You don't use these kind of CPU modules for the upgradeability but rather to save time and money - it contains most of the highly integrated components needed in a smart device. You only have to design a mainboard around it, containing the few components you need.
I find it rather curious that they opted to use it in a TV, considering that they probably have to place BGA components on the mainboard anyway, to drive the display. Using CPU modules mostly pay off in simple products (think: a couple of switches, LEDs etc).
It looks like NEC have swappable single-board-computer solutions that can be added to the back of the display to run the signage program. I suspect having a Pi is a great way to avoid all those photos of big signs with NT bluescreens on.
If I was purchasing these for a business, this would definitely be a consideration for me.
I don't get why you'd buy hardware that packages something with a 5-15 year life (the TV display) with something with a 2-5 year life (the compute capability). Integrating the compute both raises the cost and decreases the usable life. Lose-lose.
This is happening in the consumer space too with TVs, fridges, washing machines, etc. The people buying this stuff are going to feel burned in a few years when they realize they need a new TV not because there's anything wrong with the display, but because the software on it stopped getting updates a few years ago and doesn't have an app for the very popular NewFlix service, can no longer search YouTube because the API changed, and perpetually shows an error on part of the main screen because the service that provided content for that space no longer exists. If this hasn't already started, I'm sure we're on the cusp of it and it'll only get more prevalent as these things become more outdated.
> If this hasn't already started, I'm sure we're on the cusp of it and it'll only get more prevalent as these things become more outdated.
Apps on my previous Blu-ray player from just 2010 had been disappearing from the device for years, as the developers decided to stop supporting them. I replaced it because it started having trouble reading disks, but its utility had been falling for a couple years before that, one previously-supported feature at a time. It's one reason that I'm not planning on owning any smart devices in the near future.
> I find it rather curious that they opted to use it in a TV
Guess that NEC wants to market itself to the hacker space. Which is a marketing strategy that works for me - I'll be getting one as soon as they're available. I mean, a Smart TV running Debian? That's just plain cool.
I think this isn't really about marketing themselves to the hacker space, and probably more about not having to develop their own processing hardware. Depending how the pins are hooked up you could probably swap the compute module out for a stock one and run Debian, but the core focus will be on NEC being able to provide the software for digital signage alongside the hardware.
I find it rather curious that they opted to use it in a TV, considering that they probably have to place BGA components on the mainboard anyway, to drive the display. Using CPU modules mostly pay off in simple products (think: a couple of switches, LEDs etc).