Ocean Mobile Linux Server
getocean.io
getocean.io
Had me curious, so I found 3 different types of these. Interesting that they all come with bundled Windows, but are still pretty inexpensive.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Vensmile-IPC002-MINI-PC-mini-...
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Windows-8-1-smart-tv-box-mini...
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Windows-10-Mini-PC-with-5000m...
I honestly really don't get why someone want to use js serverside, and I say that as someone who did create cool things with js client side and wants to know why I should spend time on this new cool stuff.
Edit: automatic upvotes for serious answers as long as I see them before going offline :-)
By using Node.js in a Web shop, you can eliminate one language.
Other benefits include re-use of client side code, async everywhere, and popularity.
To business decision makers, that looks like a better strategic decision - Now my web app devs can do server side! Obviously this is totally wrong, any decent developer can learn a new language/framework. The architectural concepts are totally different on server side, which is what HR should be hiring against. But hey, what do I know.
(Some other languages let you do that too)
Anyway, my point was that Node.js main core value was to let people script evented I/O over a lightweight runtime.
When Node came out, it was something new.
Java has a fairly rich NIO path that you can choose to take or not, and predates node.js. I believe the Tornado package for Python predates it as well.
Certainly, there's some advantage there...fewer surprises with 3rd party libraries that aren't non-blocking. But, there's downsides as well.
Because starting in the mid-late 90s, B- and C-rank universities began adopting Java over C++ or Pascal as a teaching language, producing a glut of graduates who knew Java. As IT needs grew because of the internet boom, companies built their systems with the language that the available programmers knew.
These days, more and more "teach kids to code" initiatives are starting with JavaScript because it's easy to get started with, existing in every browser known to man. With IT infrastructure in for another period of growth/change, especially in startups, it makes sense to build out in JavaScript because it's what incoming fresh programmers know.
It doesn't make much sense to me, but that is how they do in the corporate world.
I would give a shot to this one if it had an SSD, dedicated GBit Ethernet and/or GPU unit, in short if it resembled closely a mini-scale real linux server somehow.
When that doesn't happen I'd go with a device that's more open, cheaper and has better support and bigger community, such the the RPi.
Time to update the page. http://makezine.com/2016/02/28/meet-the-new-raspberry-pi-3/
I hope that this gadget has a "real" antenna embedded instead of a PCB one.
- Marketed as a portable headless server, and indeed, limited to something like that. No access to GPIO, no video. But, relatively low 1GB ram, and limited, non-upgradable storage.
- Wireless charging seems like a feature nobody is looking for in this type of device. Charge time with the wireless is 10 hours vs 4-5 hours via USB. I would guess it's also driving part of the price point.
To me, if you're going to market as a server, you base it on something like the CubieTruck, more RAM, 1G wired ethernet, more storage options, SATA, etc.
Or, go the other route and provide what's good about an Rpi device (GPIO, video, low cost) and add the quality case and battery.
It is upgradable. It says on the site you can use a Tork to open it and switch the SD card.
There was a green LED and a second one blinking during charging. Eventually the LEDs died and now it's dead. Strangely it booted after many attempts once, and then it gave up ever since. Power cycling has the LEDs all blinking twice, then they are dark again. I tried different chargers - makes no difference.
Seems awfully expensive for its specs. You can get pcDuino3 for $66 with the same CPU/RAM.
EDIT:
Raspberry Pi 2 has Cortex 7 and 1GB of RAM too, and it's like $34.
Banana Pi also, and it's around $31.
My rationale is that Android devices are far cheaper, especially older phones second hand. Something like a Nexus 5 can run Kali Nethunter which gives me a full Kali environment if I want it, or I could run a Debian chroot using one of the many various options available.
Are there any plans to integrate something like (Disclaimer: I made this) https://wormhole.network with it? Actually, you would just need to include SoftEther's VPN client (https://www.softether.org) by default :-)
The other typical competitors would be NUC style products, but the differentiation point here is the included battery. So it seems to have something unique.
My only Arduino-based home automation component sticks out like a sore thumb. But all my proprietary light switches fit beautifully into my walls.
Since you can get WiFi, Bluetooth and Gigabit Ethernet.
After which you just need a pretty case and you are pretty much set.
So I wonder why they are still using vendor-provided 3.x kernel.
And what's the difference between this and all the other small linux machines that you can buy, like raspberry pies? From the landing page it looks like the developers don't even know that these kind of computers exist since more than 5 years now.
Why don't I just use a Raspberry Pi?
The Raspberry Pi is a fantastic product, but it is built with an emphasis on education and 'home hacking'. It lacks certain features found in the Ocean. Raspberry Pis do not have built-in Bluetooth or Wifi, and do not come with an on-board power source. While you can purchase cases for them, these cases are rarely designed with portability in mind. Exposed GPIO pins tend to bend in your pocket. A Raspi can be augmented with additional hardware to equal the feature set of the Ocean, but this hardware will compromise the portability of the Pi.
In other words, a device must be able to power on and function correctly without a functioning battery plugged in. I think all notebook computers pass this test. Why can't phones and tablets do the same?