
This is an inexpensive Atom-based Single-Board Computer (SBC). It created a flurry on Amazon a few months ago and then seemed to go out of stock. I just assumed that it was some surplus board that was being blown out. Maybe it is. Now it is being sold by AmeriDroid, a distributor/vendor of several interesting single-board computers. Cheap! https://ameridroid.com/products/atomic-pi Why I think that this is interesting: - SBC is an interesting form factor - cheap: US$37.95 for board + US$12.95 for power + ? for shipping. That's cheaper than a Raspberry Pi 4b with 4GiB. - x86 so any off-the-shelf distro should work. And the video driver is in-tree open source (a big missing piece with ARM). It would run Windows 10 but has no licence. - OK resources: + Intel Atom x5-Z8350 (hence name) + 2G RAM (not expandable) + 16G eMMC (preloaded with some Linux) (should perform better than Raspi's SD) + SD socket (supports up to 256G) + gigabit ethernet, dual band WiFi, Bluetooth + some kind of potentially interesting audio amplifier + HDMI + USB 3.0 port + fanless, with a big heat sink - oddities + need to add a weird power supply connector and a power supply + need to add WiFi antennae + no case + I don't really understand the choice of power supplies offered by AmeriDroid. The cheaper one has higher output (possibly useful in support of the audio amp). Why I won't buy it: - I have too many small PCs already. And too many unfinished projects. - 2GiB is a little cramped these days. First-world problem! But it is certainly fine for most SBC applications. I recommend browsing Ameridroid.com for other interesting toys.