CHIP: the New Microboard of Next Thing Co.

Remember Raspberry Pi? The Next Thing Co. new microboard CHIP is on fast track of being the next best thing.

The Oakland team started a Crowfunding campaign for this little guy that long blew over the initial goal of 50,000 dollars. At this point the ammount collected thanks to over 3000 backers is well beyond 200,000 dollars.

It is clear that the new product of Next Thing Co. is eagerly expected by wearables and micro devices enthusiasts. How micro is micro in the case of CHIP? Well, supplied without a case, CHIP new microboard is smaller than a banana or a pencil. It fits in your palm and allows you to carry your work anywhere.

Cleverly designed to reduce space, the board champions only three ports, placing an emphasis on practicality. A full USB port, a micro USB port that allows charging and power and one composite video out for the VGA or HDMI to be plugged in. Other than that, for all connectivity junkies out there, Bluetooth 4.0 and WiFi 802.11b/g/n built in.

Need more? Here it is: it is fully open source, the OS being Debian-based Linux. The Allwinner A13 processor is specially tailored to accomodate the 512MB RAM and the graphics are supported by Mali400 GPU.

Let alone CHIP’s dimensions and configuration, add-ons are set to leave you in awe. CHIP new microboard can work with any type of screen. For these, the VGA and HDMI will come in handy. For those of you who want to take it on the road, you must check out the case that makes CHIP look like a strange, in adding a keyboard and the perk of only one pencil acting as a standing support. A battery connector allows you to take CHIP anywhere for your projects.

Everything is exiciting. And to enjoy the perks of owning the microcomputer, you don’t have to put too much money on the table. The basic version is 9 dollars only. For CHIP accompanied by the battery, one needs to take 19 dollars out of the pocket, as much as for CHIP with the VGA Adapter. CHIP with the HDMI Adapter reaches 24 dollars. And Pocket CHIP is brought to you by 49 dollars.

Everyone is awaiting the shipping of CHIP out in the world. It’s been announced that the deadline for everyone to receive their own microboard personalized to their needs is May 2016.

Image Source: imgix.net

About the Author

About Denise Ehrlich

Denise would describe herself as one more of an experience witness than a journalist. Soon after graduating, Denise worked as a journalist during the presidential campaign of Senior US Senator John McCain. Since then, much has changed, and Denise found herself gravitating towards world news.