Need help getting started

tspatrick

     Sorry, but you do not start with the software and build the computer for it unless you are IBM or HP. Why not start with a Raspberry Pi 2 and install C# on Linux (Raspbian). Change your program to use Linux not Windows. Not knowing what your program does, cannot fill in details.

Clem

You could look at the Brix Ultra Compact Celeron PC, SB0565041 from CPC (One of Farnell's alter egos). £79 but you need to add RAM, hard drive and OS - very neat and small but possibly no cheaper than the BP1AD Commercial Pentium SFF PC (SB0563541) from the same place which comes complete at £199.

Another reasonable buy is

Asus UN42 VivoMini Mini PC Celeron (2957U) 1.4GHz Processor 2GB 32GB SSD
Read more at http://www.tesco.com/direct/asus-un42-vivomini-mini-pc-celeron-2957u-14ghz-processor-2gb-32gb-ssd/701-5637.prd#0hUCwt15Y5ymSsFT.99

From Tesco at £211

Of course if you need really cheap just get a second hand desktop PC locally - shouldn't cost more than £30.

MK

making a completely new OS to meet your requirements would take ages! In my opinion, as Clem Martins told, you should use a system like raspberry and then change your application to run on it. It's absolutely easier in my opinion! I'm a C# developer too, and I often see compatibiliy issues on my applications. But the first thing when programming a new software is deciding which system will it run on.

Ok, I must have not have communicated my message well enough. I'm NOT developing a new OS. I am writing a small C# windows based service application to run on some flavor of windows, either embedded or full version.  I was just looking for ideas on what type of hardware should I be looking for with the requirements that I needed.  I like writing software but not that much to write an entire OS.  Funny!   Hopefully that was clear enough.  Thanks for the input though.

-Shawn

Hi Shawn,

As I understand it, you are writing a C# program to run under windows.

Before we can help you further, we need so background information on your project.

I sounds like you want to do an embedded task that uses audio input and output, plus you want it to support Ethernet.

What we need to understand is audio sampling rates, audio output quality, and how much data/speed over Ethernet.

Do you need the embedded computer to run windows?

Have you looked at Windows CE, which might support your needs.

You might also want to look at the new Gizmo 2 board as an easy way to run your windows code.

The more information you can provide enables us to give you better suggestions.

DAB

Hi Shawn,

Do you have an old PC lying around?  You can possibly refresh (i.e. reformat and install all necessary drivers) it first.  Once that's done, deploy your C# service and continue building on your software and feature set.  Once you are comfortable with your software features, then you can start looking for a better hardware platform it will run on.

Christever

depending in the C# program, it may well happily run under MONO on Linux as mentioned above

it is the application you need to run if I am understanding you correctly, it is not windows that is the critical factor here

So you are looking for a vheap and chearful machine to run it on, if you really insist on windows then your pretty much looking for a second hand laptop or desktop machine or buying a microATX based board with an INTEL ATOM or something similar, all this is possibly way over kill for what you may need so, this is why Clem, Michael and DAB are suggesting alternatives

the 30$ RPI 2 with C# for Linux installed may well do perfectly for what you trying to do

Regards

Peter

Clem,

Since your post I have been reviewing the Raspberry Pi.  Very cool!  I ordered a few things.  How well does the Raspberry Pi hold up in a commercial application scenario. Our application will be barely used but when it is needed it could be life or death.  I'm not that familiar with Linux and don't know enough to say I know anything.  I ordered the following.

1 x Adafruit Raspberry Pi B+ / Pi 2 Case - Smoke Base w/ Clear Top

1 x Wolfson Audio Card

1 x 8GB Card with NOOBS 1.4

1 x 5V 2A Switching Power Supply w/ 20AWG 6' MicroUSB Cable

1 x Raspberry Pi Model B+ 512MB RAM

1 x USB Audio Adapter - Works with Raspberry Pi

1 x Raspberry Pi 1 Model B+ Starter Pack - Includes a Raspberry Pi 1

How many speakers can this setup handle and at what distance cable?  The speaker needs to be 3" round and be able to project a voice conversation across room.  Sound quality not that important but clear enough to understand.  Same thing for microphone, small but able to pick up someone's voice from across the room. The largest room will be the living area which is roughly 21 ft by 20 ft.  Other rooms will be bathrooms and bedrooms.

Any suggestions or ideas would be very helpful.

Thanks,

Shawn

If you seriously mean that your application is life or death safety critical then NONE of the suggestions made in this thread are valid (because you never mentioned it up till now).

There is a wide range of methodology for dealing with safety critical systems.

To design and manufacture such a system you need access to considerable expertise in Functional Safety (google it) .

I withdraw my suggestions re. cheap PCs - I wouldn't bet my business on one let alone someone's life ( ditto RPi, it wasnever meant for this).

MK

Shawn,

Seems like you want to build an emergency response system-like commercial product that would act as a hands-free module, as what I can interpret from your requirements and the kits you have ordered.  And if so, as what MK has mentioned, the rPi was never designed to be used in such application, so I would be really cautious about using it as your platform.  Also, you have established that you are not that well-versed in Linux, makes it even difficult to sell the idea of a product that can be life or death critical when used.

All the best,

Christever