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Author Topic: Android USB Stick Computer - This. Is. Coooooooool.  (Read 651 times)

booksmart

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Android USB Stick Computer - This. Is. Coooooooool.
« on: November 21, 2011, 11:45:45 AM »
http://blog.laptopmag.com/usb-stick-contains-dual-core-computer-turns-any-screen-into-an-android-station

I can't wait for these to go on sale to the consumer market.

I've got rafts of ideas on what to use them for... anti-virus repair kits... thin clients...
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Thernlund

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Re: Android USB Stick Computer - This. Is. Coooooooool.
« Reply #1 on: November 21, 2011, 02:26:53 PM »
Strange as it may seem, I don't find this device all that exciting.  Everything it claims to do (in that article anyway) can be done with a standard USB stick and some simple VirtualBox hacks.

I've even seen bare metal hypervisors run from USB sticks without too much hassle.  ESXi is free, and a USB stick is, what?  ~$50 for a good sized one?

Meh.


-T.
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JesseL

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Re: Android USB Stick Computer - This. Is. Coooooooool.
« Reply #2 on: November 21, 2011, 02:48:15 PM »
Quote from: Thernlund on November 21, 2011, 02:26:53 PM
Strange as it may seem, I don't find this device all that exciting.  Everything it claims to do (in that article anyway) can be done with a standard USB stick and some simple VirtualBox hacks.

I've even seen bare metal hypervisors run from USB sticks without too much hassle.  ESXi is free, and a USB stick is, what?  ~$50 for a good sized one?

Meh.

All that requires another computer in addition to the monitor.
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Thernlund

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Re: Android USB Stick Computer - This. Is. Coooooooool.
« Reply #3 on: November 21, 2011, 04:14:55 PM »
Annnnndd... the device in the OP doesn't?  It needs a powered USB port and some sort of monitor at a minimum.  Not to mention a keyboard and a mouse (BT or otherwise).  Where is one most likely to find such items?

I know some TVs have USB ports on them.  Mine does.  Kind of a smallish niche market though, don't you think?  How many TVs are you going to find to plug into?  I doubt the local coffee house will look kindly on you taking over their TV.  And you have to bring a keyboard and mouse with you besides.  Should have just brought the laptop in the first place, eh?

I guess I could plug it into the HDMI port my phone.  But it still needs power.  And my phone already runs Android.  Pfff. 



I'm just not seeing anything here to be excited about.  :shrug


-T.
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booksmart

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Re: Android USB Stick Computer - This. Is. Coooooooool.
« Reply #4 on: November 21, 2011, 04:22:14 PM »
Quote from: Thernlund on November 21, 2011, 04:14:55 PM
Annnnndd... the device in the OP doesn't?  It needs a powered USB port and some sort of monitor at a minimum.  Not to mention a keyboard and a mouse (BT or otherwise).  Where is one most likely to find such items?

Monitor, BT keyboard, and mouse, yes.

Another computer? Nope (though it can, which adds to it's flexibility and SAK utility of it, to me).  The fact that the storage is through replaceable microSD chip is nice, too.

I don't see this taking the place of the average desktop, but I can see this taking over some specialized niches.

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Thernlund

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Re: Android USB Stick Computer - This. Is. Coooooooool.
« Reply #5 on: November 21, 2011, 04:32:34 PM »
Quote from: booksmart on November 21, 2011, 04:22:14 PM
Monitor, BT keyboard, and mouse, yes.

Another computer? Nope...

For some time the computer has easily the most portable part of the system.  It's the rest that's the issue.

All they did was take an Android phone and remove the screen, power, and phone.

Hell... it occurs to me that one could use a full fledged Android phone in exactly this manner (many have HDMI outs) and be one up on this thing in that you brought your own power.


-T.
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Matthew Mayner

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Re: Android USB Stick Computer - This. Is. Coooooooool.
« Reply #6 on: November 21, 2011, 10:44:13 PM »
Phones are expensive and require contracts. This device while a niche product does have its upsides.  I could replace a bulky Kiosk PC with one of these that plugs into the HDMI port on the back of the Kiosk TV.  Power?  Who doesn't have a USB charger?  It'll probably come with one.  Mouse and keyboard?

Using a USB stick to boot to an OS requires a computer. This stick IS a computer.

The one big disadvantage I see with this device is its "walk off ability."

Make it $100 and I'll buy one.




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Gunnguy

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Re: Android USB Stick Computer - This. Is. Coooooooool.
« Reply #7 on: November 22, 2011, 11:53:54 PM »
I see it being used in military Applications and such.
But T is right. Just a stripped version of the Samsung Galaxy S II.

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Re: Android USB Stick Computer - This. Is. Coooooooool.
« Reply #8 on: November 23, 2011, 12:35:05 AM »
Okay.  That's cool.  But what could I DO with it?
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