another linux robot platform

How does one make a Linux PC for under $100?

If he's really scavenging, he could run linux on an old 386/486, etc), the mboard of which he could probably pick up for free (or the whole system, for that matter). Hell, I have pentiums I'd give away to whomever would come by and pick them up. Actually, now that I think of it, I have a LOT of crap I'd give away to anybody who'd come pick it up.

He'd have to power them, of course, but this can be done. There are (or were) people around here who just ran a pc-based robot directly from the PS using an inverter. The trick would be getting the inverter cheaply enough.

It's been a few years since I ran linux on a 386, but it can still be done -- if not with the current kernel, then certainly 2.2, although I'd guess the 386 is still supported as of 2.6 (dunno for sure, though).

ebay. You can find them cheap.

Rich

I have laptops that will run linux, about

14" LCD, stereo sound, video capture port, ntsc video out port, parallel,

Rich

Or...

I never play with my robot when I am also using my laptop. As I'm not fond of trying to power an AT-style '386 off a 12 volt battery, I think it just makes sense to use ye olde laptop for the robot. If you're addressing the hobby market, and not trying to sell someone a stand-alone robot -- and assuming your robot isn't teleoperated at all hours of the day -- I don't see a burning need for the thing to have its own dedicated motherboard.

Besides, since I buy mp laptops for business use, the whole thing is deductible.

-- Gordon

Well, almost any computer project is free (or unreasonably inexpensive) if you don't have to pay for the parts. It's like the "stone soup" super computer. Total cost: $0.00, but it has hundreds if not thousands of computers.

Used. I challenge anyone to get Linux (or DOS!) to boot on newly purchased hardware that I can but and which that costs less than $100 USD total.

In fact, I will send $20 via PayPal to anyone who can do it, payment to be sent the day that my newly-purchased system boots.

I won't count any shipping/handling costs, or the cost of a keyboard or monitor as long as the system boots without them.

Hints if you wish to go for the prize:

The 200 mhz gumstix run $109 in single unit quantities. I imagine in multi-unit quantities they can be had for well under 100. Of course, I'm sure you meant single unit quantities, but give it a couple of years and imagine that price point will be hit:

Make it $120, $100 to purchase the hardware, and $20 for the reward, and I'll take that challenge.

Or, "network boot" if the system has a built in network card.

If the system has a network card, netboot and use SSH.

Actually, you owe me $20 as it is. One can buy a Linksys wireless router and install their own version of Linux on it. I've seen these routers for as low as $29 after rebates.

That *is* close! It looks like it requires a $10 Wall adapter and a $20 waysmall-STUART to run, unless there is a battery to 60 pin Hirose connector accessory that I missed.

They should run off of any 5v supply -- assuming we're still talking a robotics application, this would just be your power bus. The connectors look like a bit of a hassle, but I may have to pick one of these puppies up anyway.

How about this:

That looks like it meets the requirements. $54.99 with free shipping the first place I looked (amazon.com). Right now you are ahead.

I looked at a bunch of motherboards, and couldn't find one that leaves enough $$$ left over for the CPU, RAM, and power supply.

Technically speaking, you said "anyone who can do it" and not "the first." :-)

Technically speaking, he also didn't limit the offer to a single person. Doh!

Then again -- technically speaking -- he didn't specify that the payout would be in *US* dollars.

Oh boy... I did, didn't I? I sure hope that a billion people don't do it!

I didn't say so at first, but I was thinking "the lowest cost" and not "the first."

AHA! You, my friend, are a genius! Monopoly dollars! Hell money!

All kidding aside, I do want to do what is fair. So far I have seen Linux solutions at $55 and $99 (with a display included.) If nobody beats those I am inclined to send $20 to each person. I will wait until I see if anyone else does better, though.

I am surprised at the results. I am a huge Linux fan, but I really thought that someone would come up with a place to buy 386SX or 486 motherboards, add a meg of RAM and a really cheap power supply, and have it boot DOS.

The economies of scale make a parabola curve around price. At the middle is the best price/performance. Towards the right, as performance increases and you are heading to more cutting edge technology, price/performace ratio declines. As you move to the left, older technology that was once cheap is now more expensive because it has a much reduced market, thus the price/performace declines. As long as Moore's law is in effect, the parabola is moving toward the right.

Your best bet for the cheapest computer technology is always just on the left side of the center of the parabola where the "newer" "faster" technologies are becoming the center, and the previous top performer needs to be cleared away at a reduced profit to make way for the newer technology.

I really like the idea of PC104 devices, but because the volume is so low, it is hard to get the price/performance ratio of something like an EPIA board.

As for Linux, I think it was official that in 1999 Linux had been ported to more platforms than NetBSD, and NetBSD's claim to fame that it would run on anything.

Anyway, I don't need the $20, I was just calling you on a challenge.