Category: Laptops

Trim-Slice, compact Tegra2 Desktop, now released for $199

Posted by Charbax – May 1, 2011

Here’s a powerful super compact Nvidia Tegra2 ARM Cortex-A9 Dual-core 1Ghz based Desktop box, for now seems to run something like Ubuntu 11.4 (ARM netbook edition?), but the software support is a process that is a work-in-progress. Their pricing starts at $199 for the basic model, I will try to get a review unit, what do you think about this type of compact ARM Powered desktop?

Haifa, Israel – 30-Apr-2011 – CompuLab is announcing immediate availability of the NVIDIA Tegra 2 based Trim-Slice miniature computer.

Trim-Slice is offered in 3 configurations -

Trim-Slice Barebone – with 1 GHz Tegra 2, 1 GB RAM, HDMI port, Gigabit Ethernet, 4 USB ports, 2 SD slots and RS232 serial port. Trim-Slice Barebone MSRP is $199.

Trim-Slice Value – adds a 4 GB micro-SD card with Linux pre-installed and a USB 802.11n WiFi adapter. Trim-Slice Value MSRP is $219.

Trim-Slice Pro – with 1 GHz Tegra 2, 1 GB RAM, 32 GB SSD with Linux pre-installed, HDMI and DVI ports, Gigabit Ethernet, built-in 802.11n WiFi, 4 USB ports, 2 SD slots, RS232 serial port and a USB Bluetooth adapter. Trim-Slice Pro MSRP is $319.

OEMs and system-integrators can order Trim-Slice in volume with customization of feature set, branding and case finish.

Trim-Slice currently runs Linux and is supported in the mainline kernel revision 2.6.39. Support for other operating-systems is work-in-progress. “We design Trim-Slice with SW developers in mind” said Irad Stavi, Director of Business Development at CompuLab. “Developers that are looking for an open cost-effective high-performance ARM platform are likely to find Trim-Slice an attractive and unique solution that is very convenient for SW development.”

Source: http://trimslice.com/web/pr-11043

Shenzhen Hongda Technology manufactures $260 14″ Intel Atom laptop

Posted by Charbax – April 22, 2011

Another look into the factory of Shenzhen Hongda Technology (see Shenzhen Behind the Scenes 1: Hongda Factory tour) where they manufacture for example this $260 14″ Intel Atom powered laptop.

Shenzhen Bly Electronics shows $60 VIA Wondermedia based laptops

Posted by Charbax – April 20, 2011

First seen a bit over a year ago such as in this video, the VIA ARM9 Wondermedia SoC and software solution is one of the platforms that makes it easy to make cheap laptops and tablets. Chrome OS software or Honeycomb seems to be needed for this type of $60 ARM Powered laptop solution to start to become viable solution. But probably also that faster processor with more RAM is also needed for full speed web browsing performance.

Malata PC-B1002, Malata PC-B1301, Tegra2 Laptops

Posted by Charbax – April 16, 2011

Malata announces new ARM Powered Laptops at HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair. They are not ready to show working prototypes of them yet. There is a 10″ similar to Toshiba AC-100, but also a 13.3″ ARM Powered Laptop! In my opinion, it’s important software for ARM Powered Laptops gets ready also for these products to be commercially viable. Honeycomb might do the trick, with slight Laptop-oriented optimizations and its awesome new large screen optimized multi-tab web browser, but Chrome OS for ARM may be even better for this type of product.

Rockchip RK2918 powered Laptop

Posted by Charbax – April 16, 2011

OK this is cool. Put a Rockchip RK2918 in a laptop, add Honeycomb or Chrome OS on ARM, and you’ve got possibly one of the most affordable ARM Powered laptops right there.

Wabook does $60 Android 10″ Laptop (Wondermedia)

Posted by Charbax – April 16, 2011

Some of those cheap ARM Powered laptops, but still ARM11 based.

Shenzhen Behind the Scenes 1: Hongda Factory tour

Posted by Charbax – April 12, 2011

See how Intel Atom netbooks are being manufactured in a small sized factory in Shenzhen. They also sometimes manufacture Android tablets, it depends what there is demand for, usually they manufacture one thing during each day. What I heard from someone, is that their salary may be around $300 per month working like this 6 days a week. And that the Government some times passes regulation to increase salaries of the workers. It is interesting to consider that relatively small factories can be setup to assemble consumer electronics products, I wonder how those compete with the gigantic Chinese consumer electronics factories.

Also watch my other videos in my series “Shenzhen Behind the Scenes“:
1: Hongda Factory tour
2: utopiacn, Apad Android Tablet maker
3: Richtechie.com, Freescale i.MX51/53 PCB designer
4: Walking around the Shenzhen smartphone market
5: 3Gnet Factory Tour

Linaro to establish leadership in embedded software accross all ARM chips

Posted by Charbax – March 27, 2011

Linaro was established last year, and they are making rapid progress in bringing up Linux on ARM, the goal being to solve fragmentation, to catch up with Intel’s x86 through consolidation and development of common ARM Linux code. Linaro’s ultimate goal is to establish leadership in core technology open source innovation on ARM member SoCs. Linaro wants to accelerate time to market. Not just catch up with Intel, Linaro’s goal is absolute leadership.

Here’s a 27 minute video update from Linaro CEO George Grey about the plans that they have got for this year, as they expect 2011 to be a huge year for Linaro, their software is rapidly making it possible to have fully optimized ARM powered Linux laptops and desktops released to the market this year. Basically, Linaro is a company build out of the ARM industry collaborating to bring to market ARM Powered Chrome OS laptops, ARM Powered Ubuntu Laptops, even for all of the Android and Meego stuff.

This video was posted last month on the LinaroOrg YouTube channel.

Linaro has grown to over 80 engineers in the first 6 months. They are still adding engineering talent every month. At launch it was stated that the company would grow to a little under 100 engineers. You can find more information at http://linaro.org. What do you think Linaro should do to make it easier for companies to build ARM based Linux products? You can post your info and ideas in the comments.

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Trim Slice Tegra2 ARM Cortex-A9 Dual-core Desktop!

Posted by Charbax – March 3, 2011

Compulab is showing this Tegra2 desktop for the first time at a trade show, it’s a full ARM Powered desktop computer based on the Nvidia Tegra2 processor. Has 2 HDMI outputs, one for full HDMI video, one for a secondary display, Gigabit Ethernet, 4 USB hosts, stereo audio output, audio in, SPDIF output, 12V power connector, connector for wireless antenna for WiFi and Bluetooth, SD slot, RF232 Serial Port, Micro-USB slave. They also have a slightly bigger version that can slot in a 2.5″ Sata hard drive. 1GB RAM, it also has an internal Micro-SD slot to store the OS. So if you want to upgrade or change the OS, just change the MicroSD card and reboot. It also ships with 32GB Flash storage. They are launching this with Ubuntu 10.10 and they will add support for Honeycomb by launch. Availability is June, the price is targeted at below $200 in bulk (can be re-branded as ODM) and to be about $250 at retail. You can find more information and follow the latest official news about it at http://trimslice.com

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Beagleboard xM 1Ghz ARM Cortex-A8, 6 Ångström Linux desktops synchronized

Posted by Charbax – March 3, 2011

This is how one can create a mega display wall, combining several displays. The mouse is synchronized accross 6 ARM Powered ubuntu desktops through synergy, and a ffmpeg synchronization app makes it possible to combine them into a video wall.