Microsoft's Raspberry Pi-style 'Sharks Cove' mini PC available for pre-order

Microsoft has teamed up with Intel and CircuitCo to create a tiny Windows PC called the Sharks Cove.
The development board is for both Windows and Android and comes with an Intel Atom Z3735G Quad-Core chip, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of flash storage and a MicroSD slot.
“This marks a major milestone in our work, and we’re all pretty excited about it, to say the least,” reads Microsoft’sHardware and Driver Development blog.
“This board is the product of a lot of collaborative effort amongst various groups from Microsoft, Intel, and the product manufacturer, CircuitCo.”
Microsoft is aiming the device at developers looking to create software and drivers for mobile devices that run Windows. The firm believes it will ‘find a home with independent hardware vendors and hardware enthusiasts alike’.
The Sharks Cove costs $299 – a littler pricier than a Raspberry Pi, meaning general hobbyists will have to be pretty keen to fork out for one. But the blog points out: "That price not only covers the cost of the hardware, but also includes a Windows 8.1 image and the utilities necessary to apply it to the Sharks Cove.
“When you additionally consider that the Windows Driver Kit 8.1 can pair with Visual Studio Express and are both free with a valid MSDN account, the initial outlay for Windows driver developers is a lot less cost prohibitive than it once was.”
Those interested in getting one can pre-order here.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...e-order/034440