Lost Trunk
Guru
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2008
- Messages
- 228
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I was thinking about a small, dedicated, low-power computer that could send streaming video (YouTube, Hulu, etc.) to a TV. I came across this review, which seemed nearly perfect...
http://gizmodo.com/5383094/acer-aspirerevo-upgraded-windows-7-ion-graphics-dual+core-atom-cpu
...except that it comes with Windows and I don't want to pay the "Windows tax" when I don't plan to use Windows. I found that if you go on a certain large auction site, there are several vendors in Taiwan selling them with Linux pre-installed. As with many people in this part of the world, I'm not entirely comfortable ordering something from outside the U.S.A. or Canada, but these things in most cases come with 2G of RAM and a 250 GB hard drive so it's quite tempting.
I then got to thinking that these might also make a great small Asterisk/PiaF box as long as one is using only SIP and/or IAX for trunks and endpoints (in other words, no requirement for a card inside). The specs certainly seem to be more than adequate, but I can't find anything on the web showing where someone has used one of these for that purpose. Are they unsuitable for some reason, or just so new that no one's tried one yet? Or is there a better alternative for a small, quiet, low power box? I don't want a notebook/nettop with built in screen and keyboard, etc. and the specs on this one look really good to me, though I'm no expert in hardware (when I mess with hardware, I tend to let all the smoke out!)
What other computers might be a good/better choice for small, low power, relatively noiseless operation at a decent price (the last qualification is what eliminates what might otherwise be my preferred choice, a Mac Mini - but dang, those things are priced like they are made of pure gold, due to the "Apple tax"!).
http://gizmodo.com/5383094/acer-aspirerevo-upgraded-windows-7-ion-graphics-dual+core-atom-cpu
...except that it comes with Windows and I don't want to pay the "Windows tax" when I don't plan to use Windows. I found that if you go on a certain large auction site, there are several vendors in Taiwan selling them with Linux pre-installed. As with many people in this part of the world, I'm not entirely comfortable ordering something from outside the U.S.A. or Canada, but these things in most cases come with 2G of RAM and a 250 GB hard drive so it's quite tempting.
I then got to thinking that these might also make a great small Asterisk/PiaF box as long as one is using only SIP and/or IAX for trunks and endpoints (in other words, no requirement for a card inside). The specs certainly seem to be more than adequate, but I can't find anything on the web showing where someone has used one of these for that purpose. Are they unsuitable for some reason, or just so new that no one's tried one yet? Or is there a better alternative for a small, quiet, low power box? I don't want a notebook/nettop with built in screen and keyboard, etc. and the specs on this one look really good to me, though I'm no expert in hardware (when I mess with hardware, I tend to let all the smoke out!)
What other computers might be a good/better choice for small, low power, relatively noiseless operation at a decent price (the last qualification is what eliminates what might otherwise be my preferred choice, a Mac Mini - but dang, those things are priced like they are made of pure gold, due to the "Apple tax"!).
Phone System 