Allwinner A10: A GPL-compliant computer for $15
freesoftwaremagazine.com
freesoftwaremagazine.com
Firstly, in the linked article we can read: "even cheaper computer [...] and it's being sold in China for $7." Uhm? On the original Rhombus Tech page, it seems that the Allwinner A10 is just the CPU which is going to be used in the computer, and it's the CPU which they claim is sold at $7. So, the computer's sure gonna be more expensive than that. Also, this sentence suggests, that the computer is already built and being sold. Which is not the case, and this brings us to the next point...
Secondly, from the original Rhombus Tech page, all I can read now (please, show me that I'm wrong) is that the computer is only being designed now. On 15 Dec 2011 all they had (at least according to what is reported publicly on their page) was apparently a rough concept .png collage of overall layout of elements, and contact to some Factory in Shenzen, China. And they immediately started taking preorders! As of Jan 2012, they seem to be only selecting components they maybe could place on the PCB, and designing parts of the circuit in KiCAD.
Now, to contrast with Rhombus Tech, Raspberry Pi didn't ever take preorders (they specifically rejected such requests), and already had working and demoable prototypes (with loads of hardware and software concerns solved) several months ago. And they still needed corrections, polishing of the design etc. As much as I'd love to see a computer close to $15, RasPi's process sounds much more trustworthy to me than Rhombus Tech's. Ok, I understand Rhombus may need preorders, as they are probably not so solidly money-backed as RasPi's owner, but for me they're clearly in a much higher risk group.
As for "computer" both projects seem to be using that term for a credit card sized board without even a case. The core parts of both however are already in use in mass-manufacture products. The article seems to talk about the core chip and the Rhombus package containing it interchangeably.
The Rhombus idea seems to be putting the the chip into a modular package with a standard interface from which you can build upgradeable tablets or computers, as well as just use it standalone.
It is worth being clear rPi doesn't include several of those costs.. a case, power supply, packaging.. i'm not sure about shipping.. but anyway it sounds like this will be more expensive. I would still be very interested if it came close; this featuring considerably better cpu, gpu and ram.
At $25 Raspberry Pi is a joke. If it actually sees a decent amount of sales, you will be sure to see actual companies that specialise in this field competing at lower prices and better performance. Raspberry Pi has realised something that everyone in the industry knows: computing is cheap. It will not take long for the competition to crush Raspberry Pi if there is a large enough market for what they are doing. As for now they are chasing after the tablet market and IMHO are going to do well.
Then you say that if the thing is a success then other companies that specialize in such hardware will come in and crush them. That's highly possible but I thought you labeled it as a joke? If that situation happens I would call them leaders in the industry as the "highly successful" companies needed someone to show them the way.
At some point, one will be able to buy a RaspPi for $25 plus shipping that requires power and a display; you're ready to go. Where's the comparable product using the A10 and how much is it?
The 15 USD however looks like the BOM cost (for 100k), so the RhombusTech device will be sold for a higher price, probably close to 30 USD.
This could finally be the dam-breaker, particularly if some of the cheap devices (complete tablets/phones etc.) produced by manufacturers uninterested in GPL compliance could still be used because the chip manufacturer is on board and providing the necessary support info.
edit: I was mistaken, the Mali GPU still requires proprietary code for 3D, I'd got it mixed up with the OMAP in my Samsung Galaxy.
"Regarding Software Freedom: the caveat regarding this CPU is that it requires ARM-proprietary libraries for the 3D Graphics (as does virtually every single suitable consumer-grade embedded SoC on the planet with the almost exclusive sole exception of the Ingenic jz4760 and some of the TI ARM Cortex OMAP and Sitara SoCs). However, simply not using the proprietary MALI 3D GPU does not impact any other functionality in any way."
Still one more step in the right direction.
there is a market for small systems like these, embedded, remote locations, areas were space is a premium. it doesn't have to be a huge market to be successful.
i like low specced systems. my main computer between 94 and 99 ran on 2 aa batteries for a week at a time. i reckon it's more likely that people develop wearable computing and other new technologies when building blocks like these are commonly available.
just my 2c.
As an ASIC design guy, I have a hard time calling this "GPL-compliant hardware" when the main non-trivial component is closed source.
"Rhombus Tech" parent company is "RH Technology Ltd", which is located at "Wessex House, Oxford Road, Newbury RG14 1P". Wessex House is the location of a services office company called "Inigo Business Centres" (http://www.inigo.co.uk/)
... This does not look like a company with the resources for mass production in the near future.
It's one thing for a group to tell you that it will sell you for $3 a quad-core SoC with 16GB of RAM that will work on a watch battery, it is another thing to do it. It only makes sense to compare this product to the rPi once it has started rolling off the production line.