[Arm-netbook] First impressions

[Luke Kenneth Casson Leighton]

On Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 8:21 PM, JLB <j at twu.net> wrote:
> Should it, in theory, be possible to plunk a standard Mini-PCIe SSD in
> that open slot? e.g.
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820183252

 yes, but don't expect it to work.

 you see the word "PATA" on there?  that means it needs the actual
PCI-e bus to be connected.  there is a special interest group
"sub-spec" of PCI-e which specifies that a USB2 bus be put onto some
of the 52 pins of the PCI-e connector.  quite often, esp. in these ARM
netbooks, that's the *only* thing that's connected.   a PCI-e PHY chip
is _expensive_.

so, check the ICs.

 which reminds me: jon, can you get some hi-res close-up photos,
straight-on, above the PCB, sufficient to identify the chips used?  no
flash, because it'll reflect off the ICs.

l.