Gumstix netstix 400xm-cf mini-computer
By Donald Melanson 
posted October 23rd 2006 2:40PM
posted October 23rd 2006 2:40PM
It's been a while since we've heard from Gumstix, purveyors of puny computers since, uh, 2004, but thankfully they've come through with another PC-on-a-stick -- of limited use to the average user -- to whet our appetite for diminutive gadgets. Their latest is the netstix 400xm-cf -- Linux-based, of course -- packing a 400MHz Intel XScale PXA255 processor, with 64MB RAM, 16MB Flash, built-in 10/100baseT networking, and a CompactFlash Type II card slot for additional storage. While it obviously won't be replacing your desktop anytime soon, Gumstix sees the pint-sized computer as a boon to network administrators, who can use the netstix to test and diagnose network problems. If you just want one to play around with, the 400xm-cf will run you $206.50, though that can be knocked down to $186 apiece if you (or your higher ups) order 1,000 or more.
beleive me this is a piece of over hyped crap! by the time you have shelled out for enough expansion boards to make it do something, you might aswell have bought a new laptop. Support is crap also.
There are cheaper alternatives that cost much less than this and are more practical and easy to use
is it vista capable?
You know what can diagnose network problems? A laptop! I'm not sure how this would help, since you'd need a keyboard & monitor to use it. You could control it remotely, but not if you're having network problems, eh?
In a network monitoring type setup, the idea would be to use these as nodes scattered all over your network, not as the primary access device. That way you don't have to walk around your campus plugging your laptop into lots of different ports while trying to localize problems. For background monitoring such as IDS you also don't need a laptop on each LAN segment, etc. These devices are certainly not as flexible as a modern laptop, but for very many use cases, they're cheaper, smaller, lower power, and as functional as necessary.
PS disclaimer: I'm the CTO of gumstix
its true though I have to test networks for advertisement systems that i install in theaters, and rather than lug around my laptop and plug in every time one of these bad boys running a simple script would be so much nicer.
I think they would make great FTP Servers too! do they have USB2.0????
No USB host yet, but that'll likely be coming in the New Year. You can hook up a fair bit of storage via CF though (or use a CF-IDE card and then hook up a large drive/array).
Better than something like http://www.projectblackdog.com/ ?
(OBFullDisclosure: I own both a Black Dog and a 400AX-BT Gumstix)
Different than the Black Dog, as they're designed with different missions in mind. I suppose you could hack up a fingerprint reader for the Gumstix and get similar duty, but I don't think that's what the Gumstix guys had in mind.
Main differences: Gumstix is better suited to continuous duty and has built-in Ethernet, where the BD is intended for a more itinerant lifestyle and only interfaces via USB. Net is handled by its Windows XP or Linux host.
I'll buy something like this when it has a vga port so I can use it as a very minimial portable computer.
I second the call for USB - given the ability to host a random device, the possibilities get really interesting.
Yes, but can it run Quake?
It can propably run ttyQuake on the terminal. Never tried ttyQuake through telnet or ssh, but it should work. The CPU is strong enough, and it has enough mem. Just get a CF card big enough to hold the ~55MB that Quake 1 takes.
Check almost any zaurus of the same price range, you will be amazed how small it is, how more functions it have (for few dollars/euros/whatever more you get LCD, USB (+usb host), keyboard).
Yes, it's a bit more expensive, but it is definately worth trying.
I have SL-C3200 that have the same processor as mentioned, 128MB flash, 64 ram, 6GB hdd as specs.
So basically this mentioned here is a small computer that can be used just to spare some place and do nothing more than the usual machine, but costs lot more than the same spec machine with x86 processor.
Sounds cool it it can see blogs and digg, but when it plays wow call me.
Hmmm...anyone in for a group buy of 1000? We could totally pwn everyone else in folding@home!