[Arm-netbook] Freescale iMX53 Quick Start board

[Luke Kenneth Casson Leighton]

On Sat, Aug 6, 2011 at 1:35 PM, David Given <dg at cowlark.com> wrote:

> Are there any decent-looking Cortex A9 boards out or upcoming which
> support ethernet and SATA? So far I've found:
>
> PandaBoard --- $180, ethernet, no SATA.
>
> Samsung Origen --- $250, no ethernet, no SATA.
>
> Igloo Snowball --- $209, ethernet, no SATA (but other than that a very
> nice looking device).
>
> Trimslice --- $199, ethernet, may have SATA (they mention it a lot but
> it's unclear whether there's an actual socket or not). Comes in a box!
>
> Anything else worth investigating?

 ok... yes, i can ask.

 question (for everyone): if there existed a board which used a
single-core 800mhz Cortex A9, maximum hard limit of 512mb RAM, but
also had SATA-II and 10/100 Ethernet, would it be of interest, and how
much would you pay for it?  similar spec / design / size / interfaces
as the pandaboard, origen etc. just with a single-core Cortex A9
rather than dual-core.

 the CPU i have in mind is the AML-8726-M (which is fantastic but is
hardware-limited to 512mb RAM) and i am in contact with an ODM/OEM
whom i believe i could persuade to create such a board if there is
sufficient interest in purchasing it.  i've already explained to them
that there are benefits to them i.e. Free Software Developers en-masse
writing software based around the board etc. etc.

 btw when responding please don't take the piss on a price you'd be
happy to pay!  apart from anything it has to be enough to encourage
them to go ahead with the board.  the beagleboard price (A8, 720mhz,
512mb) is a fair guide.  unlike x86 systems the CPU isn't the major
component cost with these embedded boards.

 l.