Cell Phones meet Server Based Computing

Server Based Computing and Smartphones combine to do more than each can do alone. Good idea.

Server Based Computing Skyfire unveils downloadable mobile browser that delivers the PC Web experience on your phone

Skyfire features full Ajax and Flash to bring the “real Web” to smartphones – users can now experience sites like YouTube, Facebook, and Last.fm at record speeds

January 28, 2008 -- Palm Desert, Calif. – Today at the DEMO 08 conference, Skyfire unveiled a new mobile browser that makes browsing on a smartphone just like browsing on a PC. For the first time ever, smartphone users can experience the “real Web” to access and interact with any Web site built with any Web technology, including dynamic Flash, advanced Ajax, Java and more – at the same speeds they are accustomed to on their PC. With this free downloadable browser, users can finally watch videos from the real YouTube, stay connected with their friends on the full-feature PC versions of Facebook and MySpace, and listen to any Web music service like Last.fm. Before Skyfire, users painfully waited for these Flash and Ajax-heavy sites to render – often resulting in error messages or crashes.

“For too long consumers have been promised the ‘real Web’ on their phone, only to be disappointed by slow rendering, error messages, no Flash support, watered down WAP pages or second-rate mobile versions of their favorite site,” said Skyfire CEO Nitin Bhandari. “Skyfire has remedied those ills at a speed not seen before on the mobile platform. By extending the PC Web experience to smartphones, we fully expect Skyfire to fundamentally change the way people use their phones.”

Users will not have to change their Web behavior on their smartphones because Skyfire allows them to access the same Web content, and interact with that content, exactly as they do on their PC. When users load their favorite sites, they will not encounter unrecognizable content, unfamiliar page layouts, or missing content, like they have with other mobile browsers. To date, Skyfire is the fastest loading mobile browser on the market.

“Many sophisticated technologies are launched at DEMO, and in my many years of hosting the event, it’s the simple and elegant products like Skyfire which seem to have the most staying power,” said Chris Shipley, executive producer of the DEMO conferences. “Mobile browsing has not advanced at the same rate as other mobile technologies, so I am delighted to see Skyfire bring a new product to market which directly addresses one of the biggest pain points in the mobile experience today.”

Skyfire has broken down the two primary barriers for Internet adoption on smartphones – speed and user experience. Recent studies point to the demand for mobile content, but the browsing experience has hindered the potential growth. As prices continue to drop, more users will adopt the full functionality offered by smartphones. According to ABI Research, 115 million smartphones were to be shipped in 2007, and that number will rise to 410 million by 2012.

“Skyfire’s ability to support Flash video can give a shot in the arm to consumption of video on smartphones which currently stands at 18.4 percent,” said Seamus McAteer, senior analyst, M:Metrics. “Technologies that improve the user experience of mobile applications will bolster the adoption of mobile media as it becomes increasingly mainstream.”

Skyfire includes numerous features aimed at simplifying the mobile browsing experience. For example, when a user conducts a Web search from the home page, Skyfire pulls results from multiple search engines and displays the results in multiple tabs that consumers can easily navigate. In addition, users can bookmark specific locations on a Web page to get to the content that matters most to them in one click – such as stock quotes, sports scores, blog messages, etc. Skyfire’s user interface features full screen navigation, thumbnail views and zooming to seamlessly resize the Web content to fit the
mobile screen.

Skyfire Technology
Skyfire’s patent-pending technology is the foundation of Skyfire’s unique ability to support all Web technologies, both current and future, at speeds comparable to the PC. With Skyfire’s proprietary technology, supporting any new Web standard becomes a seamless user experience without the need to upgrade to new releases. This technology allows Skyfire to support real Web browsing while saving precious bandwidth and reducing processing power and memory needed on the phone.

Private Beta Announced
Skyfire announced a private beta to support Windows Mobile phones, both touchscreen and non-touchscreen, in the U.S.. The company will introduce a version for Symbian smartphones in the coming months and other platforms and geographies are on the product roadmap. Users can sign-up for the private beta by visiting www.skyfire.com.

Skyfire was founded by Bhandari and CTO Erik Swenson in April 2006, and has been in stealth mode under the name DVC Labs until today. Based in Mountain View, Calif., the team includes engineering veterans from Adobe, Creative, eBay, Extreme Networks, MobiTV, Pinnacle, and Shutterfly.

About Skyfire
Skyfire is the creator of the Skyfire mobile browser, which extends the PC Web to mobile phones so users can experience the mobile Web exactly like they do on their PC. The company was founded in 2006 by Nitin Bhandari and Erik Swenson, who serve as CEO and CTO respectively. Skyfire is backed by Trinity Ventures and Matrix Partners and has raised $4.8 million in total funding. For more information about the company, visit www.skyfire.com.

About DEMO
Produced by Network World Events and Executive Forums, the semi-annual DEMO conferences focus on emerging technologies and new products, which are hand-selected from across the spectrum of the technology marketplace. The DEMO conferences have earned their reputation for consistently identifying tomorrow's cutting-edge technologies, and have served as launch pad events for companies such as Palm, E*Trade, Handspring, and U.S. Robotics, helping them to secure venture funding, establish critical business relationships, and influence early adopters. Each DEMO conference features approximately 70 new companies, products and technologies. For more information, visit www.demo.com.

