Hi! I just picked up two pink v2 Pogoplugs on the Buy.com sale. I also now have a used dockstar ordered off of ebay which will bring me to three computers running Arch. I'm just started working on these the night before last, but I have had pretty good luck. My goal is to use these to integrate into my home automation setup. I am looking for some new ideas if anyone else has them! I might try bluetooth proximity sensing or 1-wire sensors next?
Right now I have the following on my plug:
1. X10 Support. I built mochad, which is a linux driver for the cm15a/cm19a x10 usb interfaces without a problem. The cm15a is a powerline / rf controller and with mochad supports normal x10 and x10 security commands. This is a cheap way to get motion sensor input on your plug, you can get a refurb cm15a for $16 and a new cm19a for $8, the little motion sensors are about $6 and work great! It is x10 so you have to be willing to tweak it a bit (maybe modify and antenna or two ). But for about $15 if you catch a sale + a webcam you can capture images on motion!
2. Webcam / IP Cam Monitoring. I installed the xawtv package and the cherokee web browser and have a Logitech c120 webcam running. Today I am going to install motion and see if I can set up image capture when something changes, plus hopefully have motion monitor a few IP cams I have lying around.
3. IR (for A/V control). Now I'm messing around with LIRC. It installed fine I just haven't gotten around to configuring it yet. I'm using a Manta TR1 from Twisted Melon Windows MCE IR Receiver/Blaster. I really like my Manta, it is about $22, and has been working well for me on Windows, Mac, and Linux for 4 years. If you are cheap you can find MCE blasters for about half that on ebay.
I know some people have tried misterhouse with these plug computers, and Perl xPL too. Is anyone else working on home automation with their plugs?