ARMLinux-based diskless notebook costs under $300
A British Columbia-based startup called InkMedia announced an under-$300 notebook that runs embedded Linux. Based on a Freescale i.MX31 processor, the Ink Mobile Computer (Ink MC) depends entirely on flash-based storage and offers an 8.6-inch SVGA display, four USB slots, Ethernet, and WiFi.
Thanks in large part to the diskless design and the energy-sipping Freescale i.MX31 system-on-chip (SoC), the Ink MC boasts a battery life of five to eight hours and is said to be able to run off of a 12V car battery or solar generator. The i.MX31 is a mobile applications processor that mainly targets small handheld devices like portable media players and smartphones, Internet tablets, and automotive computers, as well as the occasional digital picture frame. Based on Freescale's implementation of the ARMv6 instruction set, the i.MX31 clocks from 532MHz to 665MHz, but rivals faster chips thanks to an advanced crossbar switch, Freescale claims.
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Very confusing - TuxMachines summary says it's an ARM i.MX31
but when you click through to the LinuxDevices.com write-up it says it's a VIA C7-M ULV processor.
re: confusing
hmm, they changed/updated it.
Iphone runs ARM 667 mhz at 412 mhz ? Laptop uses Via C7 ?
Iphone will soon move to 800 mhz ARM risc cpu; until then ARM will be run at 533 mhz from 412(heat reduction consideration) using software upgrade. ARM cpus are fine tuned for embedded applications(realtime). Via has predictive branching of i686 feature in 21 stages; virtualization core is not used for thread manipulation yet, for now wasted on security issues. But Via lack cache memory and is generally only 2/3 speed of Intel equivalent cpus. Both suffering lack of power, had to claim to be low powered cpu.
We are of course waiting for Intel atom cpus with proper sorting/binning software to provide a much better power/performance ratio. This will be done by ultra low core voltage and highest FSB frequencies(pll ratio 1 to 1, zero wait state speed up), with virtualization on controlling threads per core.
For ARM cpu, the software has to be packet format conversion for task switching data transfer speed. Data calculation is too slow compared with table(chart) reading of search engines, video/audio presentation only. Operating system will change as computers are made for info reading only.
Cellphone design will change vastly in the next ten years.
It's a grown up Chumbly
Same Freescale ARM as Chumbly.
So why can't I make a laptop out of a chumbly.
Doesn't have enough ram and Flash on board. Other than that.........
Hasta Le Vista Baby!