For more information, please contact:
Nick Leahy
Sparkpr for Skyfire
415.846.1715

Nick@sparkpr.com

Until the next post,

Steve

Google Partners with Wireless Provider Clearwire Communications

When Clearwire entered into their first four markets almost 4 years ago, I called their Jacksonville, Florida office and suggested they offer applications on top of their high speed wireless product. Of course they thought i was crazy and told me to call their corporate office in Washington state.

No response from HQ.

Anyone want to guess who had the ability to offer over the web on Clearwire wireless connections, at a low bandwidth, most of their products without modifying any code?

And they still do have that capability. Something is holding them back. But what?

Google now has a partner than can manage a nationwide wireless network for mobile devices. Now if just Google could get a very nice piece of bandwidth! Oh, the "beach front property" of the radio spectrum goes on auction this week. Ready, set, go.

KIRKLAND, Wash., Jan 15, 2008
(BUSINESS WIRE) --

Wireless broadband pioneer Clearwire Corporation (NASDAQ: CLWR) today announced it is teaming up with Google (NASDAQ: GOOG: 600.25, -0.54, -0.08%) to deliver the company's popular Google Apps(TM: 99.70, +1.10, +1.11%) communication suite to Clearwire customers. Clearwire will begin migrating its current customers to Gmail(TM: 99.70, +1.10, +1.11%) and Google Calendar(TM: 99.70, +1.10, +1.11%) in the first half of this year. In addition, Clearwire customers will also have access to Google Talk(TM: 99.70, +1.10, +1.11%).

"Clearwire is excited to launch our relationship with Google to further our commitment to deliver all the Internet has to offer to a person rather than a place. Both companies are built on the foundation of providing a simple to use, rich and open Internet experience and we believe the addition of these communications tools will be a tremendous benefit to Clearwire's customers", said Scott Richardson Clearwire's chief strategy officer. "We look forward to expanding our working relationship with Google further enhancing our customer's access to the Internet -- anytime and anywhere."

In addition to Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Talk, Clearwire will use AdSense for Search(TM: 99.70, +1.10, +1.11%) to provide Google search capabilities on future Clearwire portal applications.

"We're pleased to work with Clearwire to offer its high-speed wireless broadband customers access to our leading search and communications tools," said Dave Girouard, vice president and general manager Google Enterprise. "Our companies share a vision of giving consumers innovative choices that will the change the way they interact with each other."

Clearwire is building and operating one of the world's most capable wireless broadband networks. The company is building from the ground up a single network that bridges the gap between today's wire line and wireless networks by delivering a true broadband experience to a person rather than a place. By collaborating with world-class companies like Google that are committed to innovation, Clearwire and its customers will enjoy all that the Internet has to offer at home as well as in a mobile environment within the Clearwire coverage area.

About Clearwire

Clearwire, founded in October 2003 by telecom pioneer Craig O. McCaw, is a provider of simple, fast, portable and reliable wireless high-speed Internet service. Clearwire customers connect to the Internet using licensed spectrum, thus eliminating the confines of traditional cable or phone lines. Headquartered in Kirkland, Wash., the company launched its first market in August 2004 and now offers service in 16 states across the U.S. as well as in Europe and Mexico. For more information, visit www.clearwire.com.

About Google

Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top Web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall Web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.

Google, Google Apps, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Talk and AdSense for Search are trademarks of Google Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Forward Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements which are based on current expectations and beliefs, as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events made with information that is currently available. The forward-looking statements include the anticipated migration of Clearwire's customers to Gmail, Google Calendar and other communications tools as well as Clearwire's anticipated use of AdSense for Search on future portal applications. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, manyof which are outside of Clearwire's and Google's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted include, among others, unforeseen technical challenges and economic factors, as well as those risks and uncertainties included in each of Clearwire's and Google's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the information under the headings "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in each of Clearwire's and Google's most-recently filed Form 10-Q. Clearwire and Google do not assume any obligation to update or supplement such forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Clearwire

Clearwire
Helen Chung, 425-216-4551
helen.chung@clearwire.com
or
Google
Andrew Kovacs, 650-253-8899
akovacs@google.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008

Until the next post,

Steve

India's HCL to Lauch 7" Screen UMPC "MiLeap"

More choices the better the market space becomes. Asus, Everex and now HCL to bring to market Ultra Mobiles PCs at less than 1 kg.

HCL UNVEILS THE FUTURE OF PERSONAL COMPUTING LAUNCHES NEXT GENERATION, ULTRA PORTABLE, SUB RS.14000/- LAPTOPS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN INDIA

• 7” (17.74 cms) screen size
• Weighing less than a kg
• Offering a true mobile internet experience with full PC functionality

Among the products showcased today the HCL ‘MiLeap’ X Series Ultra Portable range of Leaptops breaks the Rs. 14,000/- price barrier. With prices starting at Rs 13,990/- the HCL ‘MiLeap’ X series, which is specially designed for the Indian environment delivers exceptional value at a very affordable price.

Available with both flash-based and disk based storage versions, its sturdy design incorporates features that make it dustproof, shock-proof and durable. Both the models have network ports, are Wi-Fi ready, have the option for “Data card” and are available with GUI enabled user friendly Linux OS.

Click here to view the product video from India's IBNLive.

Also launched today is the HCL ‘MiLeap’ Y Series Ultra Portable Leaptops breaking the sub Rs 30,000/- price barrier. Ranging from Rs 29,990/- onwards this range of Ultra Portables are at half the price point of current similar products available in the market.

