OLinuXino, a serious Rasberry Pi competitor? After talks at the recent Embedded conference in Germany (2012), Olimex decided to go ahead with the production of two new boards that were very similar to the Rasberry Pi. The first one they should have prototypes in the coming weeks. The second will be 3 to 6 months before production boards will be seen, so I won't cover it in this report, however the CPU specs on this second board, are almost identical to the RPi microcontroller chip, and board. Olimex describes this board as a bridge to the linux development community and the Duinomite/Arduino/Maple/Pinguino world of developers. This will be completely Open Hardware / Open Source Project, all CAD files will be available so everyone can download modify, and use them. Same with the software. More Info: http://www.duinomite.com/olinuxino-a-serious-rasberry-pi-competitor/ Cheers Don... ====================== -- Don McKenzie Dontronics: http://www.dontronics-shop.com/ DuinoMite the PIC32 $35 Basic Computer-MicroController http://www.dontronics-shop.com/the-maximite-computer.html Just add a VGA monitor or TV, and PS2 Keyboard. Arduino Shield, Programmed in Basic, or C.
OLinuXino, a serious Rasberry Pi competitor?
Started by ●March 7, 2012
Reply by ●March 7, 20122012-03-07
Don McKenzie <5V@2.5A> wrote:>OLinuXino, a serious Rasberry Pi competitor? > >After talks at the recent Embedded conference in Germany (2012), Olimex >decided to go ahead with the production of two new boards that were very >similar to the Rasberry Pi. The first one they should have prototypes in >the coming weeks. > >The second will be 3 to 6 months before production boards will be seen, >so I won't cover it in this report, however the CPU specs on this second >board, are almost identical to the RPi microcontroller chip, and board. > >Olimex describes this board as a bridge to the linux development >community and the Duinomite/Arduino/Maple/Pinguino world of developers. > >This will be completely Open Hardware / Open Source Project, all CAD >files will be available so everyone can download modify, and use them. >Same with the software. > >More Info: >http://www.duinomite.com/olinuxino-a-serious-rasberry-pi-competitor/What's the form factor? Does it have 0.1" headers so you could add processor horsepower to a veroboard / stripboard? That would be great for quick one-off tinker stuff. -- Failure does not prove something is impossible, failure simply indicates you are not using the right tools... nico@nctdevpuntnl (punt=.) --------------------------------------------------------------
Reply by ●March 7, 20122012-03-07
On 08-Mar-12 9:33 AM, Nico Coesel wrote:> Don McKenzie<5V@2.5A> wrote: > >> OLinuXino, a serious Rasberry Pi competitor? >> More Info: >> http://www.duinomite.com/olinuxino-a-serious-rasberry-pi-competitor/ > > What's the form factor? Does it have 0.1" headers so you could add > processor horsepower to a veroboard / stripboard? That would be great > for quick one-off tinker stuff.It is so new, I am still asking questions Nico. Still in the initial design stages. I know I will be very disappointed if it doesn't have GPIO at .1" The Olimex UEXT expansion which it will also use, is standard serial UART, SPI, and I2C, using 10 pins at .1" See: http://olimex.com/dev/OTHER/UEXT.pdf Cheers Don... ==================== -- Don McKenzie Dontronics: http://www.dontronics-shop.com/ DuinoMite the PIC32 $35 Basic Computer-MicroController http://www.dontronics-shop.com/the-maximite-computer.html Just add a VGA monitor or TV, and PS2 Keyboard. Arduino Shield, Programmed in Basic, or C.
