Made in India PC for just about $ 100

In a previous post i posed the question could China or India spur the next wave of Server Based Computing. It looks like India may the first. Novatium announced an ambitious plan to provide as a subscription service its Net PC to 10 million users over the next 5 years. Combine this announcement with India government planning to make broadband widely available and you have an environment for SBC growth. The subscription service is targeted at 400 rupees (about 10 USD) per month. Below is the release from The Hindu News Update Service.

New Delhi, April 29 (PTI): While global computing giants like IBM and AMD are yet to give shape to their ambitious plans for a computer that costs 100 dollars or less, an Indian company has already set its eyes on 10 million potential customers with its up-and-running PC priced at Rs 4,500 only.

The machine, launched by Chennai-based Novatium Solutions in 2004, costs a little over 100 dollars as of today in the US currency, thanks to the depreciation in the greenback, but it was priced at less than 100 dollars till a few months back.

Novatium is targeting 10 million users in the next five years for this innovative product, company CEO Alok Singh told PTI from Chennai.

The company has already started a successful commercial pilot for its NetPC computer in Chennai, he said.

"Since our trial was commercial in nature, we plan to stick to it. Going forward, we plan to expand into 6-7 big cities in the next year. Some of our immediate plans are going into two new cities in this quarter and two more in the next quarter," Singh said.

Novatium was co-founded by US-based Analog Devices chairman Ray Stata, Netcore Solutions managing director Rajesh Jain and professor Ashok Jhunjhunwala of IIT Madras.

The company's NetPC works on a "thin client" concept. This is a small box and does not contain any software or application. It is linked to a central server, which hosts all applications.

"Network PC (NetPC) costs around 100 dollars (less than Rs 4,400) and along with a monthly subscription of around Rs 400, it provides you with internet connection and almost everything like authentic softwares, applications etc," Singh said.

"The use of mobile chips forms the basis of our low-cost computer model," he added.

NetPC is probably one of the very few successful attempts when a company has been able to replicate a business model that combines philanthropy with sound economic sense.

US-based business software giant Oracle Corporation's founder Larry Ellison had mooted the idea of a low-cost network computer way back in 1990, while Nicholas Negroponte, the former director of Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Labs, has been long outlining designs for a sub-100 dollar computer.

In 2005, chip maker AMD also ventured out in the low-cost computing space and similarly, while Intel is also investigating ways to make low-cost PCs available in Eastern Europe, India and other developing areas.

When Negroponte, now heading the ambitious non-profit global project One Laptop Per Child, first unveiled his 100 dollar computer model in 2005, the computing legend Bill Gates scoffed it for not being a "decent machine."

Things have changed a lot since then and when Negroponte revealed the machine finally last week, it turned out to be running on Microsoft's operating system, Windows XP Starter Edition.

However, the cost of the product coming out from One Laptop Per Child, designed for school children in developing countries, has been put at 175 dollars -- which is quite higher than that of the Indian NetPC product.

According to experts, the price of softwares especially operating systems and expensive add-ons ramps up the price of desktop computers. This has a domino effect and when it finally arrives to the end-user it costs at least 300-400 dollars (Rs 14,000 -17,500).

"While TV and mobile phone penetration has gone up by leaps and bounds, computing is nowhere. A way to increase computer users in the country could be by making computers at a less cost and then offering the same at a lesser price," Singh said.

Novatium devices support all the common network operating systems, namely, Windows 2000, Windows 2003, Solaris 9 and 10, Red Hat Linux and other Linux distributions.

"The company has tied-up with various partners and is planning to ramp up operations soon," Singh said.

"Due to our business-model we had to tie up with partners that take care of content applications, server applications, he said, adding that these partners provide critical links for our personal computer network.

"The challenge for my company is to bring in new users and with the kind of targets we have set, we are confident more and more people will use NetPC," Singh said.

Will keep you posted as to who are the partners. The news release does not mention any of them by name.

Until the next post,

Steve

Microsoft Longhorn Standard Server Beta 3

Downloaded Microsoft Longhorn Standard Server Beta 3 for 64 and 32 this weekend. Both installed flawlessly. Looks like they have keep much of what is in Terminal Server 2003 that worked well and added a few new items. Things like load balancing/management/fault tolerance, application publishing, web access and support for some client plug and play devices.

The caveat with load management is that the servers must be in a domain. A footnote suggests that 2-5 or 6 servers maybe the most you would want in the load managed farm. Or maybe the upper limit is not known and Microsoft is recommending that for test purposes you might not exceed a small number.

