The ZimaBoard is a small, fanless computer powered by a 6-watt Intel Apollo Lake processor with support for hard drives and SSDs. Apart from having an Intel CPU (vs an ARM processor) this computer also has 2x SATA III, 1x PCIe 2.0 and 2x Gigabit Ethernet ports to set it apart from a Raspberry Pi. So it is more readily usable with expanded storage capabilities and dual networking. It is also a lot cheaper than buying an Intel NUC with a single network port.
It can be used as a media server, software router, personal cloud, VPN and Firewall, smart home monitoring, file sharing and collaboration applications, embedded projects, or personal server applications.
Yes it will cost more than a Pi, and it is a Kickstarter project (with 20% off the final retail price), but I see DBTech has just received one to review on YouTube, so it does actually exist.
See https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/icewhaletech/zimaboard-single-board-server-for-creators
#technology #server #zimaboard #raspberrypi #hardware
I’d still do a proper evaluation before buying again next time. I would never just assume the NUC is better. It depends on what I need to do, and the cost as well. I had looked at a NUC last year for my daughter, and noted they had got very pricey.
Better is relative but ive seen nucs in thrift stores for ten bucks. Doubt you’ll ever even see a zimaboard.
I guess I hope it isn’t vaporware but that’s probably just because I want all these other really cool looking boards losing support immediately after they ship (if they even do ship). That’s why I like the compute module stuff, its much easier to design, fab, and fund than a whole SoC SBC.