What is Digg?37 Comments
- trogdoor, on 10/12/2007, -2/+17"Key PIC hardware target specs, according to AMD, include:
* Processor subsystem -- AMD Geode GX processor, with CS5535 companion device
* Memory -- 128 MB DDR SDRAM
* Hard drive -- internal 10 GB 3.5-inch drive
* Display interface -- VGA 1600 x 1200 resolution, at 85 Hz
* LAN interface -- 10/100 Mbps Ethernet
* Four USB 1.1 ports (2 front, 2 rear)
* Modem -- internal 56 Kbps ITU v.92 Fax/Modem
* Sound -- AC'97 audio with stereo in/out jacks
* Size -- 8.5 x 5.5 x 2.5 inches
* Weight -- approx. 3 pounds "
I have run Linux, in fact even Ubuntu on MUCH lesser hardware. They are even using Gnome for heavens sake! Slap some Xfce or fluxbox on it and that puppy will scream. - Phocion55, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8@celeron: Did you just join digg yesteday?
- Hhhhhthealien, on 10/12/2007, -5/+12@TOTALineptitude
Good nick. It serves you well. - bikeham, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8I hereby object to the use of PIC, which is almost universally known as Programmable Interrupt Controller. And you guys call yourselves nerds.. Pffft!
Now don't get me started on people that use mhz instead of MHz. - motang, on 10/12/2007, -5/+10That is pretty cool.
- DaffyDuck, on 10/12/2007, -6/+9I hereby object to the use of PIC, which is almost universally known as the shortened form of the word "picture", as an acronym for something else.
Now, time to go have a beer. - StammesOpfer, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6Thats because it is the latest fad but in defense it is the best one I have used so far in my less than exhaustive testing of different distros it is the first one that I feel comfortable enough to actually use as a replacement to windows for everyday computing though I still find myself booting into windows out of habit
- bikeham, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6I'd love to see Ubuntu running on a Programmable Interrupt Controller.
- MikeCerm, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4The best spec that the article forgot to mention is that it runs on less than 10 watts. With a USB hard-drive, it makes for a great low-power NAS, torrent-downloader, or general always-on machine. For the ~$200 price, you can get a lot more power from a older desktop, but you certainly can't beat the size and the low-power requirements.
I haven't been able to find them on sale anywhere. I remember that RadioShack used to sell them, but doesn't anymore. - LeDopore, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2USB 1.1, that has to be *painful* if you're trying to boot Linux using a 500 MB thumb drive. How long would that take?
Also, @ MikeCerm, you might want to wait for a USB 2.0 version before plugging in hard drives and pretending it's a file server :) - dhughes, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4@bikeham I thought microcontroller too when I saw "PIC".
- karolisl, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2So running Linux nowadays on such PC is such a miracle that it has to appear on front pages?
It runs non-stripped version of Ubuntu, with fully blown GNOME desktop, from a 512 pendrive...
If they would have installed something like Puppy Linux or DamnSmallLinux or a stripped Slackware, it would fly... And/Or, it would work a lot faster with something like ICEWM, XFCE or fluxbox.
I don't understand the point of running Ubuntu everywhere. Sure, it's the most popular/latest and greatest, but what's the point of running it on everything? - cmiz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2With a 3.5" hard drive and enough power to run a decent linux distro, I can think of a lot of different uses for this thing with little effort.
- r0Ot3d, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1*yawns*
So what.
Slackware and a 486DX, I'll bet it runs faster that the PIC with the POS *buntu. - setdosa, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Title should probaby say AMD's Low cost PIC boots using edubuntu instead. The title makes it look like AMD threw edubuntu out.
- notkevinrose, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2I'm all for supplying these computers to the 3rd world but it makes you think though, are they just training a new bunch of 3rd world software developers to outsource to?...
- Odweaver, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3Forget Edubuntu, lets get some Nubuntu on it. It would be a neat little gizmo to have.
- williamdyer, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4Nokia has open sourced the Maemo desktop from the 770. With just a wee bit of cleverness, this is more than enough hardware to run a nice Linux.
- EdThomson, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1You are all for supplying computers/software that are probably outsourced (not made in the country they are being supplied to), but against them making software for other countries. Is that not a bit hippocritical?
- HsoKinees, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1hmm.. if there's going for low-wattage.. why does it use a standard size hdd rather than a smaller laptop-sized hdd? don't they consume less power? (this is a question.. i'm not entirely sure if what i've learnt is correct or not
- dhughes, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1 It's called helping people less fortunate than you, you don't ask what's in it for you before you give.
- unitedkronos, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I've been planning to build a fanless PC system to run 24/7 as a download hub for a few months now, and the PIC would be perfect for my needs, but I can't seem to find anywhere to buy it from, either online and/or in the UK. It's a shame this part of the market isn't filled with anything solid.
- KCorax, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2XFCE ok, it's a fine graphical interface based on gtk, same as gnome
but fluxbox ? It makes my eyes sore - morelius, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1My dad used to have the PIC and it sucks so much that I had to replace it for a full featured PC running Freespire. I'd love to play with the PIC and install Puppylinux on it.
- CiRu5, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3I hereby object to the use of PIC, which is almost universally known as my favorite type of microcontroller :p
- repruhsent, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1The worst part is that the Ubuntu fanbois will digg you down in droves because you didn't say "zOMG UBUNTU RAWKS LOL."
- repruhsent, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Have you people ever thought that just because you CAN do something doesn't mean that you should? You OLPC people are going to ruin those kids' perception of computing; they won't realize that you CAN do something with a computer other than set it up in perpetuum and recompile software if you stick Ubuntu on it.
- DonPMitchell, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1Hehe, you gave him Freespire? That's lame even by Linux standards.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1***** you all.
- theWrkncacnter, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1The PIC looks pretty underpowered - how inexpensive is it anyway?
It'll probably be great if the software is lightweight and high performance. - jtryba, on 10/12/2007, -4/+0and since CompE nerds = CS nerds + EE nerds, they get to be on top of the nerd pile.
The heirarchy is almost complete! - Celeron, on 10/12/2007, -11/+7*buntu seems to be the latest hype for operating systems these days.
- radu79, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1Yeah, it's pretty cool, but they have no link where you cna buy one?
- Hhhhhthealien, on 10/12/2007, -7/+0Dude, just drop it, you're not funny. I know you just loved your petty joke to death, and you swear it is r0x0rz-sharp, but a good joke is supposed to make others laugh, not just yourself.
CS nerds > EE nerds. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -15/+2@HHhhhththealien
I'd say the same thing about your nick if I knew what the hell it meant and if it didn't suck. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -23/+4Good job. It must feel great submitting the first comment. You obviously put a lot of time & research into it.
Digg is coming to a city (and computer) near you! Check out all the details on our 
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is