The HCL ‘MiLeap’ Y Series, powered by the latest Intel Ultra Mobile Platform & Microsoft’s Vista Home Premium, operating system weighs just 960 gm. This ultra Portable Leaptop comes with a Swivel 7’’ touch screen, 80GB HDD, wireless connectivity, Data Card option, blue tooth & Ethernet network port offering full PC functionality with true internet experience on the move.

The MiLeap Top Y Series incorporates a unique Navigational Pad that offers multiple navigational features such as touch screen, thumboard, stylus, keyboard, mouse and One touch buttons, making it one of the most intuitive products. It also features a Swivel 7” display cum note pad, making it a pleasure to input using a stylus and hand writing. The Microsoft Windows Vista Home premium powered MiLeap Y series is priced at Rs 33,990/-

Designed using the latest Intel Ultra Mobile platform- Intel processor A110 & Intel 945GU express chipset- this energy efficient lower power silicon design consumes less power, reduces thermal impact and gives an extended battery life. HCL being a socially responsible organization and conscious of the environment, both products are fully RoHS compliant with low energy footprint design.

Marking the occasion as HCL’s tribute to the nation, the company announced that the new range of HCL Leaptops will start shipping on 26th January coinciding with the Indian Republic day celebrations.

HCL also shared that they are going to come out with even more exciting products in this new category.

About HCL Infosystems

HCL Infosystems Ltd, with revenue (TTM) of US $ 2.9 Bn (Rs. 12162 Crores) is India's premier information enabling and ICT System Integration company offering a wide spectrum of ICT products that includes Computing, Storage, Networking, Security, Telecom, Imaging and Retail. HCL is a one-stop-shop for all the ICT requirements of an organization.

India's leading System Integration and Infrastructure Management Services Organization, HCL has specialized expertise across verticals including Telecom, BFSI, E-Governance & Power.

HCL has India's largest distribution and retail network, taking to market a range of Digital Lifestyle products in partnership with leading global ICT brands, including Nokia, Apple, Casio, Kodak, Toshiba, Bull, Ericsson, Cisco, Microsoft, Konica Minolta and many more.

HCL today has India's largest vertically integrated computer manufacturing facility with over three decades of electronic manufacturing experience HCL desktops is the largest selling brand into the enterprise space.

With India’s largest ICT services network that reaches to every corner of India, HCL’s award winning Support Services makes it the preferred choice of enterprise and consumers alike. For more information please visit us at www.hclinfosystems.in

About HCL Enterprise

HCL Enterprise is a $4.4 billion (Rs. 18,525 crore) leading Global Technology and IT enterprise that comprises two companies listed in India - HCL Technologies & HCL Infosystems. The 3-decade-old enterprise, founded in 1976, is one of India's original IT garage start-ups. Its range of offerings span Product Engineering, Custom & Package Applications, BPO, IT Infrastructure Services, IT Hardware, Systems Integration, and distribution of ICT products. The HCL team comprises approximately 51,000 professionals of diverse nationalities, who operate from 18 countries including 360 points of presence in India. HCL has global partnerships with several leading Fortune 1000 firms, including leading IT and Technology firms. For more information, please visit www.hcl.in

For further information, contact:
Sanjay Chaudhary/Romita Kumar/ Saumya Upadhyaya
Vaishnavi Corporate Communications
romitak@vccpl.com/ supadhyaya@vccpl.com
9810203810/9958100403/ 9810488225
011-42393500

No word on which Linux distribution is being bundled with the "MiLeap". Can only assume that RDesktop will be available. Windows Vista is being offered with the Y series.

Until the next post,

Steve

Everex Unveils CloudBook Ultra-Mobile PC at CES

Here is the official press release. Seven inch screen and 9" wide and weighs in at two pounds.

I have loaded the RDesktop client using the gOS on a desktop and connected to a remote server. Should we assume that it will work on the Everex UMPC? Most likely, but we will have to wait for an answer.

7" UMPC model to feature popular Open Source software from gOS

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Everex, a world leader in the design and production of personal computers, today launched their much anticipated Ultra-Mobile PC featuring the latest Open Source operating system from gOS.

Measuring 9" in length and 2 pounds in weight, the Everex CloudBook caters to users seeking the latest in mobile computing. With its 1.2GHz VIA C7-M ULV mobile processor, the laptop averages 5 hours of battery life on a 4-cell, lithium-ion battery. Unlike many of its competitors, the CloudBook also features 30GB of internal storage, digital video output (DVI-I), 4-in-1 card reader and 1.3MP webcam.

With its size, specification and energy efficient design, customers will now find the performance and features of much larger laptops in one of the most mobile computer designs on the market.

"The overwhelming success of our gPC desktop generated countless inquires from customers seeking additional Open Source mobile platforms," states John Lin, general manager of Everex. "With the launch of the new CloudBook our vision remains the same: Provide mainstream users with their favorite applications wrapped in a no-compromise, low-cost, consumer friendly product."

The CloudBook, model CE1200V, showcases the gOS operating system and familiar applications from Mozilla, Skype, Google, Facebook, Faqly and OpenOffice.org. Available January 25th, the computer will be available at Walmart.com for $399.

"The potential of mainstream, Open Source PCs is tremendous," said Lin. "Combine a revolutionary platform like our CloudBook with the stunning graphics and performance provided by gOS Rocket and consumers will be armed with the utmost in mobile computing."

To learn more about Everex, the CloudBook and their entire line of computing products, visit www.everex.com. For information on gOS or to download a free copy of gOS Rocket see www.thinkgos.com.

