Tianhua GX-1C
Encyclopedia
The Sinomanic Tianhua GX-1C is a specially tailored subnotebook
for primary and secondary school students in mainland China. It uses China's Loongson I (Longxin) CPU. The device is designed for use as an educational aid and to introduce young students to computers.
-based Sinomanic Co., Ltd., launched four models of low-cost personal computers in 2006. Sinomanic is the second maker of Loongson based personal computers in mainland China. The firm has announced a sales target of 500,000 to 1 million units for their Tianhua GX-1C model. The GX-1C uses a Loongson I (Longxin) CPU similar to that used in the commercially distributed Longmeng
Municator from a Chinese startup named Yellow Sheep River. Loongson (Longxin) translates as "Dragon Chip".
Sinomanic has created four different models for distribution to specific markets. The Tianhua GX-1 and Tianhua GX-1C are marketed for education. The Tian Yan GX-2 is a rural computer marketed for farmers, Tian Yan is designed to be used with a television
instead of a standard computer monitor, much like the Commodore 64
and Amiga
. the operating system for the Tian Yan is tailored for use with a television display. The Tianlong GX-3 is a more robust machine marketed for business. The Tiansheng GX-4 with slightly less memory and processor speeds that vary between 400MHz and 600MHz marketed for multimedia users. All desktop units support VGA and television video output.
s.
specifications as of 28 October 2006 are:
instruction sets to work with Debian Linux and Windows CE
. However, the use of the MIPS
instruction set allowed them to correct many of their compatibility issues.
Versions of Debian Linux and Windows CE will be available for the units that ship initially. But because these operating systems cannot be optimized for Loongson's unique RISC instruction set, Sinomanic has continued development on their own second generation microkernel
operating system codenamed Future Alpha. Future Alpha has apparently been customized for compatibility with the 32-bit
Loongson I (Longxin) processor. And Sinomanic recently tested an updated version of Future Alpha, for the 64-bit
Loongson II microprocessor. The company said that the 64-bit version of their Future Alpha operating system had successfully passed testing on January 19, 2007.
In a press release dated 3 March 2007, Sinomanic demonstrated a custom version of Debian Linux running on the Tian Yan GX-2 their rural computer. The unit appeared to be using GNOME
as its graphical user interface
. Software applications shown were: the Mozilla Firefox
browser, an unnamed text editor
, Pidgin
instant messenger, a PDF reader, and the Evolution email client.
Subnotebook
A subnotebook is a class of laptop computers that are smaller and lighter than a typical laptop....
for primary and secondary school students in mainland China. It uses China's Loongson I (Longxin) CPU. The device is designed for use as an educational aid and to introduce young students to computers.
History
SichuanSichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
-based Sinomanic Co., Ltd., launched four models of low-cost personal computers in 2006. Sinomanic is the second maker of Loongson based personal computers in mainland China. The firm has announced a sales target of 500,000 to 1 million units for their Tianhua GX-1C model. The GX-1C uses a Loongson I (Longxin) CPU similar to that used in the commercially distributed Longmeng
Longmeng
Lemote is a computer company established as a joint venture between the Jiangsu Menglan Group and the Chinese Institute of Computing Technology, involved in computer hardware and software products, services, and projects.-History:...
Municator from a Chinese startup named Yellow Sheep River. Loongson (Longxin) translates as "Dragon Chip".
Sinomanic has created four different models for distribution to specific markets. The Tianhua GX-1 and Tianhua GX-1C are marketed for education. The Tian Yan GX-2 is a rural computer marketed for farmers, Tian Yan is designed to be used with a television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
instead of a standard computer monitor, much like the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
and Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
. the operating system for the Tian Yan is tailored for use with a television display. The Tianlong GX-3 is a more robust machine marketed for business. The Tiansheng GX-4 with slightly less memory and processor speeds that vary between 400MHz and 600MHz marketed for multimedia users. All desktop units support VGA and television video output.
