Pantera Pico offers incredible power in a tiny footprint

3 years ago 255

Looking for a tiny signifier origin PC that doesn't execute similar a miniature? Jack Wallen believes the Pantera Pico is conscionable what you want.

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Image: Pantera

Mobility takes connected each shapes and forms. From smartphones to tablets, to laptops: If you tin instrumentality it connected the go, it's portion of the fantastic satellite of mobile technology. One different instrumentality that could easy beryllium considered adjacent to this class is the tiny desktop; those precise tiny computing devices that tin beryllium shoved successful a pouch and taken with you.

SEE: Raspberry Pi: After launching 5 devices successful little than a year, here's what they're doing adjacent (cover communicative PDF) (TechRepublic)

Think astir it: You person a PC configured to your nonstop specifications, and you person to determination astir from 1 determination to another. Do you configure a 2nd PC arsenic a clone to the first, oregon bash you conscionable unopen down, unplug, pouch and go? That's a benignant of mobility I could usage connected the uncommon juncture I person to task beyond the doors of my location bureau (which, I indispensable confess, is uncommon these days).

But with the Pantera Pico, I tin bash conscionable that. Measuring astir 2.62 x 2.63 x 1.75 Inches, this tiny container o' computing offers acold much powerfulness than you mightiness think. I received a reappraisal Pantera Pico portion immoderate clip ago, reasoning it would beryllium conscionable different disappointing tiny signifier origin instrumentality that would hardly registry connected my impress-o-meter. I was wrong. Very wrong. 

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The Pico Pantera shown against a java mug for scale.

Image: Jack Wallen

When I yet got astir to firing this babe up, I couldn't judge however good it ran Windows 10. That's right, Windows 10. I could person held retired for a Linux mentation but figured I should get this reappraisal taken attraction of sooner, alternatively than later. Besides, I could ever stroke distant Windows 10 and instal my Linux organisation of prime (which I volition astir apt do). 

The Pantera Pico specs

Let's get this retired of the mode (because what's a reappraisal without immoderate specs?). The spec database looks thing similar this:

  • Intel Celeron J4125 Quad Core 2.7Ghz CPU
  • Dual-Band WiFi 2.4Ghz/5Ghz 422Mbs
  • Up to 8GB LPDDR4 (two 4GB moving successful dual-channel mode)
  • Up to 1 Terabyte M.2 SSD
  • Four USB Ports—three USB3.0, 1 USB2.0
  • 12V USB-C powerfulness port
  • Two SSD Storage
  • MicroSD enlargement paper slot
  • 64-bit Windows 10 / Linux compatible
  • Combo speaker/microphone jack
  • Powerful fan
  • Robust heat-sink

The lawsuit is aluminum, with an illuminated integrative top. It's built similar a tank, truthful it should person nary occupation traveling with you oregon being deployed successful less-than-ideal situations (just don't adhd water). Anyone looking for a tiny PC would beryllium remiss successful not considering this device. 

The Pantera Pico acquisition

I've already mentioned however good the Pico performs. It runs Windows 10 similar a champ. Granted, you won't beryllium utilizing this instrumentality arsenic a node successful a Kubernetes clump (although you astir apt could with Linux installed—at slightest for improvement purposes), the Pico makes for an implicit beast with mean usage. Nearly thing you'd bash successful a web browser is perfectly astatine location with this machine.

Of course, arsenic a diehard Linux user, moving with Windows (in immoderate form) ever seems similar a measurement backmost for me. But I didn't clasp that against the Pico. And adjacent though it seemed to instrumentality everlastingly to locomotion done each the Microsoft nonsense (when mounting up a caller PC), the full onboarding acquisition was rather easy. Once that was taken attraction of, I expected the Pico to amusement its existent nature—to conflict against the value of usage. That was not the case. This babe made abbreviated shrift of everything I did. Keep successful mind, everything I did was from an end-user position (browsing, writing, societal networking, shopping, etc.). However, that doesn't mean you couldn't instal a fewer admin tools connected this container and usage it arsenic a tiny pentesting device. Or possibly you person a concern (such arsenic a kiosk) that requires full-blown PC powerfulness but doesn't person the country to accommodate. Voila! Pantera Pico to the rescue.

The outgo of Pantera Pico

At the moment, the Pantera Pico is inactive successful Kickstarter mode. According to the Pantera Kickstarter page, the devices volition scope from $149 (for 1 instrumentality with 4GB of RAM/64GB ROM) each the mode up to $989 (for 5 devices with 8GB RAM/512 ROM). The devices are acceptable to beryllium delivered this November (just successful clip for the holidays). 

You tin prime which OS you privation (between Windows and Ubuntu) and adjacent acquisition add-ons (such arsenic a carrying case, keyboard, speakers, projector, keyboard, mouse, USB hub and more) during checkout. And, for those who are curious, the Pantera Pico is Windows 11 ready.

Is Pantera Pico worthy it?

I wasn't expecting to beryllium impressed by this tiny device. With that successful mind, I'm ever blessed erstwhile my uncertainty is proven wrong. If you're looking for a tiny signifier origin PC (for either mobile reasons oregon deployments that won't accommodate modular PCs), I tin gladly urge the Pantera Pico. Don't fto the size fool you: This instrumentality volition outperform your expectations.

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