Key Features*

-- Operating System: gOS V2 Rocket

-- Processor: 1.2GHz VIA C7-M ULV Processor

-- Display: 7" WVGA TFT Widescreen (800 x 480 native resolution)

-- Preinstalled and Linked Software: Mozilla FireFox, gMail, Meebo,
Skype, Google Documents & Spreadsheets, Google Calendar, Google News,
Google Maps, Wikipedia, Google Product Search, GIMP, Blogger, YouTube,
Xine Movie Player, RhythmBox, Faqly, Facebook and OpenOffice.org 2.3
(includes WRITER, IMPRESS, MATH, DRAW)

-- Memory: 512MB DDR2 533MHz SDRAM (1GB Max)

-- Hard Disk Drive: 30GB, 4200RPM PATA

-- Graphic: VIA UniChrome(TM) Pro IGP

-- Audio: VIA VT1708A High Definition Audio Codec with built-in speakers

-- WLAN: 802.11b/g

-- LAN: 10/100 Ethernet

-- I/O: (1) DVI-I port, (2) USB 2.0 ports, (1) RJ45 Ethernet port, (1)
Headphone/Line Out jack, (1) Microphone/ Line In jack, (1) 4-in-1
Media Card Reader (Secure Digital, Multi-Media Card, Memory Stick,
Memory Stick PRO)

-- Battery: 4-Cell (14.4V, 2200mAh), rechargeable Lithium-Ion

-- Dimensions: 9.06" x 6.73 x 1.16" (W x D x H)

-- Weight: 2 pounds

-- Warranty & Support: 1 Year Limited Warranty with 24/7 Toll-Free
Technical Support

-- MSRP: $399.00

*Specifications subject to change


About Everex

Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Fremont, California, Everex has established itself as a world leader in the personal computer industry. As a subsidiary of First International Computer, a supplier to many of the world's largest computer companies, a unique and distinctive line of products has propelled the organization to become the eighth largest retail computer brand in the US. For the latest information on Everex, visit www.everex.com.

Everex Media Contact: Paul C. Kim, Director of Marketing, 510-252-8829
(USA), paulkim@everex.com

gOS Media Contact: David Liu, Founder, 310-709-4881 (USA),
davidliu@thinkgos.com

SOURCE First International Computer

Paul C. Kim, Director of Marketing of First International Computer,
+1-510-252-8829, paulkim@everex.com; or David Liu, Founder of gOS,
+1-310-709-4881, davidliu@thinkgos.com

Attention!!! Terminal Server Admins and Road Warriors.

"Cloudbook" for MS "cloud computing?"

Ever since i started managing Terminal Services via a cell phone, wanted a form factor that did not split the screen into 5 pieces. My wait may be over in January. At 400 USD it may be the value product of 2008. Where does the line to the check out counter begin? Could the situation become similar to Wal Mart offering the 199 USD, "gOS" based desktop unit just this November? Sold out in days. Good news is that they got some product back on the shelves quickly.

Recently downloaded the gOS and tested it on an OLD desktop. The OS has some limitations out of the box but is more than adequate for 90-95% of the market. Was curious if you could add the RDP client to the "gOS" and the answer is yes. It worked. You can read my post regarding "gOS" further down on this blog.

But wait, it also a phone and supports Skype. It can drive a overhead projector and both can now fit into the same case. Just may have to get one of these devices.

From LinuxDevices.Com December 9, 2007

Everex has confirmed plans to ship a UMPC (ultra-mobile PC) with a 7-inch screen, similar to competitor Asus's EEE PC. A source close to the company revealed that the device -- codenamed "Cloudbook" -- will ship with the Google Apps-oriented "gOS" Linux distribution early next year.


According to our anonymous source, the initial Cloudbook model will be powered by a Via C7 ULVwebcam. In general, the hardware appears to closely resemble Via's Nanobook design.

Preceding the Cloudbook's mid-January launch, Everex plans to ship a "Developer" version equipped with a touchscreen, our source revealed. That version will come with gOStoolchains, similar to the gOS development board. gOS is an Everex-sponsored Linux distribution optimized for use with Google Apps.

Everex itself officially confirmed the Cloudbook's UMPC with a 7-inch screen. Our source suggested that Everex would likely launch the Cloudbook at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas the week of Jan. 7, with consumer availability as soon as Jan. 15.

The Developer edition will launch earlier -- possibly on January first. It was originally scheduled for earlier release, but was reportedly delayed by short supplies in the market for 7-inch touchscreens.

"Standard" Cloudbook

The Cloudbook appears to be FIC/Everex's answer to Asus's EEE PC, another ultra-mobile Linux-powered PC that began shipping earlier this fall. Like the EEE PC, the Cloudbook will use a 7-inch WVGA (800x480) LCD display, along with an identical keyboard, albeit in a different color, our source close to the company said.

That's where the similarities end, though. The EEE PC uses a 900MHz CeleronCloudbook will use a Via C7 ULV (ultra-low voltage), clocked at 1.2GHz. And, instead of the EEE PC's 4GB SSD (solid-state disk), the Cloudbook will pack in a 30GB hard disk drive.

Other preliminary Cloudbook specs confirmed by our source include 512MB of RAM, built-in wired and wireless Ethernet interfaces, a 4-in-1 card reader, a pair of USBDVI-out. Thanks to DVI-to-HDMI and other available converters, the Cloudbook should "hook up to most multimedia equipment," said our source, citing projectors and TVs with digital interfaces.

