As well as being a reasonable 'thin client' the Neoware Eon Preferred 2000e - MediaGX could be described as a generic Personal Computer, admittedly with a relatively modest specification, but PC nonetheless!
I came about using a Neoware system from almost entirely the opposite direction from most people.
The unit is marketed primarily as a 'thin client' - the 32Mb ROM allows a linux-based terminal emulator to run which can connect to a number of hosts using standard TCPIP over an Ethernet - and supports windows terminal emulation, 5250, TV100 etc.
The applications run on a host server, and all the client does is do the media presentation stuff.
On the other hand, looking at the system architecture, it's actually a modestly specified PC in it's own right.
At the core of the system is a Geode processor - a cut down low power version of an nn86 (intel) chip, and incidentally, the same architecture as the OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) device which is getting a lot of media coverage.
The 32Mb ROM is actually a solid state 'hard disk' which plugs into a standard IDE socket.
Acquiring the correct adapter circuitry (passive plugs - easily available on Ebay) it's possible to install a compact flash 'microdrive'.
I wouldn't at this stage advocate a 'solid state' Compact Flash card - the external interface is exactly the same, but each memory cell can only operate around a million times.
That's fine for a digital camera, but running Windows (or Linux) with a swap file will soon use the cycles up, and you'll get an unstable system before long!
They also tend to work a lot slower, and the onboard circuitry will almost certainly 'time out' and believe that the drive has broken.
The system features a fairly standard BIOS, which interface with virtually any hard drive model, however microdrives are especially useful as they offer 'real disk' characteristics in a very compact and low power package.
There's even a floppy disk power socket on the motherboard which you can run the drive from.
The VGA output connected to my domestic TV set (a big LCD model)
So much for the hardware - the project requires an operating system. In theory - you could a massively cut-down version of XP - but it would be disastrously slow.
Instead I initially toyed with 'Damn Small Linux' (a 50Mb fully featured distribution) however I had difficulty in getting it to run correctly.
I finally managed to shoehorn Windows/ME onto the system. As the box was going to live under the TV set, I didn't especially want to have standard keyboard and mouse cables hanging out the box, so
I opted for a wireless USB keyboard with integral joystick, providing a pointer interface.
I've now got a 20 watt PC, running a 'proper' operating system, although I'm still having trouble getting a 'proper' SVGA driver for the system, it still runs a recognisable version of Windows and is capable of acting as a media client as well as running 'proper' Internet Explorer.
Make no mistake, this isn't going to break any records, performance is always going to be somewhat less than sparkling and I really wouldn't want to try running processor intensive apps such as Word and Excel, but it WILL play MP3 tracks and offer basic web browsing. SO the lesson is - 'think a little outside the box' and you certainly CAN teach an old dog new tricks.
With a little patience and a great deal of persistence it's possible to create a genuinely useful piece of kit from relatively obscure and low-spec equipment.
Project costs so far; Second hand ex-corporate thin client hardware £10 Microdrive adapters on Ebay £3 USB wireless keyboard from local PC shop £15 2Gb Microdrive on Ebay £20 Windows ME (new PC licence) from local PC shop £10 Total cost £58
It's true to say that it would be perfectly possible to buy a 2GHz P4 ex-corporate Compaq system with 40Gb of hard drive, 512Mb of RAM a CD and a version of Windows XP Pro for almost the same money, but you'd have a system around eight times the size, consume ten times the power, and wouldn't fit neatly under the telly!
And of course you'd have none of the satisfaction of building a really useful brand new system from otherwise entirely obsolete equipment!
I should point out that as with anything of this ilk, you're very much on your own in terms of working things out, the manufacturers (who've now been swallowed up by HP) are entirely indifferent to your needs, it never WAS intended as an option & they'd far rather sell you a brand new media-centre PC!
In spite of that, it makes you wonder why nobody thought of marketing something like ths before!
(actually - they did - the anoraks amongst you will doubtless point out that TINY made a set-top PC around 20 years ago based on XT architecture scarcely larger than a floppy disk drive, but as it ran DOS not Windows!)
SO - a PC which connects to your telly, and is smaller than a digibox - how cool is that?
More details
Reliability
Good
Memory / capacity
Satisfactory
Range of Extra Features
Good
Instruction manual
Totally unhelpful
Evaluate this review
How helpful would this review be to someone making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
