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Topic: Cheapest smallest computer bootable from linux USB? (Read 6468 times)

member
Activity: 84
Merit: 10
I yam what I yam. - Popeye
Or you can pick up Intel Atom based mini-itx boards in the $50-60 range. Throw it in a cardboard box with a laptop supply. You'd still need a keyboard/mouse/vga, ha ha. But these will boot linux from usb easily. I use one here as a home-server booting Ubuntu from flash stick.

Ha ha, love it!

BTW looks like liots of netbooks on craigslist in the $50-100 range.

Saving, saving, saving...(doing it the old fashioned way, Eff visa!)
hero member
Activity: 784
Merit: 1009
firstbits:1MinerQ
Or you can pick up Intel Atom based mini-itx boards in the $50-60 range. Throw it in a cardboard box with a laptop supply. You'd still need a keyboard/mouse/vga, ha ha. But these will boot linux from usb easily. I use one here as a home-server booting Ubuntu from flash stick.
member
Activity: 84
Merit: 10
I yam what I yam. - Popeye
These two are currently sitting at my house unused:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=defgzjtaEwE Eee PC 701.  It boots from USB port and comes with a 4GB SSD, upgraded to 2Gs of RAM.  Has WiFi and Ethernet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSJDMeZgWX8 Fujitsu Lifebook u810 also boots from usb.  40GB spinning HDD.  Has WiFi and Ethernet, but the Ethernet port is attached via a propitiatory dongle that also has a VGA out (works with linux).  Has a MS VISTA key included.  The touch screen has a dead spot on it.  This one's actually considered an "Ultra Mobile PC" vice a netbook.

I can test them with linuxcoin if you are interested.

Wow those both look super sexy. Wife is calling so i will review vids in more detail this evening.

On first glance the fujitsu is killer for this app.
member
Activity: 84
Merit: 10
I yam what I yam. - Popeye
If I were building this looks like a nice place to start:

http://box.matto.nl/usbworkstation.html

But, I'm broke as broke gets and will be looking to buy something on ebay, amazon or in a used computer store/thrift shop. My budget will have to be in the $50-$100 range.

What I an primarily asking for in this thread is make and models of small notebooks (or any other other small self contained platform that can boot linux from USB) that I can then keep my eye out for.

Yes I will be glad to buy with bitcoin, but that will be in a month or two at a minimum.
full member
Activity: 154
Merit: 100
A cheap netbook is your best bet.  You don't need anything more complicated than that.  And it'll probably some with a decent amount of Flash memory, so just install Ubuntu or something and install Bitcoin.
newbie
Activity: 40
Merit: 0
These two are currently sitting at my house unused:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=defgzjtaEwE Eee PC 701.  It boots from USB port and comes with a 4GB SSD, upgraded to 2Gs of RAM.  Has WiFi and Ethernet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSJDMeZgWX8 Fujitsu Lifebook u810 also boots from usb.  40GB spinning HDD.  Has WiFi and Ethernet, but the Ethernet port is attached via a propitiatory dongle that also has a VGA out (works with linux).  Has a MS VISTA key included.  The touch screen has a dead spot on it.  This one's actually considered an "Ultra Mobile PC" vice a netbook.

I can test them with linuxcoin if you are interested.
legendary
Activity: 892
Merit: 1002
1 BTC =1 BTC

What is your budget ?
This Foxxcon is 170 euro, not expensive for a dual core AMD 1.6Mhz nettop witch everything on board.

Ok, you have to add the memory and usb stick... +30
sr. member
Activity: 462
Merit: 250
It's all about the game, and how you play it
I took a look at the linux coin distribution last night I pumas only available for x86 at the moment. Unfortunatly that limits your hardware choices a does your aversion to refurbished. You can get a new netbook for 250usd  add a hundred to that fit a basic laptop ebbs another hundred for a tablet. You can buy or build a nettop in the same range as the netbook but at that point it's. Not as easy to bring on the road.
member
Activity: 84
Merit: 10
I yam what I yam. - Popeye
Are you looking to pay for it with bitcoins?

Sure but only prelminary research at this point.
member
Activity: 84
Merit: 10
I yam what I yam. - Popeye
Look at the Nokia N900 series - it's ARM platform and runs Linux. Has 3G and wifi too. I had one for a while, worked well.

Cool, more sexy pricey.
member
Activity: 84
Merit: 10
I yam what I yam. - Popeye
sr. member
Activity: 462
Merit: 250
It's all about the game, and how you play it
Are you looking to pay for it with bitcoins?
member
Activity: 98
Merit: 11
Look at the Nokia N900 series - it's ARM platform and runs Linux. Has 3G and wifi too. I had one for a while, worked well.
member
Activity: 84
Merit: 10
I yam what I yam. - Popeye
Are you looking for a desktop or some kind of net book are you insisting on x86 is arm ok

I'm not insisting on anything. Just a cheap small device that I can boot my Linuxcoin on and access the net via ethernet.

Frankly I would love it if I could boot it on a cheap blackberry-like cell phone.

8^)
member
Activity: 84
Merit: 10
I yam what I yam. - Popeye
I guess you would only need between 500 to a gig of ram. I'm not sure if you could get away with less. Other then the ram as long as your willing to deal with slowness you can go as cheep as you want.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=Property&Subcategory=772&Description=&Type=&N=100006746&IsNodeId=1&srchInDesc=&MinPrice=0&MaxPrice=200

I have one desktop with 1gb and another with 2gb. based on the response of the 1gb I think that is the floor for now. Bitcoin is a CPU hog.

Thanks for the links but I will never buy recertified/remanufactured/refurbished again. Way too many problems with hardware turning into junk at about 30 days after a 30 day warrenty.

I was hoping for folks to say "I have a XXXX and it boots from USB".
sr. member
Activity: 462
Merit: 250
It's all about the game, and how you play it
Are you looking for a desktop or some kind of net book are you insisting on x86 is arm ok
full member
Activity: 182
Merit: 100
I guess you would only need between 500 to a gig of ram. I'm not sure if you could get away with less. Other then the ram as long as your willing to deal with slowness you can go as cheep as you want.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=Property&Subcategory=772&Description=&Type=&N=100006746&IsNodeId=1&srchInDesc=&MinPrice=0&MaxPrice=200
member
Activity: 84
Merit: 10
I yam what I yam. - Popeye
I'm a little confused you sound like you want a prebuilt computer (a netbook?) and you want to run linuxcoin on it. If I may ask why?

For demos on the road when folks are afraid to allow me to put my USB into their computer.

Show and Tell!

8^)
full member
Activity: 182
Merit: 100
I'm a little confused you sound like you want a prebuilt computer (a netbook?) and you want to run linuxcoin on it. If I may ask why?

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