a new one of these little computer in a box things seem to be popping up every couple weeks, are they selling that well to warrant so many companies making so many varieties?
Is there a good website for keeping track of these ARM SoC PC's ? I'd like to see at a glance what is currently available and detailed spec of the chipsets.
They do reviews on most of these devices. I have two mk802s that I'm trying to setup as a sort of custom monitoring devices. This probably sounds like a form of pen testing (and it is similar) but I'm working on having one of these power up, search out open wifi networks, connect, then vpn into my server and start posting stats.
Among other things I do managed wifi. In the past, I've had to setup some sort of pre-configured desktop or laptop on site to do something like this. I'd like to improve on that (and a < $50 price point is nice) by dropping one of these off and letting it do the work automatically. I can do some access point monitoring remotely (ping, ssh, https, number of clients), but doing a speedtest and signal strength pretty much needs a device on premise.
The OP's site, http://linuxgizmos.com, is pretty good for that kind of thing. The blog to be called Linux Devices but got idled in some kind of Ziff-Davis acquisition. The editor has restarted it at this new address.
Unfortnately there isn't a central chart tracking each of these chip families and their capabilities. You're better off targeting a processor core (MIPS or ARM), speed/core quantity, and then deciding what kind of spice you want added to the mix (USB, UARTs galore, LCD controller, HDMI, Ethernet PHY, etc.)
Also check the Linux Devices subreddit.
http://www.reddit.com/r/linux_devices/
Not hugely active, but most boards from the last year or so will be there.
