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I'm looking for the simplest possible miniature computing device that would be programmable, and has support for wireless networking and audio.

Ideally, this thing would:

  • Run GNU/linux or some light version thereof
  • Run python, perl, or another scripting language, though I could also compile for it (that's less ideal)
  • Support wifi (802.11g/b)
  • Play 16-bit audio files to a jack into which I could plug speakers (a simple wav file or equivalent would be great)
  • Have some programmable indicators/lights on it

The device need not fit all criteria perfectly, but would come as close as possible within the budget. I want to spend as little time installing/soldering/compiling as possible, to minimize the time it takes to get my first running code on the thing. I'm looking to spend less than $200.

Does this device exist?

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This is a shopping question, which we don't allow - we prefer technical questions with one right answer. Additionally, it's about purchasing something that's outside of the scope of the site: We're about how to design the motherboard for a plug computer like this, not about where and what to buy. – Kevin Vermeer Nov 10 '11 at 0:08
"Motherboards that run Linux" may have something you could use. – davidcary Nov 10 '11 at 3:26
Look at some of the small arm-powered linux solutions - beagle board and its derivatives, chumby either gutted or purchased as the hacker board, the upcoming rasberry pi, etc. – Chris Stratton Nov 10 '11 at 17:17

closed as not constructive by Kevin Vermeer Nov 10 '11 at 0:06

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