Fun with ARM.

[Ken D'Ambrosio]

Hey, all.  A couple months back, I mentioned that I was going to 
purchase an Odroid-X2 (http://tinyurl.com/cjqf52e).  Well, I did -- and 
it's been a blast.  Here's a quick write-up:

- It's a small, quad-core ARM system for $135.  It's expensive when 
compared to a Pi, but it's got way more horespower.
- HDMI
- 2 GB RAM
- 6 USB ports
- 100 Mbit ethernet
- Full-size SDHC slot
- Options for WiFi, webcam, and more
- Comes with Android pre-installed, but getting Ubuntu on it is a cinch 
for anyone who's gone down roads like this before.
- Has a thriving user community with forums on the odroid site.
Downsides:
- It ships from Korea.  Relatively quickly; my order showed up in about 
two weeks.  But shipping is not free, so be *sure* you purchase the 
components you want the first time.
- It comes with a Korean power supply.  Not so hot for plugging in to 
US outlets.  A trip to Radio Shack, and $15 or so, fixed that.
- Quad-core... but with no fan.  Doing a -j4 kernel compile will cause 
a thermal shutdown every time.  That being said, this can be rectified 
with software (in the works; maybe even fixed by now) or hardware.  
Indeed, said "user community" was busy trying to figure out a case 
design that could allow for fans, etc.

Bottom line -- it's just neat.  That being said, the good folks over 
there are busy, busy, busy, and have come out with an even smaller one 
that makes me drool, the Odroid-U2: http://tinyurl.com/d2r6n4z .  At 
roughly 2/3 the form factor of a credit card, it's *tiny*.  It's dropped 
the six USB ports, and gone down to two; it's also dropped the (very 
large) LCD connector.  Still quad-core with 2 GB of RAM, it comes with 
MicroSD.  Also included for its $89 price is an aluminum "case" that's 
really a heatsink with pass-throughs for power, HDMI, USB (slave), and 
audio, and easy access to the on-board USB(master) and ethernet.  While 
I haven't played with it, I have to imagine that the heatsink does a 
fine job of heat dissipation.

If you've got any questions, feel free to shoot 'em my way.

-Ken

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