Sinomanic model comparison table
Prices of desktop models do not include displayComputer display
A monitor or display is an electronic visual display for computers. The monitor comprises the display device, circuitry, and an enclosure...
s.
| Model | Name | Price | CPU | Memory | Storage | Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GX-1C | Tianhua | ¥1,998 yuan | 400MHz | 128MB SDRAM | 40GB | education |
| GX-1 | Tianhua | ¥1,998 | 400MHz | 128MB DDR | 60GB | education |
| GX-2 | Tian Yan | ¥988 | 400MHz | 128MB DDR | 1G SD Secure Digital Secure Digital is a non-volatile memory card format developed by the SD Card Association for use in portable devices. The SD technology is used by more than 400 brands across dozens of product categories and more than 8,000 models, and is considered the de-facto industry standard.Secure Digital... |
rural |
| GX-3 | Tianlong | ¥2,998* | 600MHz | 256MB DDR | 60GB | business |
| GX-4 | Tiansheng | ¥1,398* | 400MHz | 128MB DDR | 60GB | multimedia |
Hardware GX-1C
The reference hardwareComputer hardware
Personal computer hardware are component devices which are typically installed into or peripheral to a computer case to create a personal computer upon which system software is installed including a firmware interface such as a BIOS and an operating system which supports application software that...
specifications as of 28 October 2006 are:
- CPU: Loongson 1 (Godson) 32KB cache level RISC instruction set 32-bit CPU – GS32I
- Clock speedClock rateThe clock rate typically refers to the frequency that a CPU is running at.For example, a crystal oscillator frequency reference typically is synonymous with a fixed sinusoidal waveform, a clock rate is that frequency reference translated by electronic circuitry into a corresponding square wave...
: 400MHz - Display: LCD 8.4 inch 1280 x 1024/24 (TFT 24-bit color) Xiancun
- SDRAMSDRAMSynchronous dynamic random access memory is dynamic random access memory that is synchronized with the system bus. Classic DRAM has an asynchronous interface, which means that it responds as quickly as possible to changes in control inputs...
: 128MB PC100 MCom - Hard disk: IDE notebook 40GB
- IDE controller: 32-bit PCI IT8212IT8212The IT8212, or more correctly the IT8212F, is a low-end Parallel ATA controller designed by the Taiwanese company , more commonly known as ITE Inc. Depending on the implemented BIOS and configuration the IT8212F functions in either a RAID or an ATAPI mode, supporting up to four devices using dual...
, two IDE channels, supports four IDE devices - RAID controllerDisk controllerThe disk controller is the circuit which enables the CPU to communicate with a hard disk, floppy disk or other kind of disk drive.Early disk controllers were identified by their storage methods and data encoding. They were typically implemented on a separate controller card...
: supports PIOProgrammed input/outputProgrammed input/output is a method of transferring data between the CPU and a peripheral such as a network adapter or an ATA storage device....
Mode 0–4, DMADirect memory accessDirect memory access is a feature of modern computers that allows certain hardware subsystems within the computer to access system memory independently of the central processing unit ....
mode 0–2, Ultra DMA Mode 0–6, embedded CPU RAID function - EthernetEthernet physical layerThe Ethernet physical layer is the physical layer component of the Ethernet family of computer network standards.The Ethernet physical layer evolved over a considerable time span and encompasses quite a few physical media interfaces and several magnitudes of speed...
: 10/100M - Modem port: ADSLAsymmetric Digital Subscriber LineAsymmetric digital subscriber line is a type of digital subscriber line technology, a data communications technology that enables faster data transmission over copper telephone lines than a conventional voiceband modem can provide. It does this by utilizing frequencies that are not used by a voice...
- Host interface: integrated USBUniversal Serial BusUSB is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and protocols used in a bus for connection, communication and power supply between computers and electronic devices....
1.1 - Audio: AC'97 2.2 18 48kHz (maximum sampling frequency which supports voice communication); stereo 2 channel, jacks for external stereo speakers and microphones, line-out, and mic-in
- Speakers: stereoStereophonic soundThe term Stereophonic, commonly called stereo, sound refers to any method of sound reproduction in which an attempt is made to create an illusion of directionality and audible perspective...
built in - KeyboardKeyboard (computing)In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches...
: integrated - Power source: unspecified notebook power supply
Software
According to a translated FAQ on the Sinomanic website and an article on Sanhaostreet.com, Sinomanic technicians were having trouble getting Loongson's proprietary RISCReduced instruction set computer
Reduced instruction set computing, or RISC , is a CPU design strategy based on the insight that simplified instructions can provide higher performance if this simplicity enables much faster execution of each instruction. A computer based on this strategy is a reduced instruction set computer...
instruction sets to work with Debian Linux and Windows CE
Windows CE
Microsoft Windows CE is an operating system developed by Microsoft for embedded systems. Windows CE is a distinct operating system and kernel, rather than a trimmed-down version of desktop Windows...
. However, the use of the MIPS
MIPS architecture
MIPS is a reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by MIPS Technologies . The early MIPS architectures were 32-bit, and later versions were 64-bit...
instruction set allowed them to correct many of their compatibility issues.