Developer edition

Unlike standard Cloudbook models, the Developer edition will include a touchscreen interface. It will also include some kind of expansion interface for modules that will include a webcam, cordless Skype phone, and retro LCD alarm clock module.

The Developer model appears to serve two intents for Everex. The company likely plans to add a touchscreen to second-generation Cloudbook models, and hopes to ensure the best touchscreen support possible in gOS by offering developers of gOS'sNokia's 770 Internet tablet several years ago.

Another intent is to offer open source community developers a chance to get their applications on what could prove to be a very popular device, if the EEE PC is any indication. Our source said, "[Everex] will take some apps [developed by the community] to market with the next iteration of the unit, creating instant business opportunities."

Availability

The standard Cloudbook is expected to ship on Jan. 15, priced at $400 with a 30GB hard drive. The touchscreen-enabled Developer Unit should arrive a few weeks early, possibly on Jan. 1, at an as-yet unknown price.

Until the next post,

Steve

Is Linux ready for Prime Time?

Over the past year i have posted about the growing awareness of PC alternatives. Steven puts them all together in one article. Is the Microsoft PC dead? No. But choice is good.

From Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

at Desktoplinux.com

Dec. 07, 2007

Opinion -- Sometimes, several unrelated changes come to a head at the same time, with a result no one could have predicted. The PC market is at such a tipping point right now and the result will be millions of Linux-powered PCs in users' hands.

The first change was the continued maturation of desktop Linux. Today, no one can argue with a straight face that people can't get their work done on Linux-powered PCs. Ubuntu, PCLinuxOS, MEPIS, OpenSUSE, Xandros, Linspire Mint, the list goes on and on of desktop Linuxes that PC owner can use without knowing a thing about Linux's technical side. People can argue that Vista or Mac OS X is better, but when Michael Dell runs Ubuntu Linux on one of his own home systems, it can't be said that Linux isn't a real choice for anyone's desktop.

Another change occurred when Nicholas Negroponte proposed the so-called $100-laptop, the OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) machine. He couldn't get them built for quite that price -- they cost about $200 -- but that's still remarkably cheap and they're available today.

Not long after OLPC was announced, Intel and other companies came up with their own take on an inexpensive PC: the Classmate PC. By 2007, it had become clear that you could build a laptop that was good enough to run desktop Linux for about $200.

That gave other hardware vendors an idea. If you could build a no-frills PCs that ran Linux, why not make sub-$500 computers with a bit more power and sell them to consumers? That's exactly what Asus did with its Xandros Linux-powered ASUS Eee UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC), which lists for about $400. At about the same time, Everex introduced its gOS TC2502 gPC. Available first only from Wal-Mart, these $199 desktop systems are also now also available from ZaReason, an open-source VAR.

And how are these sub $500 computers and laptops doing? Everex is building them as fast as it can and has announced that its forthcoming laptop version, the CloudBook, has already been picked up by a major U.S. reseller. At the same time, according to an unconfirmed report, ASUS is planning on selling 3.8 million Eees in its next fiscal year.

While all this has been going on, broadband Internet connectivity has become almost as easily available as cell phone coverage. It is a small town indeed where there's not some kind of free Wi-Fi available at a local coffee shop or library. You may have to pay for Wi-Fi at the airport or in your hotel, but Wi-Fi is almost always there. And, at home, well I'm living on a rural mountain overlooking a national forest and I have 3M-bps DSL coming in to my house.

Google has made billions from this simple fact. It's not just about search and ads anymore, though. Google has found that there's a big demand for its office Google Apps. And not just from home users; Capgemini, a multibillion dollar international consulting company, is using GAPE (Google Apps Premier Edition) for one of its offices.

Four trends: user-friendly Linux desktops, useful under-$500 laptops and desktops, near-universal broadband, and business-ready Internet office applications. Put them together and you have a revolution.

For the last two decades, we've been buying expensive desktop operating systems on business PCs running from $1,000 to $2,000. On those systems, we've been putting pricey desktop-centric office suites like Microsoft Office. That's a lot of money, and the convergence of the above trends is about to knock it for a loop.

Here's the business case. You tell me if it's not compelling. You can buy 100 $500 PCs running a free version of Linux, hook them to a high-speed Internet connection for a $1,000 a year and use GAPE at $50 per user account per year. Finally, we'll throw in a grand for a Linux server. That's $57,000 for your equipment, your connectivity, your operating system and your applications.

Now, let's say you want to run Vista Business. First, you'll need 100 PCs that can run it. The cheapest deal I can find today for machines I'd consider adequate for Vista Business, which is to say they must have at least 2GB of RAM, is for the Dell OptiPlex 320 at $707 a PC. Of course -- unlike with Linux, which always includes an office suite, OpenOffice -- for those times when the Internet is down, you'll need to buy an office suite. If you went with Microsoft Standard 2007, with a little shopping you can get it for the upgrade price of about $200 per copy. So, on the PC side alone, we're looking at $90,700.

All done? Not quite. To get the most from Microsoft Office 2007, you really need to be operating it with a minimum of Microsoft Server 2003 ($4,994 base price plus 100 CALs (client access licenses)), Exchange 2007 ($7,399 base price plus 100 CALs) and SharePoint 2007 ($13,824 base price plus 100 standard CALS). If you're running Windows you probably already have Server, so we won't count it. Throw in another two grand for the Exchange 2007 and SharePoint 2007 servers, and a grand for the Internet connection, and (insert sound of old-fashioned adding machine) the final total is $114,923.

