Compulab Puts Tegra 2 into Super Compact PC

We’ve seen a fair amount of Tegra 2 devices; tablets and smartphones packing the Nvidia chipset were shown off proudly at CES 2011. With all the buzz surrounding the platform, we’re expecting many more similar devices based on the platform before the year is out. However, we’re also hoping for some not-so-typical Tegra 2 offerings, like this ultra-compact desktop from CompuLab.

The tiny machine you’re looking at is called the Trim Slice and measures in at just a little bigger than a 2.5-inch HDD. It boasts a fanless metal chassis that houses support for HDMI and Dual-Link DVI ports for twin displays, 4 x USB 2.0, Bluetooth, SDHC slot, a microSDHC slot, up to 64GB of SSD storage, 1GB of RAM, WiFi b/g/n, gigabit ethernet and of course, the all important dual-core ARM Cortex A9 Nvidia Tegra 2 chipset with integrated GPU.

“CompuLab [has] demonstrated many times over its expertise in power-efficient system design.” Igor Vaisbein, Trim-Slice Project Manager at CompuLab, said in a statement. “The ultra-low power of NVIDIA Tegra 2 enabled designing Trim-Slice into a miniature form-factor with unprecedentedly low-power envelope while providing rich multimedia capabilities and PC-like user experience.”

Expected availability is April, and the Trim Slice will be sold in several configurations through OEMs, who will rebrand the device as they see fit. Still, don’t panic if you’ve already purchased a PC this year and are all tapped out. CompuLab says it’s guaranteed for long-term availability of at least five years. Stavi didn’t mention anything about pricing other than to say it had yet to be finalized.

  • Parsian
    this is fantastic, i can build my own tablet pc for school. Im in love again

    Reply
  • hixbot
    Windows and Linux don't run on Arm yet so this thing will probably run Android. Not much of a PC if it's running a Cell/Tablet OS.
    Reply
  • andrewcutter
    dont know where you got the idea that linux doesnt run on arm

    http://distrowatch.com/search.php?category=All&origin=All&basedon=All&notbasedon=None&desktop=All&architecture=arm&status=Active
    Reply
  • Parsian
    Linux runs on anything :D I have it running on my HTC HD2 :P
    Reply
  • snoogins
    Super cool.
    Reply
  • falchard
    This product screams mini-DisplayPort.
    Reply
  • squallypie
    hixbotWindows and Linux don't run on Arm yet so this thing will probably run Android. Not much of a PC if it's running a Cell/Tablet OS.
    Theres even an ubuntu arm version of linux so.. linux learns whatever u give to it.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwL0G9wK8j4
    Reply
  • nevertell
    If they work on tegra drivers to make it WORK, unlike with the AC-100.
    Reply
  • lauxenburg
    Linux could probably run on a single transistor if you wanted it to. :D :D :D....it might just take a while.
    Reply
  • industrial_zman
    hixbotWindows and Linux don't run on Arm yet so this thing will probably run Android. Not much of a PC if it's running a Cell/Tablet OS.
    Linux has been on the ARM platform for many many years. http://www.uclinux.org/ This project alone has been around since 1998. What about the Sharp Zaurus SL-5000 and higher, that ran Linux? Or countless number of ARM based DVD/HDDVD/Blu-Ray players that run BusyBox? There are way to many ARM/Linux combination devices just in my house (Linksys SLU2 and WRT54GL just a couple) to list, but you get the point.

    Android as well as WebOS and MeeGo runs Linux under the hood. The trend in most newer Linux distro's regardless the platform, is NOT to call it Linux, or it would scare away people from using it.

    Microsoft even announced a version of Windows 7/8 that will be on ARM processor later this year or by the time Windows 8 will be ready to the public. Not to mention Microsoft has a very very good track record of supporting ARM in the consumer electronics for a long time as well WindowsCE, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone, PocketPC, the list goes on and on...
    Reply