What Would You Do with a $40 Computer?

I really wish some people who have commented on that post would never come on HN.

Example comment: "doesnt seem like it has much use... though it is cool to see computers being made so small. id probably use it for a usb cup warmer"

I think there's "something" here. To summarize the answers to the question I've seen so far:

1. File/print server. Very real use-case.

2. Control motors, device controllers around the home that can be connected via USB.

What if a 40$ computer had wi-fi connectivity? What if one couples it with wi-fi sensors such as http://www.aginova.com sells and wi-fi enabled device controllers. What kind of apps one can build given such as combination?

Now, first one is obvious and clearly valuable use-case. What about the second one?

Some discussion already at http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=623561

If it has a number of digital or analog I/O ports, robot, most certainly.

How come all the promotional pictures of this exclude the external storage you have to add for this to actually provide meaningful sharing? I think a little larger device with room for a 2.5" drive would be more useful.

Beowulf cluster.

hmm... i wouldn't buy a $40 computer.