If you saw my Zonbu post earlier you know that one of my HUGE fascinations has always been how to get a PC into my car and have it done discreetly.

AS WELL as how to build a similarly discreet PVR for my entertainment center.

well the Zonbu idea looks perfect, but that $250 proice tag is a tough nut to crack.

however the core of the zonbu is the Via C7 processor on a Jetway MB.

Several years ago you couldnt buy those components ANYWHERE seperately , everyone just wanted to sell you their $600 barbones version.

well no for $79 you can get the cpu and a MB, thus allowing you to build of of that.

now in theory the C7 is a pentium III class low powered clone.

So I'm just wondering if anyone has tried loading MCNL or FREEVO or one of the varients on THAT kind of system.

thanks, all opinions cheerfully accepted!

I too am fascinated by these tiny systems :-)

http://www.norhtec.com/products/mcjr/mcjr03-lrg.JPG
http://www.norhtec.com/products/mcjr/index...ghardware.co.uk

Never tried one. They are beyond my budget.

Mandriva bought linutop if I am not mistaken:

http://blino.org/blog/mandriva/linutop.html

If MCNLive would run on these systems depends a bit on how they work. If they work with internal Flash Cards that are seen as /dev/sda devices then it could work out-of-the box. If their flash memory is connected to an internal ide-to-scsi/usb controller, then a small change in the code can make it work.

Starting them by booting via an external usb drive/stick works if they have enough RAM (which is not the case with some of these boxes).

Some of these boxes need a special/different kernel than MCNLive and some adjustments for a good performance.

people have run MDV on C7 systems. There's no problems as far as I know.

CHRIS

you become more godlike all the time.

so for $120 + $44 (shipping to usa) I can get the basics and for ANOTHER $60 I get a 2GB CF unit?

WOW, and NO fan, as I said about the zonbu, that would make a PERFECT car pc, slide a 2.5" HD in there and WHAMMO.

now about that VESA lcd screen?

anyone know anything about THOSE? I have a friend here who mounted a slimline AMD system in HIS car, and used the TV out on that MB to connect to his dashboard dvd player.

wow, and its all only about money that stops me!

ok so maybe the linup is a little pricey $380 usd plus shipping, but good ol PCCHIPS makes a C7 version and their stuff works with almost ANYTHING.

root for my next bonus next month and we may get to see it happen!

Jerome, both systems I linked to, are short in internal memory, for my taste.
The norhtec with 128 MB won't be able to run a KDE or Gnome desktop.
The linutop with 256 MB will, but too slow.

Oh, and you don't need the CF card. They have usb ports :-)

A VIA C7 in a mini-ITX chassis looks more promising, but I am not an expert:
http://www.jetway-mini-itx.com/jesykiwj7mii2.html

And when Adam says MDV is running on a C7 you can be sure :-)

yeah those jetaway boards are what zonbu is using however i found PCCHIPS has their own clone version, NOT quite as fancy (you have a CPU fan for ex) BUT w/ a TON of expandability options, such as 1 GB of ram!

i just sent back my 8gb usb stick AGAIN and demanded a refund, so when that comes in i think i'll pick up the pcchips mb and start from there.

i know i USED to have TONS of issues w/ them ion the old K7 days, but since about 2003 ive been using them w/ no issues.

they are NOT speed demons by ANY means, but for what i want 1ghz or highr will dinately do!