Linutop has launched a new mini-desktop computer which uses less than 14 watts, runs Ubuntu Linux, and is sadly barely any better than the model the company launched two and a half years ago.
The Linutop 5 is kind of cool by virtue of being a low-power, fanless computer ships with Linux. But while the new model has twice the RAM and storage of the Linutop 5, it has the same outdated Intel Atom N270 processor as its predecessor.
To put that in perspective, the Intel Atom N270 chip was released in 2008 and designed for netbooks.
Other Linutop 5 specs include 2GB of RAM, 4GB of flash storage, 4 USB 2.0 ports, 2 SATA connectors, a PCIe slot, a 2.5 inch hard drive bay, Ethernet, VGA and DVI output. The system measures 6″ x 3.1″ x 1.4″ and weighs about 1.3 pounds.
Linutop is selling the new system for 390 Euros, which comes to about $530 US. That’s a little cheaper than the Linutop 4 from 2011, but if you’re looking for a cheap Linux mini-desktop, you might be better off with something like a refurbished Acer Veriton system — which you can pick up for less than $200.
via Fanless Tech
Atom N270 means a front side bus of only 533mhz, limit of 2gb DDR2 memory, a 32 bit OS only, no vitrualization technology and no integrated on chip graphic. I doubt if it even supports a PAE kernel. There is not really an upgrade path for this computer. I’d consider it if it had a more modern AMD E-350 dual core processor and 4gb of DDR3 memory. At least it’s fanless. But at this price? No thanks!
‘2The smallest Linutop PC. Best for light computing use.’ – what it says about Linutop 2. https://www.linutop.com/linutop2.en.html It is 280 Euros / 382.51 USDollars. ‘Software : Firefox 15, Libre Office3.5, VLC 2’ – software it has. It seems it could be used in small office where light computing is needed.
With all due respect, I think you guys are really ignoring what this product is.
If you go to Linutops’ website, the animated graphic banner balzoned on the homepage clearly states that the Linutop is for- and I quote- “internet kiosk [sic], online digital signage, monitoring”.
In fact, every product on the site is stamped with that. This is not a PC for home consumer use, nor it is intended to be, nor is it marketed as such. Comparing it to a consumer netbook seems to me to be comparing apples and oranges.
The question then should be what is the market price for digital signage computers of similar specs? If the market is substantially lower in price, then I’d say the criticisms are valid.
But Chris my respectable friend, that’s not the only point ; the processor which they use inside their system is inadequate and pathetic, you might as well get a raspberry which is a way cheaper, and if you’re using it for a internet-kiosk then the raspberry pie is more than enough, if you’ire gonna pay 350 (close to uk pound) smacka-roons for a machine then you should get a descent proccesor, if you pay 150 quid for a google nexus tab then you’ll get a much better more processor and just as much ram, their custom-operating system is a joke as well because it’s just xubuntu with a new lick of paint and they charge 70 euros (OMG), you could get two copies of OSX for that money or a raspberry pie, they’re just a shambles company over-pricing things.
I’d respect this argument much more if you knew it was a Raspberry Pi, or if you’d suggested the BeagleBone Black instead.
This is way too much to ask for those specs. I could pick up a used Lenovo ThinkCentre desktop with way better specs for around $300, complete with a DVD drive and Windows as well
Thanks for your article Brad. I really wanted to support them too, but this great idea is disappointingly executed.
The N270 was barely acceptable for browsing the Internet of 2008. In 2013 it fails even as a basic web station.
i have an old Acer 531 Netbook, it has all of the stuff this thing has, plus: a Screen, a Battery, 2 distinct SD-Card Slots, a 3G Modem, a Keyboard, and cost about as much 4 years ago…….this is TOTALLY gonna sell…..NOT
N270 Atom can be accurately described as “dreadful” when compared to… nearly anything else.
It seems high priced for what one is getting. I do like the size and the operating system on it.
Wow! That price for an Atom N270??! My netbook was cheaper than that when I bought it new and it had a battery and screen! Where do they even find a supply of those old processors? These should be close outs on ebay for $75.
And it came with Ubuntu 10.04 LTS 😉
Why they bring that kind of shit to market?
I wonder why they didn’t update it to Bay Trail especially for that price.
Worse to me than the outdatedness is the misleading size! Looking at the photos, it appears that the power brick is a third the size of the whole thing. It seems that the only way to get a really tiny linux machine to carry around is to go with an arm. At least they seem to have smaller power bricks.
I would like something tiny I can use headless from an iPad or Android tablet to get open source software like R or Octave or XeLaTeX that is available in Debian or other repositories that is not ported to Android or iOS. What’s the best little linux machine for me?
I’m running Octave on my Droid 4. There’s an app and you also need a terminal emulator to run it.
Also, you can run full Debian under a chroot on Android. Having an SD card slot would be make it easier to do as well.
“without outdated specs”
Should that read “with outdated specs”
It seems they read your post and updated it. It does make more sense the way you posted and I am glad it was corrected.