New plug - D2

[bwooster0]

I saw this today:

<http://www.globalscaletechnologies.com/c-8-d2plug.aspx>

The $249 price seems high. Anyone know what the performance of the graphics system is like?

The performance of the Guruplug Display has not been reported in this forum to be any good so I don't have high hopes for this device.

[spinifex]

Do you know what the Globalscale fascination with ubuntu is?
With the limited ubuntu support I would have thought that Debian is a better alternative.

[FrankL]

Do you know what the Globalscale fascination with ubuntu is?
With the limited ubuntu support I would have thought that Debian is a better alternative.

this D2 seems to be using a CPU with ARMv7 API

Ubuntu has build-in support for ARMv7. Debian is currently stuck with ARMv5 with the stable release.

[restamp]

Ubuntu has build-in support for ARMv7. Debian is currently stuck with ARMv5 with the stable release.

"Stuck" may be a loaded word here:  Many of us are (happily) "stuck" with our SheevaPlugs, GuruPlugs, Dockstars, etc., and appreciate Debian for "sticking" with us.

[bwooster0]

The Dreamplug runs a 1.2 GHz Marvel arm5 core. The D2 runs an 800 MHz arm7 core.

There is a big price difference between the two (~$100).

Other than the HDMI output there doesn't seem to be a big difference between the units capabilities.

There are ~ $110 AMD boards that have better GPUs and better dual core CPUs though the form factor for them is not as nice as the plugs.

For $149 you can buy this unit, <http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Compact-Multimedia-Giada-N3/dp/B004QIRBEK/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2BLKEWW74FF7J&colid=2SMXHOV1FAKEE>, that features NVidia ION graphics.

It seems like the D2 faces a lot of competition in its price range.

[embedded_tim]

There are ~ $110 AMD boards that have better GPUs and better dual core CPUs though the form factor for them is not as nice as the plugs.

Any examples of this?? I couldn't find any units with a quick google search...

Thanks!

[bwooster0]

Here you go:

<http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813154020&cm_re=e350-_-13-154-020-_-Product>

You do have to add a ram stick and maybe a USB stick wireless solution if you need that. It lists for $110 and there is a $20 rebate on it right now.

A cool platform to play with but it does NOT have the form factor that the plug has....of course the CPU and GPU are MUCH more powerful than what the Guruplug display has.

The real question is: what is the GPU of the D2 like? Could it make for a cheap mythtv extender? The previous unit that I linked to would make a great mythtv extender and could run from an SD card - no HD needed.

Also, the "trim-slice value" Tegra 2 based unit offers similar capabilities to the D2 but is cheaper (trimslice.com) and I would bet that the Tegra 2 GPU is much better than that of the D2.

Also, the OpenRD-Ultimate offers similar features and has a PCIe slot that a graphics card could be hooked up to.

[birdman]

Here you go:

<http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813154020&cm_re=e350-_-13-154-020-_-Product>

You do have to add a ram stick and maybe a USB stick wireless solution if you need that

And a case, and a power supply???

[bwooster0]

Here is a decent mini-itx case that I've used that has a 250 watt power supply:

<http://www.amazon.com/MI-008-Tower-Black-Chassis-Supply/dp/B001H0BA24/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1306796759&sr=8-2>