less functional? Isn’t against the market rules?
You’d be referring to the Mac Mini, I venture to guess, yes?
This thing begs for a laptop version! Think… 3W… or less. Perhaps it would even be possible to make the LCD screen an option and sell headless units for less as a marketing trick (it would also be practical in schools and at home). Hell it looks like I could stuff it in my keyboard as is
I thought he’d leap at the chance, an OS he knows nothing about! Why God, that’s heaven!
What puzzles me is why modern OS and applications are so fat and slow. I’d like them to strip out the JPEG’s of their holiday snaps and stray loops, or whatever they pack in there, and make things a little more lean and mean, like it used to be. Windows, Linux, and OS/X seem to throw the kitchen sink in and run like dogs. The only OS that comes close to how I imagine things should be is BeOS, and Yellowtab are doing a good job of messing that up with Zeta, and that’s another reason why I strongly support the Haiku effort and philosophy.
I agree. Everyone should donate to the Haiku project.
People, this box runs RISC OS 4.4x – which was specifically developed for this microcomputer, the A9.
What the Inquirer article says is true – it runs rings around WindowsXP and Mac OS X boxes of GHz speeds. Sure, it can hardly play a DVD, but wouldn’t you have a stand-alone DVD player for that anyway? This box boots up in a few seconds – literally. It can browse the web using Firefox. It can decently e-mail, chat, edit photos over your USB connection. It is damn easy to use. Installing a program involves literally dragging an prog icon from the ZIP archive into a directory display. Done – takes about 5 sec. The OS resides in ROM, so you know it can’t be messed up. Before dismissing it, please check out RISC OS properly and you’ll realise where stuff like the Task Bar, properly integrated drag&drop, etc. originated.
True, it is expensive compared to other mass-produced systems which have features not needed by many people. However it is unique in its power requirements / consumption, speed, efficiency, quietness (NO FANS!), smallness and ease of use.
Hmmm, RISCOS and AMIGA OS… These are all very niche operating systems and people are still raving about them even now. I am not saying they are poor, far from it but without a very large application base they will appeal to no one other than the hobbist with a little too much money to spend. Nice idea but i doubt i will ever encounter one.
Why does one need “a very large application base” to appeal to someone other than the rich hobbiest ?
With the A9home, people can do most of the things they can realistically expect from such a computer. They can use this computer easier and faster then they are propably used to – e-mail, browse, chat, print, scan, connect, transfer, etc. Why does RISC OS need e.g. 20 e-mail clients, when there are 2 very good ones already there? Why do need 50 text-editors, when there are 2 absolutely brilliant ones already [StrongED & Zap] ? And so on and on. This computer is unusually small, as quiet as quiet can get, energy efficient, very portable, very very fast in application use and designed with a particular purpose in mind.
As long as we keep repeating that something hasn’t enough “re-invented wheels” available for it, how can a (small) alternative ever offer something other than what the monolithic, big corporate giants offer? Thanks to the Open Source effort and the UPP, also RISC OS enjoys more and more software diversity.
As long as we keep repeating that something hasn’t enough “re-invented wheels” available for it, how can a (small) alternative ever offer something other than what the monolithic, big corporate giants offer? Thanks to the Open Source effort and the UPP, also RISC OS enjoys more and more software diversity.
I agree, the number of applications argument is nonsense, but it’s related to whether a platform will be supported by developers who’re more concerned about lining their own pockets than serving customers needs. Not to put too fine a point on it, the world has an oversupply of IT staff. If stuff was designed right, coded right, and documented right, you could kiss 90% of those jobs bye-bye. Wouldn’t be a bad thing, probably.
Some good points made here in the boxens favor but in all fairness those could be said for a virgin web player too and it sold for 300+ pounds less. If you are not a huge risc/os fan, (and there’s nothing wrong with that), this device will have little interest to you.
Besides that, I don’t think you can get XP Pro Embedded to run on A9 Home
No, the A9home is based around a Samsung ARM9 CPU clocked at 400 MHz. AFAIK only Windows CE/Mobile can run natively on ARM. The reason RISC OS runs so fast on this hardware, is simply because RISC OS and ARM were designed for eachother by Acorn almost 20 years ago.
But the idea of using such a small machine (equipped with a lightweight OS) as a webserver is quite interesting. But performancewise I’d stick with an OS built to be easily modified as small as you’d like it.
RISC OS is a modular OS and can easily be customized to fit a particular need. By itself it already is very lightweight – it is fully contained in about 4MB of ROM chips. It is an efficient OS, which is astounding in its completeness, seeing its size. Due to its size and being written in ARM assembler it runs at blazing speed.