power budget and simplicity: the schematic for the micro-desktop fits onto a
single page. the moment you add a built-in USB hub it's added 40 extra
components and requires about 1 sq in of board space (which isn't available).
adding a built-in USB Audio IC, another 50 components, and another 1 sq.in
of board space.... it's a totally different project in other words.
you can always get a CM108AH USB-Audio dongle, like the one that thinkpenguin
sells.
if you want to run off-grid, you can. the power chip in the micro-desktop
runs on anything from 7 to 21 volts, so even if power is battery-operated
e.g. 12v and starts to run down, the computer will keep operating even as the
battery drops to 9v or below.
you'll have to find a 12v LCD from somewhere with a VGA connector, those are
quite common despite what everybody says "the whole world is going to
HDMI"... they're not :)
i'll be in touch with professor moudgalya, thank you.
