| Microsoft announces hardware as student competition continues |
Feb. 02, 2008
 Microsoft has announced the hardware to be used in the Embedded Development section of its Imagine Cup 2008 student competition. As teams enter the second round, which starts today, they'll be handed the X86-based DM&P/ICOP eBox-4300, on which contestants will run Windows CE and Visual Studio.
The Imagine Cup competition challenges students to "imagine a world where technology enables a sustainable environment." The competition's Embedded Development section asks teams of three or four competitors, and a faculty mentor, to envision a device that would have an impact on "solving some of our world's toughest problems."
In the first round of the competition, which ended Jan. 31, teams presented their ideas to Microsoft in written form. Those advancing to the second round -- which could be as many as 200 teams, according to the company -- will now receive a copy of Windows CE and a Microsoft-supplied computer, in order to create a prototype of their device.
Ebox-4300
(Click to enlarge) | |
While the focus of the Imagine Cup is on software, having its hardware selected again by Microsoft is something of a coup for DM&P. For several years the competition has used the company's eBox 2300, a 4.5 x 4.5 x 1.4 inch device that employed a 200MHz version of DM&P's own Vortex86 SoC (system-on-chip). This year's hardware is the eBox 4300, which comes in the same case (shown at right) but now has a faster Via processor.
The eBox 4300
The eBox 4300 uses the 500MHz Eden ULV processor introduced by Via in August 2007. The tiny box also uses Via's CX700M integrated northbridge/southbridge.
According to Via, this processor and companion chip consume a combined maximum of 4.5 watts. The eBox-4300 is able to operate without a fan, and its size and light weight allow it to be hung from the back of any monitor that sports VESA standard mounting holes, according to DM&P.
eBox-4300 ports
The eBox-4300 comes with 512MB of DDR2 RAM onboard and is said to accept up to 1GB. The PC also features Via's UniChrome Pro II 3D/2D graphics core, offering acceleration for MPEG-2/-4 and WMV9 decoding, plus a VGA output that supports resolutions up to 1920 x 1440 pixels.
While the eBox-4300 apparently does not have room for a hard drive internally, it does offer an internally accessible EIDE (UltraDMA 133) connector that could be used to add one. Storage could also be added via the system's three USB ports (two on the front, one on the rear), or its Type II/III CompactFlash slot.
Features and specifications listed by DMP/Icop for the eBox-4300 include:- Processor -- Via Eden ULV processor clocked at 500MHz
- Memory -- 512MB of DDR2 RAM, expandable to 1GB
- Display -- Via UniChrome II, supporting resolutions up to 1920 x 1440 pixels
- Networking -- 1 x 10/100 Ethernet port (Realtek RTL8100B chipset)
- Other I/O:
- 2 x RS-232
- VGA
- 1 x PS/2 (supports keyboard and mouse with Y-adapter)
- 1 x EIDE (UltraDMA 133)
- Audio -- mic in, line out
- Expansion:
- 1 x Type II/III CompactFlash slot
- 1 x miniPCI socket
- Dimensions -- 4.5 x 4.5 x 1.4 inches
- Weight -- 18 ounces
- Operating temperature -- 0 to 60 deg. C (32 to 140 deg. F)
According to Microsoft's Scott Davis, "Embedded Captain" for the competition, each team progressing to the second round of the competition will receive an eBox-4300. Teams will also receive copies of Windows CE 6.0 R2 and Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Professional, the former presumably installed via a card in the eBox-4300's CompactFlash slot.
Posting on Microsoft's forum devoted to the Imagine Cup, several contestants questioned the idea of standardized hardware. For example, Jacek Szczypta wrote that having to use an existing solution is only "evolutionary ... The imagination brings revolutionary ideas, so [by specifying a standard platform] the Imagine Cup is ... against its own character."
Assistant Captain Caleb Ho responded, "In order to maximize fairness in the competition and your points with the judges, the eBox-4300 (along with Windows Embedded CE) should be the main platform. Additional hardware is often necessary, but these components should be complimentary to the eBox-4300. Any interesting use of technology and innovative ideas would not be overlooked."
The stakes are not insignificant since, in addition to acclaim, the winning teams will profit financially. Six teams will advance to the Imagine Cup finals, scheduled for July 1-8 in Paris. First prize winners will receive $15,000, second place winners will receive $10,000, and third place $5,000. These figures double the total dollars awarded in 2007, where the corresponding dollar amounts were $8,000, $4,000, and $3,000.
Further information
For information on winners and finalists in last year's competition, and how they employed the e-Box 2300, see our coverage of the Imagine Cup 2007 Embedded Development section winners. To track the progress of Imagine Cup 2008 entrants, Microsoft has established a website with forums, here.
Meanwhile, our sister site LinuxDevices.com has just published a review of the e-Box 4300 by author Eric House. Although the article naturally focuses on the use of Linux, it provides a good feel for how well the device would run Windows CE -- or Windows XP Embedded for that matter.
To read the in-depth review, go here.
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