[Ma-linux] Re: [Dclug] PIC microcontroller epilogue

[Przemek Klosowski]

   Anyway I saw this and though it's certainly a lot more money than a simple
   microcontroller, I think this is the kind of product we're going to see more
   of:

   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6212564523.html?kc=LXDEMNL112907

Nice, but it shows the common problem: $160 is practically the same as the
cost of OLPC, for a much smaller hat. It needs to be $16... that's why
I keep playing with those microcontrollers. 

So, you might say, who cares---you can't run Linux on microcontrollers.
Well, the Philips/NXS LPC21xx entry-level ARMs cost $1.50; they'd need
more flash and RAM for LInux, but not much, so the $15 cost target
is realistic.  

Tin Can uses a Samsung S3C2410A ARM chip which probably costs around
$5 plus some flash and RAM, crystal and few passive components
(cf. the picture). I am guessing the parts total cost is under $20.
The Tin Can guy seems to say that he released the design schematics
(although I haven't seen them on his site) unlder GPL, but doesn't
give out the PCB design. Still, someone could draw it and have it made
for another few $/board---that would get us closer to my target price..