However, I did notice very quickly that my Linux based thin clients would not connect to either the 64 or 32 bit version of TS. Maybe Rdesktop will need a little tweaking?

As a lark loaded Skype as an application. Installed the Vista desktop experience and enabled audio on the client. Everything works except for the microphone. Get a nasty error message that a sound recording device is not installed.

Here is the link if you want to get a copy of Longhorn Server. The license is good for a year.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver/longhorn/audsel.mspx

Until the next post,

Steve

US FFA may switch to a Google Dell Linux SBC solution?

Read with interest that Microsoft will allow Vista to become a hosted application for those with SA. Also read that Dell will continue offering XP on some products. But while sifting through some old searches, came across this 6 week old article in Information Week dated March 6.

"FAA (US Federal Aviation Administration) May Ditch Microsoft's Windows Vista And Office For Google And Linux Combo"

Microsoft has for years had the ability to publish a product like Google Applications For Your Domain. However, it appears to me they find it difficult to “eat their own young.” I suspect that internally they have battled with idea that SBC and thin clients replacing some Personal Computers is not in the best interest of Microsoft. A PC on every desk may have once been the goal but now i believe it is the access to the power of computing when and where the customer wants it. The FFA may have just said “Google Dell 123, turn right 110, climb and maintain flight level...” and others are insisting this flying stuff is just fantasy and will never ever take off.

FAA chief information officer David Bowen said he's taking a close look at the Premier Edition of Google Apps as he mulls replacements for the agency's Windows XP-based desktop computers and laptops.

By Paul McDougal
InformationWeek

March 6, 2007 11:00 AM

March is coming in like a lion for Microsoft's public sector business. Days after InformationWeek reported that the Department of Transportation has placed a moratorium on upgrades to Vista, Office 2007, and Internet Explorer 7, the top technology official at the Federal Aviation Administration revealed that he is considering a permanent ban on the Microsoft in favor of a combination of Google's new online business applications running on Linux-based hardware.

In an interview, FAA chief information officer David Bowen said he's taking a close look at the Premier Edition of Google Apps as he mulls replacements for the agency's Windows XP-based desktop computers and laptops. Bowen cited several reasons why he finds Apps attractive. "It's a different sort of computing strategy," he said. "It takes the desktop out of the way so you're running a very thin client. From a security and management standpoint that would have some advantages."

Google Apps Premier Edition last month at a price of $50 per user, per year. It features online e-mail, calendaring, messaging, and talk applications, as well as a word and a spreadsheet . The launch followed Google's introduction of a similar suite aimed at consumers in August. The new Premier Edition, however, offers enhancements, including 24x7 support, aimed squarely at corporate and government environments.

Bowen said he's in talks with the aviation safety agency's main hardware supplier, Dell Computer, to determine if it could deliver Linux-based computers capable of accessing Google Apps through a non-Microsoft browser once the FAA's XP-based computers pass their shelf life. "We have discussions going on with Dell," Bowen said. "We're trying to figure out what our roadmap will be after we're no longer able to acquire Windows XP."

Bowen, however, said he has not definitely ruled out an FAA-wide upgrade to and related software -- if Microsoft can satisfy his concerns over compatibility with the agency's existing applications and demonstrate why such a move would make financial sense given Google Apps's low price. "We have a trip to Microsoft scheduled for later this month," said Bowen.

Like the Department of Transportation, the FAA -- technically under DOT but managed separately -- has its own moratorium in place on upgrades to Windows Vista, Internet Explorer 7, and 2007. Among other things, Bowen said the FAA's copies of IBM's software don't work properly on test PCs running Windows Vista.

Bowen's compatibility concerns, combined with the potential cost of upgrading the FAA's 45,000 workers to Microsoft's next-generation desktop environment, could make the moratorium permanent. "We're considering the cost to deploy [Windows Vista] in our organization. But when you consider the incompatibilities, and the fact that we haven't seen much in the way of documented business value, we felt that we needed to do a lot more study," said Bowen.

Because of Google Apps' sudden entry into the desktop productivity market, what once would have been a routine decision at the FAA to eventually upgrade to Microsoft's latest software is now firmly up in the air. With similar debates doubtless playing out at other government agencies -- and in the private sector -- Microsoft is going to have to work a lot harder than in past years convincing customers to follow its well worn path of new releases and follow-on patches.

Until the next post,

Steve

Mobile SBC Clients 2008 and beyond.

