Ampro Announces First Embedded-PC single board computer with Built-In IBM Microdrive
Ampro Announces First Embedded-PC single board computer with Built-In IBM Microdrive
San Jose, Calif., Sept. 28, 1999. Ampro Computers Inc., originator of the PC/104, PC/104-Plus, and EBX standards for embedded PCs today announced and demonstrated the world's first EBX embedded-PC single board computer with a built-in IBM microdrive hard disk option. Through this configuration of its popular LittleBoard/P5x single board computer, Ampro will target IBM's microdrive at numerous opportunities in a broad spectrum of embedded applications including industrial, datacom/telecom, avionics, and mobile.
World's Smallest Hard Drive
The IBM microdrive, believed to be the smallest hard disk drive shipping, has a disk platter the size of a large coin and weighs less than a AA battery. The tiny IBM drive, which uses high-performance, time-proven hard disk drive technology, offers a much lower cost-per-megabyte and holds more content than most alternate small-format storage technologies. It can hold: 1,000 digital photographs compressed; six hours of near CD-quality audio; 300 hefty novels; or the equivalent of more than 200 standard-size floppy diskettes.
"Although IBM initially targeted its development of the microdrive for digital cameras, hand-held PCs, and personal audio player applications, this collaboration between Ampro and IBM introduces the benefits of the microdrive - small size, high reliability, and excellent cost/performance - into the diverse array of embedded applications served by Ampro's industry leading single-board computers" said Joanne Mumola Williams, president and chief operating officer of Ampro Computers, Inc. "Ampro's customers place an extremely high priority on quality, reliability, performance, and cost. So it was appropriate that we source a product such as this from IBM, whose capability to produce highly reliable mobile disk drives is unequaled in the mass storage industry."
Embedded Pentium System
Ampro's LittleBoard/P5x is a highly integrated, high performance Pentium processor based single board computer in the "EBX" non-backplane embedded computer form-factor (5.75 x 8.0 in.). The module contains all the functions of a laptop/desktop PC on a single compact and highly embeddable board-level "macrocomponent". Features include: 266MHz Intel mobile Pentium processor ("Tillamook"), 256MB DRAM, LCD/CRT display interface, 100 megabit Ethernet port, CompactFlash socket, SCSI interface, and PC/104-Plus modular expansion. The module is well qualified to meet the demands of fixed, portable, and mobile embedded applications, with its extended operating temperature, MIL-STD-202F shock/vibration, long product lifecycle (5+ years), and a 3-year warranty.
Embedded Pentium System
"This new microdrive from IBM is a 'dream come true' from the embedded system developer's perspective" said Rick Lehrbaum, Ampro founder and executive vice president of strategic development. "Since it is designed to meet the reliability and ruggedness requirements of mobile applications yet implemented with proven hard disk technology, and packaged into the tiny CompactFlash form-factor, the IBM microdrive offers full performance, low cost, ruggedness, and removability" added Lehrbaum. "Best of all," concludes Lehrbaum, "when used in the built-in CompactFlash socket on our LittleBoard/P5x single board computer, the microdrive occupies zero footprint!"
About Ampro
Now in its 16th year, Ampro Computers, Inc., is the leading manufacturer of PC-compatible computer modules for embedded applications. The company invented the PC/104 and PC/104-Plus standards, and co-authored (with Motorola) the EBX high-performance non-backplane single board computer standard (based on Ampro's popular LittleBoard form-factor). Ampro's extensive line of PC/104 form-factor CoreModule CPUs and MiniModule expansion products, and EBX form-factor LittleBoard single board computers enable OEMs to integrate PC-compatible architectures into their products while minimizing system size, time-to-revenue, and development costs and risks. Ampro's embedded computer modules are optimized for fixed, portable, and mobile environments and support extended temperatures, shock/vibration, and CE mark compliance. All Ampro embedded-PC products are manufactured in ISO9000-certified factories.
Media Contacts:
Ampro Computers, Inc.
Victoria Kostka
Tel: 1-408-360-4324
Email: vkostka@ampro.com
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