[Arm-netbook] ATX motherboard

[Gordan Bobic]

I think Solidrun Cubox ticks most of the boxes, apart from a *TX form 
factor (it's a 2" cube).

Gordan

On 10/17/2012 01:32 PM, Alexey Eromenko wrote:
> OK, let me write it down:
>
> What product is the ultimate for the ARM PC market ?
>
> 1. Neo-ITX form factor (like VIA APC)
> Neo-ITX is great, because it allows to construct mini-PC (like Mac
> Mini) as well as full PC tower.
> 2. ARM SoC (Allwinner A10?) with 1080p 2D output and hardware video decoders
> 3. GNU/Linux and Android drivers for it
> (network/audio/2D/3D/hardware video decoder/WiFi/...)
> ...your company will have to develop&  test them. (or ask the SoC vendor...)
> 3.a. preferably Open-Source drivers, but closed-source binary-only
> drivers are better than no driver (for "nice-to-have" features, like the 3D GPU)
> 4. external Ports:
> 4.a. Ethernet (like VIA APC)
> 4.b. 4x USB (like VIA APC)
> 4.c. DVI or VGA (like VIA APC)
> 4.d. HDMI (like MK802 and VIA APC)
> 4.e. power supply (like VIA APC; so it could power all 4 USB devices
> connected to it)
> 4.f. MicroSD or Full SD slot for storage (like VIA APC)
> 4.g. Audio ports: analog output (head-phones) and analog input
> (micro-phone) (like VIA APC; for VoIP)
> 5. internal ports: (upgrade-ability)
> 5. SATA 1 or 2 ports (like traditional PC)
> 6. RAM: 1 GB on-board required for basic Linux desktop. Having more is better.
> (RAM slot is a huge bonus; Alternative: is to use upgradeble CPU+RAM
> module, like this project does)
> 7. Flash: at least 16 GB on-board storage (so that dual-boot image can
> live on it)
> 8. WiFi chip + antenna on-board (like MK802)
> 9. Slim design (optional; up to 2cm max. height) (unlike VIA APC,
> which is too high, so it limits non-PC use-cases, such as mounting on
> the back of an LCD monitor. Slim design could result in a mono-block
> PC, product like Apple iMac)
> 10. Dual-boot image: Android 4.x (with Google Play) + GNU/Linux OS (with KDE),
> Debian or Kubuntu (so users could choose which one to boot from).
> Advanced users could format the extra space (from 2nd OS) to use with
> one OS, but new users
> should see both operating systems on boot menu. It is a form of
> hedging your bets.
>
> Such an ARM PC, if priced under $100, could make a killing.
> This machine will target 2 communities: Android buyers and GNU/Linux
> buyers. Much easier to sell.
>
> Why ?
> The VIA-APC as a concept is GREAT. But it falls short in many details.
>
> Let's analyze the VIA APC for a bit:
>
> has ARM11, 800 MHz (VIA wondermedia 8750 SoC)
> 512 MB of RAM
> 2 GB of internal flash
> ports:
> VGA (good) (converters VGA->DVI are much cheaper than HDMI->DVI)
> 4x USB (very good, no need for USB hub for most people)
> neo-ITX form factor (good, as it can be mounted into existing small
> mini-ATX&  ITX cases with it's holes)
> HDMI (for modern TV users)
> Power supply (no need for USB powered hub)
> Analog audio output + input (great idea for VoIP; no need to buy USB audio card)
>
> Best point:
> In short : the PC-like external I/O ports are very strong part in this
> design, along with Neo-ITX form factor.
>
> Problems in VIA APC $49 design:
> 1. Android OS (v2.3, it is touch-oriented, very hard to work with
> mouse + keyboard)
> Fix: needs Linux: Ubuntu-LTS or Debian-stable.
> Video drivers are only for Android, not for Linux.
> Without hardware video decoder drivers for Linux, the machine cannot
> be used for HD video.
> As for Android machine - VIA lacks Google Play Market.
> Without Google Play, it is difficult to get Android applications,
> which will scare off users.
> Recommended fix: ship with dual-boot OS (Android and Linux,
> [Debian-or-Ubuntu]), so users can choose at boot-time. Android image
> must have Google Play.
> 2. RAM 512 MB: not enough to power full Linux/KDE desktop.
> It will constantly swap. (for instance a fresh install of Debian 6.0
> x86 with KDE takes ~700 MB RAM before starting any apps)
> Fix: boards needs at least 1 GB RAM
> 2.a.  +RAM slot for DDR3 SDRAM module. (optional, for future upgrades, PC-like)
> Fix: RAM slot is a very good idea for neo-ITX sized platform. (in
> addition to 1GB on-board RAM)
> *if RAM slot is impossible, then put 1 or 2GB RAM on-board.
> 3. Storage: internal flash 2 GB is enough for Android, but not enough
> for Linux/KDE. 8 GB is minimum.
> Fix: put 8 GB or 16 GB flash on-board
> 4. 2D: 720p is full stop.>80% of PC monitors selling today are 1080p.
> Running them in 720p (1280x720) degrades text quality, so the machine cannot be
> used for text.
> Fix: use display controller and SoC capable of 1080p 2D output.
> 5. no SATA port: cannot use internal SATA HDD for extra storage and
> cannot use DVD drive.
> Fix: put 1 or 2 SATA ports on board.
> 6. (optional) no WiFi: about 50% of users do need WiFi. Surely it can
> be added on USB, but if it is inexpensive (under $8 for chip+antenna), it
> would be nice to integrate on-board.
> Using USB WiFi is inelegant and may create problems with drivers not
> matching Linux.
> 7. overall: the VIA 8750 SoC chip is a crap. (ARMv6, soft-float, and
> all of above)
>
> I hope my analysis was informative for you !