Want a Linux computer at home, but don’t really have space for anything bigger than a set-top box? The Trim Slice H sounds exactly like what you’re looking for.
Measuring just 5 x 3.7 x 0.98 inches, it’s barely bigger than a paperback novel, making for one convenient machine to keep around. And since it’s a perfectly serviceable computer, you can use it for all the wonderful things computers do — like run spreadsheets, play media files and run automated programs to DDOS websites with your friends.
The Compulab Trim Slice H is powered by Nvidia’s Tegra 2 system on a chip, which bundles a dual-core 1GHz ARM processor with a GEForce GPU. That core hardware is paired with 1GB of DDR2 RAM, an optional 250GB SATA HDD (you can opt for no storage if you have plenty of spares at home) and WiFi, all housed inside a metal enclosure. Other features include HDMI and DVI ports, Gigabit Ethernet, 4 USB ports, 2 SD slots, an RS232 serial port and a bundled USB Bluetooth adapter. There’s also a Kensington lock for security.
While perfect for a media center PC, an experimental Chromium box or an all-around machine for tinkering with, this could also work as a home office computer (the size is definitely attractive), provided you’re willing to make do with a lot of open-source software and you don’t intend to play a lot of local games during work. It’s available now, priced at $319 for the full set and $279 for the “diskless” option.