Hardware for RISC OS ports

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This page lists hardware that may be suitable for porting RISC OS to.

Do not list hardware that already has a port under way.

When listing hardware, please list the following:

  • What the device is
  • Basic specifications (what CPU and/or SoC it uses, memory, storage, display and/or display connections, networking, any other connections, and a price in both the country of origin and UK pounds)
  • Pros - what this hardware would bring to RISC OS, relative to other hardware
  • Cons - downsides to this particular hardware
  • Link(s) for further info

Think about what the hardware really will bring to the platform, or whether it's suitable for the applications that RISC OS is used in. If it's not really suitable, please don't include it. Also, please check the talk page - hardware that has been deemed unsuitable may be moved there.

eInfochips OpenRD-client

Small desktop machine called OpenRD-client

Specifications

  • Marvell Kirkwood 88F6281 @ 1.2 GHz
  • 512 MiB RAM DDR2-400
  • 512 MiB Flash
  • VGA display output up to 1280x1024 @ 60 Hz
  • 2x Gigabit Ethernet
  • 7x USB 2.0 host
  • SDHC, audio jacks, serial port
  • eSATA and internal SATA
  • 2x USB 2.0 host, SDHC
  • US$249, approximately UK£156.31 or 173.76 € exc. VAT

Pros

  • A9home-like, compact machine
  • ARMv5 compatible, so existing IYONIX-compatible software runs unchanged
  • built-in video, audio, networking, storage, USB

Cons

  • Graphics chip (XGI Volari Z11) not very powerful
  • No floating point unit
  • Higher power consumption than Cortex-A8 solutions of the same performance or better
  • Would require a new port

More info

Genesi Efika MX Open Client

Freescale i.MX515-based nettop

Specifications

  • Freescale i.MX515 @ 800 MHz
  • 512 MiB RAM
  • 4 GiB internal SSD
  • HDMI display output, maximum of 1366x768 @ unknown (60?) Hz or 1920x1080 @ 30 Hz interlaced
  • 802.11b/g/n Wifi, Bluetooth
  • 2x USB 2.0 host, SDHC, audio jacks
  • US$249, approximately UK£156.31 exc. VAT

Pros

  • Desktop machine, fastest Cortex-A8 available
  • More on-board storage than other current solutions
  • Has VGA port for driving older monitors
  • Has built-in networking hardware

Cons

  • Would require a new port, to the i.MX515

More info

HP t5325 Thin Client

Marvell-based thin client, may work well as a RISC OS desktop

Specifications

  • Marvell ARM @ 1.2 GHz (suspected to be Armada 168, aka PXA168, or a Kirkwood 88F6000-series chip)
  • 512 MiB RAM
  • 512 MiB Flash
  • DVI-I display output at up to 1600x1200 24 bpp
  • 4x USB 2.0 host
  • 10/100 Ethernet
  • Audio in/out
  • 3 year warranty
  • US$199 or UK£170 exc. VAT

Pros

  • CPU is a ARMv5TE, and appears to be faster than the Beagle and IGEPv2's OMAP3530
  • Has solder pads for a SATA port
  • High resolution graphics output
  • Low price
  • Long warranty, although soldering a SATA port in would void it

Cons

  • No FPU, then again, supporting that will be difficult anyway.
  • No 3D acceleration. Not that we have that on Beagle yet, either.
  • May have higher power consumption
  • Would need a new port

More info

OpenPandora

Handheld gaming console/netbook-like device

Specifications

  • Texas Instruments OMAP3530 @ 600+ MHz
  • 256 MiB DDR333 SDRAM
  • 512 MiB NAND Flash
  • 800x480 4.3" resistive touchscreen, composite and S-Video display outputs
  • 802.11b/g Wifi, Bluetooth 2.0
  • USB 2.0 OTG and host, dual SDHC, stereo audio in/out
  • US$330, approximately UK£207.16 exc. VAT

Pros

  • Would provide mobile platform for RISC OS
  • Can use existing work from BeagleBoard port
  • Has built-in networking hardware

Cons

  • May be too small form factor
  • Storage could be an issue

More info

Toshiba AC100

Mobile internet device

Specifications

  • NVIDIA Tegra 250 @1GHz
  • 512MB RAM
  • 8GB SSD
  • 1024x600
  • Wi-fi, webcam
  • Headphone/mic ports
  • HDMI output
  • Card reader
  • 1x USB, 1x mini-USB

Pros

  • Would provide mobile platform for RISC OS
  • Portable machine with keyboard
  • Proven Ubuntu install

Cons

  • Would need a new port
  • No network connection without RISC OS Wi-fi support
  • Serial connection point not proven

More Info

Ubisurfer Netbook

£150 netbook from Maplin

Specifications

  • WiFi, ethernet
  • GPRS modem (900/1800MHz, may be simlocked to Vodafone in UK)
  • Samsung S3C2450 ARM 9 CPU at 400MHz [1]
  • 128MB RAM, 1GB internal flash
  • SD card slot
  • 2 x USB
  • 800 x 480
  • Runs some version of Linux [2].

Pros

  • Most of the peripherals you'd want on a netbook.
  • GPRS should be fairly easy to drive with existing diallers etc, assuming it's a standard USB-serial device. '30 hours per month for a year' GPRS data bundled with device.
  • Linux distro implies some relation to Samsung's SMDK2450 eval board, for which schematics are available. Ubisurfer are yet to release their kernel patches/configuration under the GPL [3].

Cons

  • Limited screen resolution
  • No VGA output
  • No 3G internet, only modem speeds over GPRS.
  • 'Embedded' SIM may not be easily replaceable (or perhaps it just needs removing the battery)

More Info

WitsTech A81

Tablet with touchscreen

Specifications

  • ARM Cortex-A8 @600MHz
  • Flash card support
  • 1x mini-USB OTG
  • Wi-fi
  • Headphone port
  • 800x480

Pros

  • Would provide mobile platform for RISC OS
  • Can use existing work from BeagleBoard port

Cons

  • No keyboard, therefore requiring use of on-screen keyboard
  • Touchscreen, therefore requiring adaptation for mouse clicks, with functionality of some software being unusable (see talk page) although some simple educational software would be well suited to this format
  • No network connection without RISC OS Wi-fi support

More Info


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