Versions of Debian Linux and Windows CE will be available for the units that ship initially. But because these operating systems cannot be optimized for Loongson's unique RISC instruction set, Sinomanic has continued development on their own second generation microkernel
Microkernel
In computer science, a microkernel is the near-minimum amount of software that can provide the mechanisms needed to implement an operating system . These mechanisms include low-level address space management, thread management, and inter-process communication...
operating system codenamed Future Alpha. Future Alpha has apparently been customized for compatibility with the 32-bit
32-bit
The range of integer values that can be stored in 32 bits is 0 through 4,294,967,295. Hence, a processor with 32-bit memory addresses can directly access 4 GB of byte-addressable memory....
Loongson I (Longxin) processor. And Sinomanic recently tested an updated version of Future Alpha, for the 64-bit
64-bit
64-bit is a word size that defines certain classes of computer architecture, buses, memory and CPUs, and by extension the software that runs on them. 64-bit CPUs have existed in supercomputers since the 1970s and in RISC-based workstations and servers since the early 1990s...
Loongson II microprocessor. The company said that the 64-bit version of their Future Alpha operating system had successfully passed testing on January 19, 2007.
In a press release dated 3 March 2007, Sinomanic demonstrated a custom version of Debian Linux running on the Tian Yan GX-2 their rural computer. The unit appeared to be using GNOME
GNOME
GNOME is a desktop environment and graphical user interface that runs on top of a computer operating system. It is composed entirely of free and open source software...
as its graphical user interface
Graphical user interface
In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
. Software applications shown were: the Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is a free and open source web browser descended from the Mozilla Application Suite and managed by Mozilla Corporation. , Firefox is the second most widely used browser, with approximately 25% of worldwide usage share of web browsers...
browser, an unnamed text editor
Text editor
A text editor is a type of program used for editing plain text files.Text editors are often provided with operating systems or software development packages, and can be used to change configuration files and programming language source code....
, Pidgin
Pidgin (software)
Pidgin is an open-source multi-platform instant messaging client, based on a library named libpurple. Libpurple has support for many commonly used instant messaging protocols, allowing the user to log into various services from one application.The number of Pidgin users was estimated to be over 3...
instant messenger, a PDF reader, and the Evolution email client.
See also
- Comparison of netbooksComparison of netbooksThese tables provide a comparison of netbooks. See also the comparison of subnotebooks, as there is significant overlap between these categories.Aspects of netbooks that should be considered:...
a comparison including similar models - One Laptop per Child, OLPC
- Digital TextbookDigital TextbookThe digital textbook program was announced by the Education Ministry of South Korea on March 8, 2007. The digital textbook is currently being tested in several primary schools and will be distributed free to every school nation-wide by 2013.-Definition:...
a South KoreaSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n Project that intends to distribute tablet notebooks to elementary school students. - Lemote also called Dragon Dream is a low-cost computer designed and made in ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
- VIA OpenBookVIA OpenBookVIA OpenBook is an open-source hardware laptop reference design from VIA Technologies. It was announced in 2008.-Specifications:-Processor, memory:*Processor: 1.0 GHz VIA Nano ULV*Chipset: VIA VX800 unified*Memory: DDR2 SO-DIMM up to 2 GB...
, a project functionally similar to the OLPC - SimputerSimputerThe Simputer is a self-contained, open hardware Linux-based handheld computer, first released in 2002. Developed in, and primarily distributed within India, the product was envisioned as a low-cost alternative to personal computers...
is an earlier project to construct cheap handheld computers in IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... - VIA pc-1 InitiativeVIA pc-1 InitiativeThe VIA pc-1 Initiative is a project of VIA Technologies, established in January 2005, to help bridge the digital divide by developing information and communication technology systems to benefit those who currently do not have computers or Internet access.-Aims:The initiative sought to enable the...
a project of VIA TechnologiesVIA TechnologiesVIA Technologies is a Taiwanese manufacturer of integrated circuits, mainly motherboard chipsets, CPUs, and memory, and is part of the Formosa Plastics Group. It is the world's largest independent manufacturer of motherboard chipsets...
to help bridge the digital divide. - Wizzy Digital CourierWizzy Digital CourierWizzy Digital Courier is a project to distribute useful data to places with no Internet connection. Primarily for e-mail, it also carries web content . From an early description of the project 1:...
: Internet access for rural schools via USB stick - EdubuntuEdubuntuEdubuntu, also previously known as Ubuntu Education Edition, is an official derivative of the Ubuntu operating system designed for use in classrooms inside schools, homes and communities....
: A free Linux distribution designed specifically for use in schools and home classrooms