How CHIP, $ 9 computer the size of a … – BBC

BBC Technology

• May 12, 2015

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Can be connected to conventional computer screens and simply.

At the price of two pints of beer in London, metro tickets for 15 days in Mexico City or five kilos of rice in Argentina it could be yours a computer.

That is at least what the Californian company promises Next Thing Co., creator of CHIP, the computer 60 x 40 mm it intends to sell to US $ 9.

Despite having the size of a credit card, its features make it a full-fledged computer. with a 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage

The small device has a USB port and a mini USB, so you can connect to Conventional computer screens and simply. And it has video output.

Wireless and portable

“As an application ready for use, CHIP can be connected to video. So you can use a TV old or a small screen you have, “says Dabe Rauchwerg member of Next Thing Co., in a video for Make , a specialist in new technologies digital medium.

In addition, its integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity series enables it almost completely wireless use.

The wireless connectivity is one of its advantages.

Although his most skeptical critics say that with that processor and the memory will not be possible to work with it from a desktop to use.

However, also it becomes a laptop after you insert PocketC.HIP, an accessory designed by the same company that will sell for US $ 49.

It has a 4.3-inch touch screen and 470 x 272 pixel resolution, a miniature keyboard and Mini Battery 3000 mAH to ensure that offers a range of five hours.

The Assembly reminds the BlackBerry smartphone Passport.

Collection of funds

The invention has not yet been released, although its developers hope to put it on sale in early 2016.

To that end, they launched a campaign . fundraising on Kickstarter platform

See also: computer memory invent world’s smallest

So far raised US $ 645,000, and the company says it lacks $ 50,000 to reach its goal.

Does the size of a credit card.

The 13,000 people who supported the initiative and receive a CHIP at home, and who put more money also get housing, PocketC.HIP

Of these, besides the financial contribution, the company expects to help you finish developing the product.

And the device runs on /i i> Software> free. Debian GNU / Linux operating system

Competitor

However, CHIP is not the first minicomputer to go on sale.

And when he finally does, its main competitor is the Raspberry Pi, market leader of miniPC today.

Your competitor is the current market leader, Raspberry Pi.

Although the latest invention of Eben Upton, founder of Raspberry Pi Foundation, has more memory, USB ports, a more powerful processor, etc., not has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

So that would be the main advantage of the minicomputer Next Thing Co.

That, in addition to price, since the Raspberry Pi costs $ . 35

Read: This is the fastest computer in the world

Of course, experts warn that $ 9 can buy only the most basic version of the device

In this line, the specialist Gareth Halfacree wrote in the digital environment Bit-Tech that the creators of CHIP sacrificed “a few features” in their desire to make a smaller and cheaper computer.

According to him, reinforce it so that your graphics capabilities reach the the Raspberry Pi will equal to this cost.

But, either way, is a computer at the price of a few drinks.