Embedded systems manufacturer Lippert has announced the availability of the first board built around Intel's Menlow chipset. The new device is compatible with the Linux operating system and is targeted at automotive, medical, mobile, and point-of-service/interface (POS/POI) devices.

The system is built on a 65 x 58-millimeter printed circuit board (PCB), which makes the new CoreExpress module smaller than even a credit card. In fact, the board is as small as Via's current offering of ITX mainboards for cell phones, namely the 75 x 45mm Mobile-ITX.

According to Lippert, the CoreExpress compact format could not have been achieved if the Menlow chipset itself was not miniaturized. However, the manufacturer estimates that the board will be able to work with some other miniaturized processors as well. The Menlow brand is comprised of Intel's Silverthorne processor and the Poulsbo chipset, along with a broad offering of storage, Wi-Fi and GPS processors.

The CoreExpress board only weighs 26 grams with the on-board soldered RAM modules included. The board does not include any analog interfaces such as VGA, Ethernet, PS/2 and audio. It is especially targeted at automotive, medical and mobile devices, as well as POS retail devices and POI telecommunications applications.

The CoreExpress-Menlow module is alleged to have a minimal power draw, as expected for a device that powers mobile appliances. According to the company, the module ships with a default 1 GB of system RAM, digital panel connections, and HD audio. The design is also rugged and can work under extreme conditions such as temperatures between -40 to 85 degrees Celsius. The device can be attached to a microcontroller that adds extra features to it, such as a 128-bit security key, temperature recording, and logging based on operating hours.

The manufacturer did not publish pricing or availability details, but it will demonstrate the CoreExpress-Menlow at Embedded World 2008 that has begun today in Germany.