[ILUG] FreePad

[Fergal Daly]

To make this sort of thing really useful (for me anyway) I want a dinky 
little server, like a netwinder, that I could leave on 24/7, checking my 
mail at regular intervals and providing the storage space that this yoke is 
lacking. Then I'd just use the free pad as a portable X terminal. It'd mean 
I'd only have to turn on my big computer and monitor when I wanted to do 
some coding or play a game.

One of the obstacles to this is that netwinders are very expensive. What 
other options are there along the same line? I'd want something with a 
fairly low power consumption, and as quiet as possible, so no fans. I 
suppose I could get a newish x86 processor and underclock it (or possibly 
an old PPC, they run quite cool - no need to underclock), add one of those 
new slower-but-quieter hard disks, try find a fanless power supply and 
stick them all in a box together.

That sounds like a bit of a pain, is there an easier off the shelf answer?

Fergal

At 22:41 02/09/00, you wrote:
>Neat computer from Norway:
>http://www.zdnet.com/enterprise/stories/main/0,10228,2621404,00.html
>
>Brief list of features:
>- Touch screen for input, USB keyboard and mouse may be attached
>(Screen is 10.4" or 12.1" at 800x600)
>- Uses their (Screen Media's) own modification of Linux 2.2.14
>- Wireless networking
>- Real darn thin (2cm with standard battery)
>- User-interface optimised for the appliance
>- Most important of all: They *want* people to make software for it!
>- Boot speed: Six seconds. Design goal: 1 second :)
>
>Gosh knows what use it is to most people, but I'll buy one if
>I'm back in Norway around the time it hits the shops :)