Metamorphoses of thin clients from pizza box to transformer.

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The transformer is SAMSUNG SPH-P9000 Deluxe MITs Mobile Convergence Device. It is a PDA sized device that is a cell phone, MP3 player, movie player, and digital 1.3 Megapixel camera. The CPU is a 1 GHZ Transmeta.

The P9000 also has a mini USB connector, Bluetooth with BT Messenger, 30 GB hard drive and a QWERTY keyboard for use with digits other than thumbs. Connects to the grid via CDMA EV-DO, WiMAX, and WiBRO. Agreed, it is not a real thin client, but a hand held computer running Windows XP, which has the RDP client.

Similarly, do not believe everything you see as with the pizza box pictured above. The pizza box is not just a pizza box, but a very high tech laptop anti-theft device. Visit HumanBean dot Net for more details and flash demonstration of this almost revolutionary product.

Chip PC Technologies has also abandoned the pizza box for a form factor about the size of a sardine can. The Jack PC (pictured right) fits into a wall electrical box. Has what you need for a thin client and more. Screen resolution up to 1600 x 1200. Four USB ports and audio. And PoE (Power over Ethernet) means it consumes a low level of energy compared to other thin client devices.


Chip PC also has EX thin clients (pictured left) in a miniature form factor that offer serial and parallel ports to connect to printers, scanners and other devices and includes support for a touch-screen controller. Chip PC posts that EX line consumes just 3.5 watts in full operational mode.

Ndiyo is developing "The Ethernet Nivo". Nivo is an acronym for Network In Video Out. The form factor is about 12x8x2cm. Ndiyo is targeting "plug-and-play clustering of Ndiyo servers, support for session virtualisation, (and) the Hubster concept." The Hubster is pictured left.

Ndiyo is thinking outside of the pizza box. The "Hubster" is a USB based thin client device. This concept is to compliment their Ethernet Nivo thin client. Click on the Hubster link above to view the whole story.

For the curious, Ndiyo, is pronounced 'nn-dee-yo', and is Swahili for "yes". Ndiyo is a "not for profit" organization based in Cambridge, UK.


LXE is offering the HX2 that is "wearable, hands free and voice ready".

"A common component of all of LXE's hands-free, wearable and voice-ready computers is LXE's ToughTalk™ technology. LXE's ToughTalk technology is a specialized combination of LXE's trademark ruggedized system design, advanced audio circuitry and noise canceling techniques which enable a LXE voice computer to support today's industrial-grade, voice logistics applications. Don't assume there is just one style of voice terminal that you can use with your voice logistics application. With LXE's line of dedicated or multi-use, open system, voice computers; you do have a choice of rugged voice-ready terminals for your voice logistics applications."

I have no problems with a pizza box form factor or the now prevalent book end style. Just happen to believe that a one size device does not fit all the possible uses for thin clients.

Until the next post,

Steve

Thin Client Laptops for Server Based Computing

Last month I asked who would be the first main stream vendor to produce a thin client laptop. The very next day King Of Prussia based Devon IT announced a new product named “SafeBook”. Later in the month King Of Prussia based Neoware announced their product ”m100”. Just a little over 5 miles from one another and they both visualize the new market opportunity. Must be something in the water supply.

To be honest I forgot about MaxSpeeds MaxBook 820 that was introduced a few years ago. But wait a minute, Neoware acquired MaxSpeed. Either way, the King of the Thin Client Laptop space will be based in Pennsylvania for the foreseeable future.

Downloaded the specification for each product and placed them side by side. There are a few differences. Screen size, weight and the m100 has a modem. Both list Windows XPe as an operating system and the m100 has Linux as an option. The SafeBook has listed the CPU as VIA C7-M at 1.5G. The m100 listed the VIA Eden as the CPU but did not specify a speed or which core architecture (Esther, Nehemiah, Samuel 2) is being used.

The SafeBook (pictured right) has the ability to carry more memory and a PCMCIA type 11 slot. Both can attach to an external monitor. Optional battery life for m100 is listed at the six hours. List prices are at the 800 USD level.

Both companies sight SECURITY as a major feature. Asked a friend that is an IT consultant for the public sector what he thought about the idea of a Thin Client Laptop. Response after a review of the products, “Love it!” I think the time is right.

Who is to become the Thin Client Laptop King of Prussia? Let the competition begin. I suspect that Server Based Computing will become the real beneficiary.

Until the next post,

Steve