I was in search for a replacement miniature embedded system to serve as my home router and XBMC video platform. Currently serving this purpose is the pico-ITX form factor Raspberry PI. While RPI still uses older ARM CPU v6, the Utilite in the pro-version uses quad core Freescale i.MX6 ARM v7 Cortex A9 CPU running at 4 x 1.2 Ghz. Looking at its embedded enclosure reveals that it has:
- dual 1000 Base-T Ethernet ports
- 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, single antenna
- Bluetooth 3.0
- S/PDIF 5.1 (electrical through 3.5mm jack)
Stereo line-out, Stereo line-in - Four USB 2.0 standard A type connector – max current 1A per port
USB OTG micro-USB connector - Two RS232 serial ports, ultra mini serial connector
- HDMI 1.4 max resolution 1920 x 1200
- DVI-D max resolution 1920 x 1200
Considering it’s small size factor of only 135mm x 100mm x 21mm and power consumption between 4-8 Watt makes it a perfect router. It can run various GNU/Linux distributions. I hope that it will successfully run with Debian, sadly there is no free software distribution currently ready which would support the ARM port.
The pre-order price from several distributors vary, the one from Tiny Green PC happens to be 285 EUR after VAT and shipping.
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