my Tivo is the same size as the VCR it sits on top of, consumes little power, makes little noise, and it's far from a minimal Linux box. Take a look at mini-ITX machines. Machines have been built in cigar boxes using that technology. For a router you don't even need a hard disk Clicky.
All a packaged router is is a cut-down PC with some firmware running on it--a minimal Linux box won't be any bigger, or any noisier, or draw any more power.
I'm not pressuring you to use Linux--you know the situation better than I do--but size, noise, and power consumption are not reasons to avoid it. |
