ethernet over mains

[Andy Burns]

I seem to remember there are a few fans of it in here, this might be of interest

[Styx]

That's a brilliant idea.

Only downside I can see to it (in comparison to the regular home-plug type solutions) is that you can easily move one of the current home-plug wallwarts to another socket if you need to do so.

For situations where the installation is going to be pretty much permanent/static, this looks like a very neat solution.

Styx

[dave]

Presumably the device ensures data protection - so that everyone else on the same phase in town can't use your bandwidth? :-)

[The Natural Philosopher]

OOOH. Not very green is it? its ON ALL THE TIME. You would need at least another windmill in your back garden for those...

[Robin]

I'm a fan of ethernet over mains. The box is a nice idea, but...

The gap between the power socket and the ethernet socket doesn't look big enough. It looks like a standard size power plug would foul the ethernet socket (and don't get me started on wall-warts).

[Andy Burns]

The article did mention that, the company claimed it wasn't a problem, however the also mentioned having a further prototype that rotates the RJ45 sockets by 90 degrees and lowered them a bit ...

[Pete Verdon]

Also, looking at the picture with the transparent back-box, I wouldn't like to try to wire the thing up. There's bugger-all space left for cables.

Pete

[Steve Walker]

Maybe they'd be better making the depth of the front plate a little greater and putting the ethernet connections in the edge.

Steve W

[Huge]

Ethernet connections in a mains socket? Pah. That ain't nothing. I was playing with one of these yesterday;

[Rod]

Any good? Looks very interesting.

[Huge]

We're still looking at them. Not very much to do with me, since I'm a Unix geek. My heart sank when I read "Windows CE", though. If all they're going to do is run a Citrix or RDP client or a web browser, why not use a proper O/S?

[Rod]

The thin client I am most familiar with (and that mainly from supporting the servers behind them) are by Neoware - now IIRC bought by HP. They run some *nix. And, unlike many, support two screens.

[Styx]

They do, at least, state that "Linux implementations are being investigated by Chip PC's R&D department but there are no timescales for this as yet" in the FAQ.

I'm kindof surprised they didn't go down the Linux route from the start, seeing as how they must be paying license fees to bundle WinCE.

Styx

[Huge]

That and the fact that it's deeply, seriously, profoundly crap. Even setting aside my anti-MS feelings, anyone using CE as an embedded O/S is some kind of loon.

[Steve Firth]

BMW, Mercedes.

[Huge]

Yes, I know. But I stick by my assertion.

[dennis]

I have previously handled a full blown PC that wasn't much bigger than a double socket (it was actually free standing and was about the size of the disk drive but twice as thick).. that would run Linux with ease. I just can't remember who it was.. it was about five years ago. 8-(

Maybe they sell better?

[Steve Firth]

Oh I was agreeing. I'm bemused that anyone would use wince as an embedded OS. Using it to control ECU, central locking, air con, suspension settings etc strikes me as insanity. I think I've mentioned before my lawyer friend who had to re-boot his Mercedes after wince hung as he was pelting down the outside line of the autostrada.