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The Mini Linux PC the Size of a Wall Plug

By Business Computing 

Fabless chip design company Marvell unveiled a new concept for a computer that fits inside the palm of your hand, or on your wall socket.

Remember that $10 (or even $20) PC that ended up being a huge disappointment? Marvell might finally be able to make good on some of the expectations set by that original concept, unrealistic price points aside.

Marvell calls it the Plug Computer, for its small form factor that can plug directly into a wall socket (it looks like a big AC adapter wall wart without the cord) and at is designed to draw so little power (5 W) that it can be left on all of the time.

Specifically, the Plug Computer unveiled is called “SheevaPlug,” a development platform uses a Marvell Kirkwood processor based on an embedded 1.2 GHz Sheeva CPU equipped with 512 MB of FLASH and 512 MB of DRAM. Connection to the home network is via Gigabit Ethernet. Peripherals such as direct attached storage can be connected using a USB 2.0 port.

Multiple standard Linux 2.6 kernel distributions are supported on the Sheeva Plug development platform enabling rapid application development. The new device is ideal for use as desktop terminals in large support offices, where only basic client and logging software is being used, such as a tech support facility. These modules can also be used at sales terminals at retail locations. Needless to say, very low power usage, extremely small foot print, and very low cost of ownership make Marvell's Plug Computer an attractive option for businesses of any size.

The SheevaPlug development kit is available now for $99, but promises an eventual version at $49. At that price, the plug could make one very attractive home media server solution for those who want something unobtrusive and economical, but aren’t afraid to tinker around with Linux.

Check out Marvell’s site on plug computing for more on the concept. What do you think? Is this something that you would buy to serve other machines, or even something to replace an existing server?

32 Comments Comment from the forums
  • jsloan 26 February 2009 04:53
    nice, but wasnt there a smaller thumb drive sized linux box for $99
    Reply
  • SAL-e 26 February 2009 05:14
    jsloannice, but wasnt there a smaller thumb drive sized linux box for $99Yes, it is called Gumstix http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6027032354.html
    But it requires special Linux distribution. The Sheeva Plug will be able to run standard distributions like new Debian 5.0 "Lenny".
    Reply
  • jeverson 26 February 2009 05:15
    Hmm... but can you game on it?!
    Reply
  • falchard 26 February 2009 05:16
    I am still waiting for the watch computer.
    Reply
  • norbs 26 February 2009 05:28
    Hmm this could be turned into a kickass router if it just had another ethernet port. DD-WRT anyone?
    Reply
  • IronRyan21 26 February 2009 05:36
    I hope someone doesn't say "Yeah, but can you run crysis on it!"
    Reply
  • A Stoner 26 February 2009 05:37
    Where do I get the video output from this thing? is that the SDIO or SOIO? I really think they should have utilized the sata interface that is supposedly available. you only need one USB port and can have that replicate out to 127 devices, but having a crappy disk interface just blows. Also, is there any way to fit a wireless WIFI into that? I am sure most of this has to do with price, but hey, wishful thinking.
    Reply
  • nukemaster 26 February 2009 05:40
    Well, it is not going to replace anything of mine. A lack of high speed(usb is the only interface I see for a hard drive)storage and a place for my TV card.

    It would make a great file box or even a router with a USB network card.
    Reply
  • daft 26 February 2009 05:41
    im thinking a good little internet surfer, that way you don't have a larger desktop, laptop, or netbook to use unwanted energy. 5 watts is plenty and all you will have to do is turn on a monitor when you want to get online. BTW, DSL will be the bestlinux distro for this
    Reply
  • SAL-e 26 February 2009 05:48
    daftBTW, DSL will be the bestlinux distro for thisHi daft,
    The Sheeva Plug is using ARM based CPU, do you know any ports or plans to port DSL to ARM architecture?
    Reply