So, by my calculations, all those trends have joined together to make a Linux-based small business using Google applications instead of Exchange and SharePoint cost less than half its Microsoft-based twin.

Worse still, if you're Microsoft, you can't really defend yourself. Linux desktops run just dandy on low-end, under-$500 PCs. Vista Basic, which comes the closest to being able to run on these systems, is unacceptable since it doesn't support business networking. Office 2007 also won't run worth a darn on these systems. And somehow, I can't see Microsoft optimizing its applications to work with Google Apps instead of Exchange and SharePoint.

Put it all together, and here's what I see happening. In the next few quarters, low-end Linux-based PCs are going to quickly take over the bottom rung of computing. Then, as businesses continue to get comfortable with SAAS (software as a service) and open-source software, the price benefits will start leading them toward switching to the new Linux/SAAS office model.

You'll see this really kick into gear once Vista Service Pack 1 appears and business customers start seriously looking at what it will cost to migrate to Vista. That Tiffany-level price tag will make all but the most Microsoft-centric businesses start considering the Linux/SAAS alternative.

Microsoft will fight this trend tooth and nail. It will cut prices to the point where it'll be bleeding ink on some of its product lines. And Windows XP is going to stick around much longer than Microsoft ever wanted it to. Still, it won't be enough. By attacking from the bottom, where Microsoft can no longer successfully compete, Linux will finally cut itself a large slice of the desktop market pie.


-- Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

Until the next post,

Steve

I have had a couple of NComputing devices on the test bench for more than year. Even wrote a post for this blog (nComputing, More than meets the eye) a year ago September. They are simple and they work.

How many SBC vendors can issue a Press Release that states 7,000 servers on the way with another 13,000 due to be delivered? And about 160,000 connections to those 20,000 devices! And are in the price range that a education system can afford to buy new. Not many, if any.

From C/Net news.com:

November 16, 2007 4:03 PM PST

Macedonia picks Ubuntu for 20,000 PCs

Posted by Stephen Shankland

NComputing's products let multiple people share the same PC.

(Credit: NComputing)

A batch of 7,000 PCs with Ubuntu Linux have been sent to Macedonian schools, the first of a collection that Ubuntu sponsor Canonical expects will reach 20,000.

Through a program called Computer for Every Child, the Macedonia Ministry of Education and Science plans to install the PCs throughout its elementary and secondary school system. Ubuntu will run on the 20,000 PCs, but 160,000 more students will be able to share those machines using hardware from NComputing, Canonical plans to announce Tuesday. The PCs are being supplied and installed by Haier, a Chinese PC maker.

"The Computer for Every Child initiative is the largest and most important education project undertaken in the 15-year history of the Republic of Macedonia," said Ivo Ivanovski, Macedonia's minister for the information society, in a statement. "By selecting Ubuntu as the operating system for all of our classroom virtual PCs, our education system can provide computer-based education for all schoolchildren within the limited financial and infrastructural confines that most institutions face today."

The schools are using version 7.04 of Edubuntu, a version of Ubuntu tailored for classroom use.

With PCs already commonplace in richer countries, companies such as Intel, Microsoft, and Canonical are focusing on reaching markets in developing countries.

Until the next post,

Steve

I personally have an interest in building a computing device with an embedded OS that can be both a fat and thin client and operate with no internal storage. Have communicated with a manufacture that can deliver a complete unit for less than 100 USD. But while searching for that type of unit, found the press release for the "Wal Mart, Everex, gOS, Google, Skype, Open Office, Ubuntu" 200 USD PC .

It has been published that Wal-Mart started selling on November 1 st, a "gOS" based PC with an inventory of 10,000 units. Less than two weeks later it was published that the warehouse was empty, but there may be a few units on store shelves. Sales at about 1,000 units a day may not seem like much to Wal-Mart, but in my opinion that would constitute a very successful test run.

Dowloaded the gOS for testing an added the ability to access a Microsoft Terminal Server using RDP. Of course the underlying OS is Ubuntu 7.10 and it has about 20,000 more applications that may be added. Below is review by Ducan Riley.

From Techcrunch.com on November 4, 2007.

gOS: Where Computers Are Headed?

Duncan Riley

We reported Thursday on the gPC going on sale at Wal-Mart, a $199 bare minimum PC that runs a Linux package by the name of gOS. Unlike some initial reports suggested, this isn’t the long fabled Google Operating System, but the folks behind it most definitely had Google on their mind.

In an interview at Fsckin, David Liu, founder of the gOS project gave some indication of what they are trying to achieve:

I got interested in Google applications, especially docs and spreadsheets, presentations; and originally, I wanted to create my idea of what a Google OS would look like.. if there were such a mythical OS. As I started looking around at all the Google applications out there, I realized that all of our “computing” could eventually be done in the Google cloud. We just needed an OS that looked really good and pointed people to Google in a really friendly, intelligent way. After seeing this, I got excited because I saw it was also commercially viable for the mainstream end user… Google makes Linux familiar.

gOS is billed as “Linux for human beings who shop at Wal-Mart” but how does it really stack up? gOS is available for download so I gave it whirl under VMWare Fusion to see if we are seeing the future of PCs.

Not your usual Linux desktop

The most obvious difference in gOS to a usual Linux install is the use of the Enlightenment windows manager as opposed to the more commonly used Gnome and KDE managers. KDE and Gnome in a standard install look and feel a little like Windows, Enlightenment looks a bit like OS X, complete with the rounded window open/ close buttons to the left of each window.

