BlackDog USB Linux PC reviewed
Smart Mobile Assets has a review up for the BlackDog Mobile Personal Server, a full on Linux computer that plugs into your USB port and allows you to run secure applications and services off of it through a Windows-based launch bar, with the added security of a biometric fingerprint reader. The size is actually comparable to the iPod nano, and the reviewer found setup to be a snap, merely requiring plugging the device in once for installation, and then plugging it in again to boot and start XServer and the application launcher. It runs Firefox fine, and should be great for taking your own browser, e-mail, and chat clients for use wherever, though that will probably be about all this little 400MHz guy can handle. Available with 256MB of memory for $199, and 512MB for $239, which is expandable via MMC.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mohit @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM
If this thing has to be plugged into a USB port, then really the processor and memory is useless as the computer that one plugs this into already has a (faster) processor and (faster/more) RAM.
Unless it can be plugged into the USB port of a monitor or something. Can it work with anything other than a PC?
Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM
Yeah, if it could act as a host or on its lonesome, that would kick. But I am betting it is powered over usb, and lacks host functionality. Not that that will stop anyone from hacking it to work on its own. At which point I will promptly go out and buy like twelve. :-)
Brian Short @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM
This seems very cool but their industrial design leaves something to be desired. It should really be a featureless black sliver with little spikes all over it. Or just really really sharp edges.
Gabe @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM
just to make things clear, CAN THIS BOOT OS X!?!?!?!?!!??!
It is 400mhz PPC except its lacking on the ram but I think it can be done with maybe version 10.0. My powerbook G3 300mhz with 128mb of ram can run OSX at barable speeds.
Why did they choose a PPC processor? I thought they would be more expensive... actually why even have a processor if the computer connected to it is running the software. I am very confused if someone could straighten this all out for me
Sems @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM
The usb connection provides power and networking, when you run apps like Firefox, it is actually running using the processor of BD, and through the XServer running on the host, you can interact. So the computer BD is connected to (ie. the host) is only providing power and network connectivity. Apps are running directly on BD.
If you need a device that would be on its lonesome, look at http://www.embeddedarm.com/epc/prod_SBC.htm
Darren Humphries @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM
No, this isn't going to be able to run OS X. The storage for the OS and files is either 256 or 512mb with the 64mb of RAM being used to execute. You really are going to want to run the included OS and check the "Dogpound" forums for any additional solutions.
The Blackdog does use it's own processor. Figure it as being a server that simply uses the Windows host for it's connectivity (and screen). It still needs the host to run but does not use the host's resources.
Killjoy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM
Just because it's a PPC processor does not mean it's a G3/G4 PPC processor and can run Mac software. A Mac is more than a PPC CPU.
As for why you don't run stuff on the host CPU, it's primarily because the host CPU is insecure, and one of the main selling points of the BlackDog (And the corporate version) is that you can plug them into any cybercafe desktop and still be secure because everything that needs to runs on the BlackDog itself, not the potentially compromised host. The other main selling point is that it leaves no trace on the host machine, so you don't have to worry about someone loging on after you and rifling your browser cache or temp files.
Darken @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM
The BD is just turning the host into a terminal, that's cool. Just add a VPN and email client and it becomes very useful.
By the way, I found a video demo at their website:
http://www.projectblackdog.com/demo.html
Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM
Check this out, since usb devices can have dma (direct memory access) this is a hacker's (or prankster's) new best friend. http://www.hackaday.com/entry/1234000523067226 plug it in, it excecutes code, kills the admin's lock on his personal computer or the deepfreeze client, and your in with an all access pass. every one! get one before they stop selling them!