Marvell Plug Computer 3.0 packs in WiFi, Bluetooth and 2GHz Armada chip for miniaturized Linux bliss
By Paul Miller 
posted January 5th 2010 12:41PM
posted January 5th 2010 12:41PM
posted January 5th 2010 12:41PM
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"Linux computer the size of a wall wart"
I hope there's a typo in there some where
@Dapman02
Don't get it... it's a computer and seems the same size as a typical (large) wall wart...
@Jose
Wait, is a wall wart actually some kind of device
If so, I think I just failed :(
@Dapman02
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_adapter
Cool...wonder if you can put winCE or android on this thing?
300 Mhz is all i need to run command line and get everything done I need to in linux. If I can figure out a way to loud the minimal Backtrack tools I need on this it'll be a epic win...
@(Unverified) Did you make that jpeg with your 300 mhz puter? (I'm totally joking around, all in good fun :)
they could have cut the cost of those 512M storage and provided a SD card reader.
@htd Something has to store the OS locally.
Oh this is going to be a fun little toy. Can't wait to throw this at some diy projects.
I can actually think of a few great uses for this. Me of all people!
I love how a $99 *entire* mini computer has Wifi (as well as devices like the Nintendo DS), but companies like MS insist it should be a big external adapter in the $80-100+ range. C'mon. I really like this little 'puter.
It truly is a great time to be alive.
It looks like the coffin Orson Welles was buried in.
Dave Bowerman: "It's full of Stars"
oh the possibilities... if only Microsoft would go against their best interests and kluge silverlight onto Linux
This will make sharing older USB devices pleasant again. I know there used to be the Linksys NSLU2 boxes, but this this even nicer.
Best in show.
Maybe Marvell will throw a little bit more support behind this product this time (or maybe not).
It's been difficult to actually *order* a plug computer. Most of the people selling the devices are somewhat "shady"/unreliable Internet stores, with huge (1-2 month) lead times before shipping. Prices also haven't decreased at all--while $99 doesn't soud bad, you can buy a refurbished Atom-based netbook for $140, whose performance and features will run circles around the plug computer, while still in a reasonable power profile.
On top of that, software support has been sort of lacking. The original plug computer shipped with an ARM port of Ubuntu (good like trying to find information about it: it's completely unofficial), with a bunch of (mostly undocumented) hacks to actually get the device to work.
@tamasrepus
If you have a problem with hacks and hacking maybe you shouldn't look into developer products? Or get a pogoplug instead of a sheevaplug if you want something easy.
@tamasrepus Marvell has actually been very helpful in providing documentation in the process of porting Debian over. Something i suggest you look into. The ARM-port of ubuntu isnt unofficial, it just doesnt do ARMv5 instructions. Updated debian testing works wonders. Marvell cant be blamed for what retailers do. For Marvell to support a product thats been sold in a quantity of 10k units this well is quite remarkable. As for documentation check out plugcomputer.org. Agreed it isn't perfect, but thats something the community will improve.
Ok, for $99. I don't want a flashy case. No thank you, not at all.
I want this to look like some type of ugly electrical device.
Because I could plug this in at any business that has free wifi and I have a private proxy, bittorrent seed / tracker, brute force hacker for pen testing, wireless sniffer, you name it.
I guess I could gut it and put it in some type of generic box.
This could be a great security tool - or a black hat tool.
If this is v 3.0 and the sheevaplug is 1.3, what happened to v. 2.*?