$25 x86 Computer: Is It Worth It?
hackaday.com
hackaday.com
It's $35, it boots off the shelf Ubuntu, it has a real graphics chip, it does what it says it does. It doesn't have RF shields, and was probably designed cheaply, but it's $35.
Aside from the RasbperryPI (which obviously isn't x86) the review compares it to items which are 3x in price.
Admittedly, I assume that 3x price is probably closer to what the actual retail would be for this without the surplus angle. I think it being surplus is cool in a hacker kinda way, but I do see an issue there if you're concerned about longterm support.
The AtomPi is basically a cheap SBC with standard hardware (off the shelf Debian etc. can run on it, or Win 10 with some limits). Cost is cheap.
The author seems to be complaining that the hardware doesn't match his expected profile of a Rpi killer type SBC...maybe he's upset about the deception around the kickstarter, dunno.
There's nothing wrong with the product for hardware hackers... sure, it's not something you can use if you want to maintain the ability to mass produce whatever you're designing... like about 0.01% of all Rpi users do.
Repurposing of computer hardware that was manufactured for another purpose and purchased surplus is not only environmentally sound, but it's a win for all parties.
There are repeated events in the last 30 years that show products like this gaining a cult following and selling out on Ebay just because they're a good value... like any of the set-top boxes that were loss leaders for subscription services, but got turned in to Linux boxes, robots, etc.
> I could very easily say this is the Silicon Valley ideal of repackaging literal garbage and selling it as a groundbreaking disruption, but I don’t write for Slate or The Atlantic. No, the Atomic Pi is what you get when you try to fill an existential void by buying stuff. The Atomic Pi fills a market need for guys who think the ability to install Kali Linux constitutes a personality.