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I'm looking for a very cheap machine to run a linux distro for security(anti-thief) software. I would like to be able to connect to the network and a couple of webcams. May be ip-webcams or usb-webcams.

The idea is having a machine with batteryes, laptop style, but there is no need to have a display/monitor attatched all the time.

I'm planning to spend no more than 200$, in case it also gets stolen.

Any advice on what to buy? (all modifications to this security plan are welcome)

Thanks.

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Do you really need batteries for a machine that would just sit in one place all the time and monitor webcams? Anyway, 1) the battery wouldn't last long while the machine is capturing and analysing frames because it is rather CPU-intensive task and 2) you won't find a cheap, non-laptop machine with integrated batteries. – whitequark Jun 14 '10 at 14:56
Any suggestion then? something without batteries will be good enough. Thanks for your suggestion and good point of view. – marc.riera Jun 14 '10 at 15:52
Super User is not a shopping site. – quack quixote Jun 16 '10 at 17:06
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closed as too localized by Nifle, quack quixote Jun 16 '10 at 17:04

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I'm not sure I understand the idea of wanting batteries. Is it in case of power failure? If you need batteries then you may want to pick up an Asus EeePC netbook, either 700 or 900 series, which can be found refurbished for low prices: http://www.mwave.com/mwave/SKUSearch_v3.asp?px=DS&scriteria=3005614

One solution without battery backup would be the TonidoPlug, which is a $99 "computer on a wall plug" that runs Linux and has a USB port. I assume what you want could be done (i.e, security monitoring using webcam) but I don't have any ideas as to how you'd set it up: http://www.tonidoplug.com/tonido_plug.html

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It runs Ubuntu Jaunty: just install ZoneMinder and plug the camera in. – whitequark Jun 14 '10 at 15:13
Both Herbert and whitequark made a good point with the batteries suggestion. Probably I do not neet battery supply, i just need to put a camera on the power supply weakes zone. :D Good approach here. So, if I do not need batteries, which machine will you suggest? I'm starting to think about produce it as something to sell and make some money, so the cheapest and strongest, the best. No need to have a big CPU. – marc.riera Jun 14 '10 at 15:52
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