Gumstix offers a line of tiny single-board computers that are roughly the size of a stick of gum… hence the name. The tiny computers can run Linux software or Windows CE, which means you can use them as the basis for all sorts of applications, ranging from low power servers to helmet-mounted displays for a solar car or even smartphones.
The company’s products have always been relatively inexpensive, but now Gumstix has launched its cheapest product to date, the Overo Sand COM. It’s a computer-on-a-stick with a 600 MHz TI OMAP 3503 ARM Cortex-A8 CPU and 256MB of RAM. A single unit costs $115, although you can drop the price down to $99 if you order a thousand units or more.
There’s no on-board storage, which is one of the compromises Gumstix made to keep the price low. Instead you can add storage using the microSD card. The Overo Sand COM measures just 2.3″ x 0.7″ x 0.16″.
Out of the box you don’t get a camera, WiFi, Ethernet, or other advanced functionality, but Gumstix does offer expansion boards with those features.
via Linux For Devices, thanks aftermath!
I used the Gumstix in School for a project and they work well and you can snap different modules on to the main board (CPU) for more ports (Serial, USB, Audio, Networking). Â The only down side is the price if you start adding modules.