A dock bar runs across the bottom and provides links to a range of Google tools, Meebo, Skype, Wikipedia, Facebook and a couple of OS specific apps. A Google search box is embedded in the desktop in the top right corner.

A leaf icon bottom left opens up a familiar Windows style menu, complete with program short cuts and settings options. Interestingly the Live CD comes with Open Office, despite the emphasis on Google apps elsewhere.

It Works

I tested a number of Google apps and they all work, pretty much as they would on any machine. Apps are delivered via Firefox. The only drawback I found is one of aesthetics: the standard font pack in gOS doesn’t make for the nicest online experience, but many wouldn’t notice.

The dock shortcuts are handy, and will probably be more appreciated by those who aren’t highly computer literate, like those who cant save a bookmark or type in a web page…perhaps that’s a little bit harsh but most people don’t need gigantic shortcut buttons.

The Future?

This isn’t a PC anyone reading this article will likely buy, the specs are low and if you’re competent enough to read blogs then you can use an operating system that isn’t gOS. It is however an interesting exercise in where computers may well be heading. In a range of areas, web apps are now the equal to their offline equivalents, or are quickly catching up. If we get to the point where we can do the majority of our activites via an online interface, the need for all-powerful operating systems and computers diminishes. gPC and gOS is a nice try, and for people out in middle America looking for a cheap second or third PC for their kids to do their homework on, or conversely to do their own work on as their kids are using the main PC for gaming, its a pretty good buy. This is very much a first generation, or perhaps even 0.1 effort, but going forward it’s an option we will see more and more of. In 10, 15 or even 20 years time, when the idea of locally installed applications may be foreign, the likes of gOS may well be the norm.

This blogger post is being written using the gOS installed on a old Dell. You can download a version of gOS by clicking here. You will need to have the ability to create a bootable CD from an ISO image. You can also buy a motherboard and memory to build a PC device with the gOS and you can view that information here.

There is published information that Everex and Wal-Mart may introduce a sub 300 USD notebook in the first quarter of 2008. I suggest they start with more than 10,000 units. May want to add a 0 to the right side and bump the number on the left.

Bake this. Start with a sub 300 USD notebook and a sub 300 USD UMPC. Add WiFi and WiMax capabilities. Can boot from a removable drive. Have the ability to run applications online with a software as a service vendor and offline with locally stored and executed applications. Make wireless phone calls.View several types of video. Make a video. Publish the video and other content. Let bake for 12 to 24 months. Serve well done.

Until the next post,

Steve

WiMax reaching Critical Mass

Cisco Buys WiMax Startup

The networking giant has agreed to buy WiMax base station maker Navini Networks for $330 million.

From: Peter Sayer, IDG News Service

Cisco Systems Inc. has agreed to buy Navini Networks Inc., a developer of WiMax broadband wireless access systems.

The US$330 million deal marks Cisco's first foray into the technology: Earlier this month, Cisco dismissed rumors that it planned to buy Navini, saying it had no plans to develop wireless base stations using any technology other than Wi-Fi.

Navini makes mobile WiMax wireless base stations.

Wi-Fi and WiMax are wireless networking technologies defined in standards set by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Inc. WiMax (802.16) has a range over a hundred times greater than the older and more widely deployed Wi-Fi (802.11) family of standards.

Cisco said it is particularly interested in Navini's expertise with "smart beamforming" technologies used with Multiple-Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna arrays, which in Wi-Fi systems allow base stations to handle much higher data throughput.

Cisco plans to fold Navini into its wireless networking business unit. It expects the acquisition, its 124th, to close by the end of January.

Until the next post,

Steve

Truck fleet replaces two-way radio with 3G and thin clients

Posted on Computerworld Australia

By Sandra Rossi 04/10/2007 10:47:01

Furniture removalist company MiniMovers is in the business of mobility. With a fleet of more than 100 trucks and support vehicles operating across the eastern states of Australia, its communication system has to be as mobile as the furniture.

As a result, the company decided to replace its two-way radio system with a 3G network.

According to MiniMovers IT manager, Jason Arthur, the business had experienced annual growth of more than 40 percent over the last five years.

"We had captured 95 percent of the short distance domestic moving market in south east Queensland and we recently set up operations in Melbourne which is a fairly mature market," Arthur said.

"Our next move was to take on the Sydney market. To do this we needed to improve job management processes by upgrading our mobile communications technology."

Arthur said the two-way radio system was only good for its Brisbane operations.

In Melbourne, the fleet coordinator communicated with drivers via mobile phone as two-way radio transmission from the company's Brisbane-based depot did not extend to the Gold Coast, Melbourne or Sydney.

"Communicating with drivers via mobile phone was expensive and unsustainable," Arthur said.

"We needed a mobile solution that would enable drivers to receive job information quickly and reliably. We wanted to streamline job management and deliver productivity gains."

To determine whether 3G was the solution, the company conducted a trial arming selected staff with 3 Mobile broadband cards and thin client PC terminals.

"We could see immediately that the cards and mobile PC terminals would deliver big productivity and cost savings to the business," Arthur said.

MiniMovers made the decision to fit out its entire fleet with thin client terminals and 3 broadband cards providing 10 senior staff with laptops and 3 cards.

The company also deployed a 3 mobile broadband card in one of its Melbourne depots where no fixed phone line was available.

"Using wireless mobile instead of fixed lines saved the company in costly line rental expenses and gave users the flexibility to connect anywhere, anytime," Arthur said.