Have managed a terminal server using a RDP client on a cell phone and worked. Not well, but it worked. That is why I am easily side tracked by convergent devices and UMPC form factors. Although the death of the UMPC has often been reported, Intel is betting otherwise. Below is a news release from Intel. Not just 40% smaller components but, Wi-Fi AND WiMax included.

Intel Keeps Mobile Engine Humming, Fueled By Silicon Technology Advances

Innovation, Processing Performance and Cooperation Key to Moving Forward Faster

INTEL DEVELOPER FORUM, Beijing, April 18, 2007

Describing the latest trends in mobile computing at the Intel Developer Forum today, Intel Corporation executives said that personalization and content are key drivers behind increased demand for notebook PCs and mobile Internet devices (MIDs).

"The Internet is one of the driving forces in today's PC market and there is a desire for the Internet to be mobile," said David (Dadi) Perlmutter, Intel senior vice president and general manager, Mobility Group. "Intel is serving the market today with notebook PCs, and will expand its reach by adding WiMax to notebooks as well as small form factor MIDs in 2008."

Perlmutter continued by discussing the importance of high-performance processors to enable users to have mobile access to the internet. Intel continues to provide high-performance processors based on innovative silicon technology that delivers energy efficiency and great battery life needed by users on-the-go including the next generation Centrino processor technology "Santa Rosa."

Due in May, Santa Rosa processor technology is comprised of a next-generation Intel® Core™2 Duo processor, the Mobile Intel® 965 Express chipset family, Intel® Next-Gen Wireless-N Network Connection, Intel® 82566MM and 82566MC Gigabit Network Connection, and optional Intel® Turbo memory. Perlmutter demonstrated how Intel Turbo Memory decreases resume time from notebook hibernation, thus increasing productivity and reducing system power consumption.

In the first half of 2008, Santa Rosa will be refreshed with Intel's innovative 45nm Hi-k dual core mobile processor, codenamed "Penryn." Later in 2008, Perlmutter said Intel will deliver "Montevina" processor technology, also with Penryn, for greater performance and energy efficiency. With approximately 40 percent smaller components, Montevina will be ideal for mini- and sub-notebooks, and will include integrated hardware decode for high-definition video.

For the first time, Intel will make its integrated Wi-Fi/WiMAX solution available as an option with Montevina-based notebooks, enabling people to connect to Wi-Fi and WiMAX networks worldwide. Mobile WiMAX provides multi-megabit speed, greater throughput and wider range versus other wireless broadband technologies, which is crucial as consumers increasingly want to access user-generated content, high-definition videos, music, photos and other large data files while on the go.

Redefining Mobility with Innovation, Integration
Anand Chandrasekher, Intel senior vice president and general manager of the Ultra Mobility Group, described the evolution of the personal mobile Internet, outlined changes in Intel's silicon roadmap that will create radical reductions in power requirements and innovative new packaging technology, and disclosed a range of leading industry players Intel is working with to establish the MID and ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) categories.

Chandrasekher introduced the Intel® Ultra Mobile platform 2007 (formerly codenamed "McCaslin") for MIDs and UMPCs and said systems will be available over the summer from Aigo*, Asus*, Fujitsu*, Haier*, HTC* and Samsung*. The Intel Ultra Mobile platform 2007 is based on the Intel processor A100 and A110, the Intel 945GU Express Chipset and the Intel ICH7U I/O Controller Hub.

"Today's environment is primed for a truly personal, mobile Internet experience and the Intel Ultra Mobile platform 2007 combines the flexibility of a PC with the mobility of a handheld device," said Chandrasekher. "But we will not stop here. In 2008, Intel will deliver an entirely new platform based on Intel's 45nm low-power microarchitecture designed from the ground up to let people to carry their personal mobile Internet in their pocket."

Pulling in the schedule by half a year, Chandrasekher said Intel will deliver its next-generation platform for MIDs and UMPCs codenamed "Menlow" in the first half of 2008. While demonstrating the world's first working Menlow-based prototype, he said it will be based on a new 45nm Hi-k low power microarchitecture-based processor, codenamed "Silverthorne," and next-generation chipset, codenamed "Poulsbo."

Chandrasekher also announced the formation of the Mobile Internet Device Innovation Alliance. Together, alliance members will work on engineering challenges, including power management, wireless communications, and software integration, that are associated with delivering the full Internet in ever-smaller MID form factors.