Reply by ●March 7, 20122012-03-07
In article <9rq6pgFg3mU1@mid.individual.net>, 5V@2.5A says...> > On 08-Mar-12 9:33 AM, Nico Coesel wrote: > > Don McKenzie<5V@2.5A> wrote: > > > >> OLinuXino, a serious Rasberry Pi competitor? > >> More Info: > >> http://www.duinomite.com/olinuxino-a-serious-rasberry-pi-competitor/ > > > > What's the form factor? Does it have 0.1" headers so you could add > > processor horsepower to a veroboard / stripboard? That would be great > > for quick one-off tinker stuff. > > It is so new, I am still asking questions Nico. Still in the initial > design stages. > > I know I will be very disappointed if it doesn't have GPIO at .1" > > The Olimex UEXT expansion which it will also use, is standard serial > UART, SPI, and I2C, using 10 pins at .1" > > See: > http://olimex.com/dev/OTHER/UEXT.pdf > > Cheers Don... > > ====================Hopefully also unlike rPI have mounting holes and a decent power connector. -- Paul Carpenter | paul@pcserviceselectronics.co.uk <http://www.pcserviceselectronics.co.uk/> PC Services <http://www.pcserviceselectronics.co.uk/fonts/> Timing Diagram Font <http://www.gnuh8.org.uk/> GNU H8 - compiler & Renesas H8/H8S/H8 Tiny <http://www.badweb.org.uk/> For those web sites you hate
Reply by ●March 7, 20122012-03-07
In article <9rq6pgFg3mU1@mid.individual.net>, 5V@2.5A says...> > On 08-Mar-12 9:33 AM, Nico Coesel wrote: > > Don McKenzie<5V@2.5A> wrote: > > > >> OLinuXino, a serious Rasberry Pi competitor? > >> More Info: > >> http://www.duinomite.com/olinuxino-a-serious-rasberry-pi-competitor/ > > > > What's the form factor? Does it have 0.1" headers so you could add > > processor horsepower to a veroboard / stripboard? That would be great > > for quick one-off tinker stuff. > > It is so new, I am still asking questions Nico. Still in the initial > design stages. > > I know I will be very disappointed if it doesn't have GPIO at .1" > > The Olimex UEXT expansion which it will also use, is standard serial > UART, SPI, and I2C, using 10 pins at .1" > > See: > http://olimex.com/dev/OTHER/UEXT.pdf > > Cheers Don... > > ====================Word from partner who IS a teacher of ICT and computing in UK, if they want embedded in schools (which is sadly lacking in UK) they should contact and get involved with Computing At School group/seminars/conf in UK. Plenty of open source followers there. If need more info I can get details for you. -- Paul Carpenter | paul@pcserviceselectronics.co.uk <http://www.pcserviceselectronics.co.uk/> PC Services <http://www.pcserviceselectronics.co.uk/fonts/> Timing Diagram Font <http://www.gnuh8.org.uk/> GNU H8 - compiler & Renesas H8/H8S/H8 Tiny <http://www.badweb.org.uk/> For those web sites you hate
Reply by ●March 7, 20122012-03-07
On 08-Mar-12 10:23 AM, Paul wrote:> Hopefully also unlike rPI have mounting holes and a decent power > connector.http://www.olimex.com/about.html The company has over 20 years� experience in designing, prototyping and manufacturing printed circuit boards, sub-assemblies, and complete electronic products. I doubt very much if you will see any of these problems Paul. :-) I'm looking forward to seeing what the first proto boards look like in about 2 weeks. Cheers Don... ===================================== -- Don McKenzie Dontronics: http://www.dontronics-shop.com/ DuinoMite the PIC32 $35 Basic Computer-MicroController http://www.dontronics-shop.com/the-maximite-computer.html Just add a VGA monitor or TV, and PS2 Keyboard. Arduino Shield, Programmed in Basic, or C.
Reply by ●March 7, 20122012-03-07
Don McKenzie <5V@2.5A> wrote:>On 08-Mar-12 10:23 AM, Paul wrote: > >> Hopefully also unlike rPI have mounting holes and a decent power >> connector. > >http://www.olimex.com/about.html > >The company has over 20 years� experience in designing, prototyping and >manufacturing printed circuit boards, sub-assemblies, and complete >electronic products. > >I doubt very much if you will see any of these problems Paul. :-)You never know. I've worked with designers with 20+ years of experience who totally forget about mounting holes, forget about clearance around screw heads or move holes on the next batch while there are 100's of cases in stock with holes that match the 'old' version. Did I already mention small 2mm / 78mil mounting holes? If it where one project you might call it a mistake. On almost every project its a real nuisance. -- Failure does not prove something is impossible, failure simply indicates you are not using the right tools... nico@nctdevpuntnl (punt=.) --------------------------------------------------------------
Reply by ●March 7, 20122012-03-07
On 08-Mar-12 11:51 AM, Nico Coesel wrote:> Don McKenzie<5V@2.5A> wrote: > >> On 08-Mar-12 10:23 AM, Paul wrote: >> >>> Hopefully also unlike rPI have mounting holes and a decent power >>> connector. >> >> http://www.olimex.com/about.html >> >> The company has over 20 years� experience in designing, prototyping and >> manufacturing printed circuit boards, sub-assemblies, and complete >> electronic products. >> >> I doubt very much if you will see any of these problems Paul. :-) > > You never know. I've worked with designers with 20+ years of > experience who totally forget about mounting holes, forget about > clearance around screw heads or move holes on the next batch while > there are 100's of cases in stock with holes that match the 'old' > version. Did I already mention small 2mm / 78mil mounting holes? If it > where one project you might call it a mistake. On almost every project > its a real nuisance.I just had a look at the RPi videos, and they seem to have mounting holes and a DC power input plug. So I wonder what Paul was referring to. Cheers Don... ================ -- Don McKenzie Dontronics: http://www.dontronics-shop.com/ DuinoMite the PIC32 $35 Basic Computer-MicroController http://www.dontronics-shop.com/the-maximite-computer.html Just add a VGA monitor or TV, and PS2 Keyboard. Arduino Shield, programmed in Basic, or C.
