Xi3 Modular Computer Is A Tiny PC Sandwich
Tiny computers are always appealing, and Xi3 Corporations' eponymous cube is a good example of the breed. The Xi3 Modular Computer measures under 4-inches a side, and consists of three user-replaceable boards – one for processor and RAM, the other two dealing with the various I/O options – and a slick aluminum chassis.
There's no shortage of connectivity, either, with six USB 2.0 connections, DVI, two eSATA, audio in/out, DisplayPort, ethernet and a proprietary "Xi3 Port" which offers a number of other hot-swapable connections. Three AMD Athlon processors are on offer, running at 1GHz, 1.8GHz and 2.2GHz, with up to 4GB of RAM and 1080p-capable graphics.
Xi3's stance is that just because we want to upgrade our computers every few years, we shouldn't have to bin the whole thing or spend ages grazing our knuckles trying to replace their guts. You'll pay for the convenience, however; the Xi3 Modular Computer is expected to kick off at $849 when it lands in early 2011.
[via iTechNewsNet]
Press Release:
Xi3 Corporation Unveils the Xi3 Modular ComputerWinner of a CES 2011 Innovations Award in the Computer Hardware Category, the cube-like Xi3 Modular Computer measures less than 4-inches per side, is powered by 64-bit x86 dual core processors and may be "the last computer you ever need to buy"
2011 International CES
SALT LAKE CITY–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Xi3® Corporation today announced its Xi3 Modular Computer™, a truly new approach to personal computing.
"We reject the concept that computers should have a useful life of only two to four years"
Showcased last night for the first time to journalists at the CES Unveiled@NY Showcase and Networking Reception in New York City, the Xi3 Modular Computer was named by the Consumer Electronics Association as an Innovations Award Winner in the Computer Hardware category for the 2011 International CES trade show.
Measuring less than 4-inches per side, powered by 64-bit x86 dual core processors, yet requiring an average of 20 Watts or less to operate, the Xi3 Modular computer is a small cube-like computer that is completely modular in nature. The Xi3 Modular Computer is supported by six issued U.S. patents and utilizes the Xi3 computer architecture which divides the classic motherboard into three separate boards:
One board that houses the processors and RAM, and
Two additional I/O boards to handle all connectivity and input/output requirements.
Each Xi3 board can be quickly removed, modified and/or replaced. Additionally, the Xi3 design makes it very easy to connect new external devices to the Xi3 Modular Computer.
"We reject the concept that computers should have a useful life of only two to four years," said Jason A. Sullivan, President and CEO of Xi3 Corporation. "Instead we believe that computers should be upgradeable and updateable over and over and over again, and that's how we've designed the Xi3 Modular Computer, making it (potentially) the last computer you ever need to buy."
The Xi3 architectural design houses the three boards within a strong yet lightweight aluminum cube that is small enough for almost any embedded solution, yet is supremely functional for both office and home use. Additionally, the aluminum casing of the Xi3 Modular Computer serves as a type of heatsink, while the flow-through design and the placement of the processors within the computer combine to help mitigate and dissipate heat blooms inside the enclosure itself. Three of the external sides of the aluminum casing also host separate universal mounting slides, making it simple to mount an Xi3 Modular Computer to almost anything, anywhere. (Visit http://www.xi3.org/tech_specs.php for complete specifications for the Xi3 Modular Computer.)
Retail priced at $849, the Xi3 Modular Computer is available in limited supplies today for evaluation and proofs-of-concept purposes. General availability is slated for early 2011, with other Xi3 products slated for introduction starting in 2011. Xi3 Corporation will exhibit in Booth #26003 in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center at the 2011 International CES tradeshow January 6-9, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
About Xi3 Corporation
Formed in 2010 and headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Xi3 Corporation has brought a new type of computing to the world – modular computing, initially in the form of the Xi3 Modular Computer. For more information on Xi3 Corporation (an ISYS Technologies company), please visit www.Xi3.org.