Low-power Linux-based CPU PC?

[gboyce at badbelly.com]

On Fri, 23 Jan 2004, Scott Ehrlich wrote:

> I would like to have a Linux/Windows-capable PC running at home 24/7 which
> would also be connected to my Linksys broadband router, which, in turn, is
> connected to my cable modem.  The catch, though, is I don't want to spend
> the extra money for electricity a desktop PC would consume in power.
> Thus, I was thinking of a cheap Crusoe, Intel, or AMD box which would
> consume very few amps, and could possibly be fully powered from a 12 v DC
> source (I have a regulated DC power supply at home).
> 
> A few years ago, I worked part time at a small company when an employee
> brought in a modular, handheld Intel-based PC, CPU-only.   It had all
> needed ports - for video, mouse, keyboard, etc.  I presume it could have
> been DC-power capable, but I forget the company that made it.
> 
> The solution would need Ethernet capability, or at least a PCMCIA slot.  I
> have an Ethernet PCMCIA card.

http://www.mini-itx.com/

They sell boards and small computers using Via's EPIA cores.  The mini-itx 
boards are quite small, and they recently started selling 12V versions.  
There are also nano-itx boards that will be coming out soon.  They're low 
power, and some of the models are even fanless.

They're x86 processors, with ethernet, usb, audio, and there are models 
with pcmcia and compact flash as well.

I've been wanting to pick one of these up myself for a while now, but 
could never justify it with a good enough use.

Greg