Reply by ●March 8, 20122012-03-08
On 07/03/2012 23:00, Don McKenzie wrote:> OLinuXino, a serious Rasberry Pi competitor? > > After talks at the recent Embedded conference in Germany (2012), Olimex > decided to go ahead with the production of two new boards that were very > similar to the Rasberry Pi. The first one they should have prototypes in > the coming weeks. > > The second will be 3 to 6 months before production boards will be seen, > so I won't cover it in this report, however the CPU specs on this second > board, are almost identical to the RPi microcontroller chip, and board. > > Olimex describes this board as a bridge to the linux development > community and the Duinomite/Arduino/Maple/Pinguino world of developers. > > This will be completely Open Hardware / Open Source Project, all CAD > files will be available so everyone can download modify, and use them. > Same with the software. > > More Info: > http://www.duinomite.com/olinuxino-a-serious-rasberry-pi-competitor/ > > Cheers Don... >The card described here sounds a lot less powerful than the Pi - slower processor, too little ram, poor choice of video output ("TV Video" ?), and weaker graphics and media acceleration. I don't know that it could be a "serious competitor" to the Pi with those specs and price, unless there are outstanding benefits (like being easily available!). It's a nice idea and initiative, but I don't see it going anywhere. These boards need community support - there are lots of groups who have ported different Linux distributions and software for the Pi. Part of the reason is that it is non-profit - it appeals to free software developers. It will take a lot more to persuade these people to do the same thing again, only for less exciting hardware with more limitations, and to benefit a commercial company that is making these boards for profit. It helps that Olimex is providing all design files, and is clearly making these as low cost as possible - but being a charity beats even the nicest of companies in these rankings. I think there is a market for devices like this, but they should start with the Pi's specs and fill in the gaps, not start with the Pi's price or size and rigidly stick to that budget. If you took a Pi, added 4 GB NAND flash, WiFi, Bluetooth, several USB ports, an external power supply, and perhaps even a cheapo case, you would have a wonderful device. It would cost twice as much - but it would be worth it.
Reply by ●March 8, 20122012-03-08
On 8/03/2012 12:10 PM, Don McKenzie wrote:> On 08-Mar-12 11:51 AM, Nico Coesel wrote: >> Don McKenzie<5V@2.5A> wrote: >> >>> On 08-Mar-12 10:23 AM, Paul wrote: >>> >>>> Hopefully also unlike rPI have mounting holes and a decent power >>>> connector. >>> >>> http://www.olimex.com/about.html >>> >>> The company has over 20 years� experience in designing, prototyping and >>> manufacturing printed circuit boards, sub-assemblies, and complete >>> electronic products. >>> >>> I doubt very much if you will see any of these problems Paul. :-) >> >> You never know. I've worked with designers with 20+ years of >> experience who totally forget about mounting holes, forget about >> clearance around screw heads or move holes on the next batch while >> there are 100's of cases in stock with holes that match the 'old' >> version. Did I already mention small 2mm / 78mil mounting holes? If it >> where one project you might call it a mistake. On almost every project >> its a real nuisance. > > I just had a look at the RPi videos, and they seem to have mounting > holes and a DC power input plug. > > So I wonder what Paul was referring to. > > Cheers Don...I don't think that it has mounting holes, DC power is via a micro USB connector.