45nm High-k Metal Gate Transistors Technology Leadership
Intel's next-generation processors for the ultra-mobile, mobile, desktop, workstation and server segments will be based on the company's leading 45nm silicon process technology that uses its revolutionary high-k metal gate transistors.

During his Technology Insight presentation, Intel Senior Fellow Mark Bohr said the company now has working versions of its Silverthorne processor based on its 45nm Hi-k low power microarchitecture for MIDs and UMPCs. Silverthorne joins already working versions of its 45nm Hi-k Intel Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad and Intel Xeon family of processors. Today, Intel has more than 15 different 45nm Hi-k product designs in various stages of development, and will have two 45nm manufacturing fabs in production by the end of the year, with four in production by the second half of 2008.

Intel's long-standing research and technology pipeline has led to innovative advances in silicon technology that in turn allow the company to continuously deliver the cost and performance benefits of Moore's Law. In 2003, Intel was the first to introduce strained silicon technology to greatly increase the speed of its transistors on its 90nm process.

Intel is already working on technology for 32nm, 22nm and beyond. Bohr described several options that Intel is researching for future technology generations, including tri-gate transistors, Indium Antimonide quantum well transistors and carbon nanotube interconnects.

View Intel Developer Forum Day 2 news disclosures.

View product information for the Intel® Ultra Mobile Platform 2007 at www.intel.com/products/mid/ultramobile2007.htm

View the complete Intel Developer Forum press kit at http://www.intel.com/pressroom/idf.

About Intel
Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom.

Intel, Intel Core, Centrino, Xeon and the Intel logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

* Other brands may be claimed as the property of others.

Public Server Based Computing Vendors

This is a list of vendors that are offering a Web based SBC type product. Will post some comments about each one in this space over time. Of course there are links to each one of these vendors in the left column under Public Server Based Computing.

Most likely it is an incomplete list of vendors. If you know of other vendor(s,) please advise us of the URL and we will link to their site.

• Atlantis Computing
• Desktop On Demand
• Desktop Two
• DoxBoard
• eDesk Online
• ESuite
• eyeOS
• Fenestela
• G.ho.st
• Glide
  
• Google Apps For Your Domain
• Goowy
• GravityZoo
  
• Ironbox
• Netvibes
• Oos
• Orca Desktop
• Protopage
• Virtual-OS
• WebtopOS
• Xcerion
• XinDesk
• YouOS
• Zoho
  

Until the next post,

Steve

Public Server Based Computing Requirements

This is the first draft of Public Server Based Computing requirements.

• Host applications that meets some of the client's Server Based Computing requirements.
• Permit other vendors SBC applications to be presented with the host's own products.
• Transparency to the user.
• Storage server side and/or client side.
• Allow users' locally hosted applications (home/office) the be presented to the user when operating remotely.
• Choose the connectivity.
  
• Print. And it should be where i want it to print!
  
• For bonus points, work offline and collaboration.
  

Please note, I did not mention television, radio, music, or phone service. Nor did i specify word processing, spreadsheets, or even email. Let the market specify what applications are offered.

Also, omitted any reference to an OS, web or otherwise. Let hair splitting technocrats discuss what is an OS and what is not. Almost 6 billion people on this planet do not care what it is if it works.

And the first tier level of operation should be free!

Reserve the right to change any requirement, for any reason, anytime. Think of the requirements as "in Beta." Has worked well for one company.

Until the next post,

Steve

Public Server Based Computing ready for the prime time?

It is great to be back on line. Decided to try a public Server Based Computing solution to replace my standard desktop. Lost my dot com address redirection. With more than 2 dozen emails back and forth, two open tickets and assigned a technician (that never contacted me) over a 5 week period with no solution, decided to move the registration and host to another company. I now have scars from the experience. My enthusiasm for public SBC is not daunted but tempered with the very real difficulties of providing a strong and solid solution to the global public SBC space.

The trial was very good except for the inability to redirect this Blogger site to SBCList.com. The great disappointment was the realization that the support staff for the product never became proactive. Not once did they initiate a follow up to determine if the solution they provided was successful. Moving the registration and hosting to another company reduces the value of their Server Based Computing package to something that i can get for free elsewhere.

Think i will research the potential Public SBC providers. Have listed several of them in the side bar but will add more to this blog over the next several posts. There are perils and pitfalls a plenty for Public SBC. But one day, one provider will hit on all the required points and set the baseline. I suspect it is sooner than later.

Every pilot knows the minimum equipment list for the plane and the proposed flight before taking off in flight. What are the minimum requirements for a Public SBC product?

Until the next post,

Steve