Thread: ideas: intel atom with ssd hd or

hi, i'm seeking ideas building lowest cost computer possible. besides being inexpensive i'd have agile performance, compactness, quietness , ease of assembly , setup. i'm thinking of building basic system intel atom , 4gb ram , using advice in tread save data and/or home directory external , swappable memory storage:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1785567

questions:
- explain why ssd faster , costlier usb memory? instead of mechanical harddrive want use small ssd-hd, perhaps 8 16gb , store home directory links usb or sdhd flash. noticed price bootable ssd-hd. 16gb around $60. usb or sdhd flash same amount of memory $16. see spec says sdhd "class 4" understand mean 4x normal cd rom speed (so same memory speed 4x cd-rom... that's slow. why ssd bootable memory more costly usb or sdhd memory same amount? also, suppose booting ssd-hd much faster booting usb. otherwise, low spec system boot usb rather hd.

- latest intel itx motherboard w/atom run unity in 2d mode or standard mode? i'm familiar xubuntu , love because of simplicity , lack of distractions getting things done. i've never used unity, after researching impressed. think canonical deserves kudos , accolades rather scorn attempting create new computer experience offers linux yet community real choice rather distribution own different wallpaper etc.

- can skip case w/power supply , buy inexpensive power supply , wrap in nifty wrapping solution behind monitor?

- think computer experience running puppy linux or bodhi linux, bootable usb, , skipping ssd-hd?

everyones ideas.. happy new year!

have used intel atom before? slow processor, comparable fast pentium 3 or slow pentium 4. in experience, plenty light-duty xubuntu (web surfing etc) unity drag unless have graphics card.

if on tight budget, personally, find used computer in $0-100 price range on craigslist, freecycle, goodwill, friends, relatives, co-workers, etc. exceeds ubuntu hardware requrements described here:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/in...emrequirements

alternative find inexpensive atom netbook , add external monitor, keyboard, , mouse. give slow "desktop" computer portable if need it. asus eee 900ha.

answer of questions, fast ssd drives expensive because fast. not comparable performance sd card or usb device of type.

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