IBOX - another ARM mini PC

On March 5, before the eternal women's day, a campaign to raise funds for the creation of another miniature PC based on ARM started on the famous crowdsourcing resource Indiegogo. Under the cat a small preliminary review of the device, plus a few thoughts about how he can be better than his many brethren.

About campaign

The project is not engaged in anyone incomprehensible, young and promising, but already well-known "in narrow circles" company ITEAD STUDIO. In our project COOLRF, we already used the services of ITEAD when ordering printed circuit boards and wrote about the positive experience obtained here and here . They are engaged not only in printed circuit boards. If you carefully examine the range of products ITEAD, it becomes clear that behind the company there is not only good development experience, but also not a weak production base.

The amount collected for the iron project is purely symbolic. Only $ 2000 and there is no doubt that the money will be collected successfully. The price tag for the device for the first participants is $ 60, which looks more than reasonable for the specified stuffing enclosed in the case.
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About device

Inside: CPU Dual-core ARM Cortex-A7, GPU Mali 400 MP, 1Gbit DDR3 RAM, NAND FLASH 4Gbit. (The indicators are copied from the campaign site, with a memory there is clearly a typo and should be read Gb instead of Gbit). Also on board there is a receiver for an infrared remote control and a special 32-pin expansion connector, to the delight of self-made.


Operating systems can be installed both on microsd and on the built-in flash. The availability of such species is promised:



Inside the "box" - one of the already somewhere seen processor modules, unsoldered on the "motherboard" with connectors:

What for?

The manufacturer positions its device for different uses. Including for smart home control:

When?

Delivery to the first customers is promised in April. Wait for the long months of purchase is not necessary. Given the good experience of the manufacturer ITEAD in such a time you can easily believe. If regular sales after the end of the campaign will go at the same price level of $ 60-70 with free shipping, and the range of operating systems with some support from the manufacturer will be as promised, it will be a very interesting and competitive product.

UPD. Everything, $ 2000 collected. Sold out half the sets for $ 60.

UPD2. All kits for $ 60 sold out. Stayed for $ 70. Collected almost 5kilobaksov.