[wplug] Atmel Linux Devel Board for $70

[Tim Lesher]

On 3/30/07, Zach <netrek at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 3/29/07, DK <curlynoodle at gmail.com> wrote:
> > http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2837651365.html
> >
> > Just thought I'd share.
>
> Looks neat. How could I use this? Could it be used as a Linux router
> for a home-based LAN connected to outside world by broadband?

That's probably the most likely and easy-to-do use.

> As an
> MP3 jukebox (mentioned it can play MP3s)?

Meh... you _could_, but it's not terribly optimal for that: no mass
storage interface other than MMC and SD.  Don't plan to run too much
on it either with only 32MB of SDRAM.  Again, this is a dev kit for
people who intend to use Atmel parts to build network devices.

> What type of form factor
> case would I need, what sort of power supply, etc.. to use it.

The mechanicals are available from the Atmel site, but it looks like
(as with most dev kits)  it's not really a standard form factor.  Then
again most people who need to acquire dev kits don't tend to care
about that--you don't typically use the dev kit itself in a finished
product. :-)

> I guess
> with the USB port I could plugin a USB keyboard and it said it
> supports LCD monitor but I don't see a port for the graphics?

Most network devices don't need graphics hardware.  Again, this is a
network device dev kit, not a GP system kit.

> This is
> like a motherboard, video card, audio card, RAM and CPU all rolled
> into one eh? Can you hook up a regular hard disk to it I wonder for
> more storage?

It sounds like what you really want is one of the VIA *-ITX boards: a
fairly-standardized system with decent built-in graphics,
widely-supported mechanicals, standard power supply, standard memory
interface, built-in mass storage controllers, etc.  Plus a thousand
and one suppliers who would love to sell you compatible accessories.

All in all, a kit like that is much more hobbyist-friendly than a CPU
vendor's dev board.
-- 
Tim Lesher <tlesher at gmail.com>