Netbook vs FitPC

[Bushman]

I know this one has been discussed before, but now I have a need to decide.  My faithful  eeePC did not come back online after yesterdays extended outage (which BTW, took out the IR LEDs on  my Dlink IP cams).  Because this thing is 400 miles away I don't know if the old battery did not have enough juice to sustain the system over the 4 hr outage (and like most netbooks has no power management to auto-on) or whether it too got fried (although it is on a good surge suppressor).  So... if it only a battery replacement (~$30 bucks) is that the way to go or a refurb Netbook (assuming I can find one with a 6 or 7 cell battery) OR a new FitPC?  the latter-most  boxes have come way down in price it seems.  I don't need the video since I use Teamviewer to access the system even when I am there.  The 7" screen is the reason for that.  I figure a nice diskless FitPC and then add a   SSD of at least 16 gb - current one is 4 gb and I manage...)

Anyone?

[Old Tele man]

I'll listen-in here too...

I am interested in possibly swapping my current WL-IP over to a dedicated low-power, "smart-brick," Fit-PCi similar to what you've described.

[GregJ]

I think this one is interesting.... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883103468

Greg

[Bushman]

I think this one is interesting.... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883103468

They have the refurbs for just over $200.  The issue of course is the HDD.  I really want SSD.  But I guess  for that price you could rip out and replace.

[Old Tele man]

I'm more interested in low power consumption because it has to be ON and running all the time, eating Watts and making the kWhr meter "spin" like a 78 rpm record!

The published FitPCi power numbers are: 1 W at standby, 6W at low CPU load, and 8W at full CPU load.

Also, there is a significant "thermal" benefit to using SSD vs. HDD -- the HDD configuration is rated 0-45ºC, but the SSD configuration increases to 0-70ºC.

[Bushman]

The only real downside to the FitPC is no battery.  Add a UPS to the cost.  But the power saving should offset that.

[92merc]

You could go with this combo too.

http://www.mini-box.com/M350-enclosure-with-picoPSU-80-and-60W-adapter
$69

http://www.mini-box.com/Intel-D2500CCE-Mini-ITX-Motherboard
$96

Then you pick your memory from Newegg, and a SATA hard drive.

[Bushman]

Biggest concern with the option you show is the power draw. 80 watt PS?  For a mini-ITX?  Anyone know what the draw is for these sorts of things?

[Old Tele man]

The only real downside to the FitPC is no battery.  Add a UPS to the cost.  But the power saving should offset that.

...sorry, I should have mentioned that I have a spare, unused, Belkin™ UPS that is too small for the wife's "new" super-duper computerized embroidery machine that she recently bought, which I hope to use. The FitPCi's eight watt operating power should definitely NOT be a problem, as the UPS is supposedly rated for 60W for one hour...depending, of course, upon the "life" of the sealed gel-cell lead-acid battery inside.

I'm guessing MOST of that 60W or 80W power supply capacity goes to those added fans and HDD (another benefit for the SSD). I looked through the Intel brochure link and could not find any statement about power consumption at all...but, *if* it really needs those fans, that means there's HEAT and where there's HEAT, there's WATTAGE, which ain't so good...especially in tightly "packed/enclosed" electronic devices.

[92merc]

I had that box bookmarked in case I decide to install my own firewall.  There are a couple of flavors out there that would work with the Intel Atom processor.   While that is a 80w PS, they run 6-16 watts as a firewall.

[WeatherHost]

How about a Raspberry Pi to Go?