"It is actually cheaper for us to use broadband cards and mobile phones in our depots than ADSL and landlines."

The PC terminals in the trucks connect to the company's central database via 3's network. Using the PC's touch screen, the drivers can access the job management system. All administrative tasks, such as billing, job status updates and customer service reports, can be done anywhere.

Staff can also communicate with fleet coordinators via the PC terminal without having to talk on the phone.

"Since deployment removalists no longer have to manually calculate what to charge a customer. They also use the PC terminal to clock on when they start a job then clock off. The system calculates all the totals and tells them how much to bill the customer," Arthur explained.

"When a customer has an enquiry or complaint, we can now act immediately. Fleet controllers no longer have to make multiple calls to drivers and then manually update the job system, all the information is entered by the drivers."

Since deploying 3, MiniMovers fleet controllers are effectively managing a 20 percent larger fleet.

"Fleet coordinators can now control 70 trucks per person, 20 percent more than before. Previously they were stretched managing 55 trucks; we can do more now with fewer people," Arthur said.

The Melbourne depot, which has no fixed phone lines, now has access to critical business applications such as e-mail. Staff have access via two PCs and a router connected to a 3 Mobile broadband card.

Arthur said the company's depots are often established on large blocks of undeveloped land to accommodate a fleet of trucks.

"Now that we know its cheaper to use mobile phones and broadband cards than it is to use ADSL and landlines we are going to replace our landline connections at all our other depots over the next two months," he said.

Australia's first 3G mobile network was launched by 3 in April 2003 and today the company has more than one million customers. Globally, the 3 Group has 11.9 million customers worldwide.

Found this article interesting but was curious about 3G transmission costs. Went searching the web.

Eureka! Earlier this year there was a 3G price war.

View the Austrilian IT article "3G Price freefall" posted April 3rd.

Maybe as prices go down, consumption goes up? Just maybe!

Until the next post,

Steve

One Laptop Per Child Group Expands its Audience

There has been speculation that OLAP may offer a two for one program. The speculation is over.

U.S. and Canadian residents can pay $400 for one laptop to keep and one to give to a child in a developing nation.

From: Nancy Gohring, IDG News Service
Monday, September 24, 2007 4:00 AM PDT

Some of the low-cost PCs designed by One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) for kids in the developing world will go to people in North America.

That's the result of a program the group plans to launch on Monday that will let U.S. and Canadian residents pay US$400 for one laptop to keep and one to give to a child in a developing nation.

Initially, at least, purchasers won't be able to choose where the second laptop will go.

"The idea is to help feed programs in the least developed countries and broaden the community of engagement," said Walter Bender, president of software and content for OLPC. By putting the laptops in the hands of people in North America, the group hopes to persuade more people to contribute content or other developments to the project, he said.

The offer will start on Nov. 12 and run through Nov. 26. "We don't want to divert too much away from the developing world, so we'll do a short window," Bender said.

Mass production of the laptops is scheduled for October, with the first units landing in the hands of kids around the world in early November, he said. The initial run will generate 40,000 units and production will quickly double and triple that capacity to meet demand, he said.

The original plan for the OLPC project was to create a laptop that would cost less than $100, but more recently the price has been pegged closer to $190. The $400 deal for two laptops includes some padding for the cost of sending one of the laptops to a remote location, Bender said.

Can we load "rdesktop" into the system and Skype too?

Until the next post:

Steve

NComputing's Breakthrough Virtual PC Technology Enables 180,000 Low-Cost Workstations on Classroom Desktops Nationwide

From Marketwire:

Sep 17, 2007 04:00 ET

Macedonia Becomes First Nation to Provide Computer Workstations for Every Student

NComputing's Breakthrough Virtual PC Technology Enables 180,000 Low-Cost Workstations on Classroom Desktops Nationwide

REDWOOD CITY, CA--(Marketwire - September 17, 2007) - NComputing, provider of the world's most affordable solutions for PC access, today announced that its multi-user virtual desktop software and low-cost virtual PC terminals will be used to equip every school child in the Republic of Macedonia with a rich individual computer experience. The most ambitious national undertaking ever to standardize all schools around a single technology platform, the "Computer for Every Child" project of the Macedonia Ministry of Education and Science will deploy 180,000 NComputing-enabled workstation seats, enough to provide virtually every elementary and secondary school student in the nation with his or her own classroom computing device.

NComputing's multi-user virtual desktop software and low-cost virtual PC terminals, along with supporting Linux-based PCs, were proven in Macedonia tests to deliver a rich PC experience at less than half the cost of any other proposed solution, including low-cost desktop and laptop PCs and other thin client options, according to Ivo Ivanovski, Macedonia's Minister for the Information Society. Huge additional advantages in reduced maintenance and replacement costs made the choice of NComputing even more compelling. With half the students attending school in the morning, and half attending in the afternoon, 180,000 workstations will provide a 1-to-1 computing experience -- one virtual PC at each student's desk -- for the country's entire public school student population.

"The Computer for Every Child initiative is the largest and most important education project undertaken in the 15-year history of the Republic of Macedonia," according to Ivanovsky. "Our goal is to build a knowledge-based economy in which our entire workforce is educated in using information and communication technology within the next five years. Yet, like most school systems around the world, Macedonia's education system has limited financial and infrastructural resources to address this challenge. By adopting NComputing's low-cost virtual PC technology, Macedonia is taking the lead in providing computer-based education for school children."

"We at NComputing believe that providing PC access to the next billion users -- those who cannot afford the cost of an individual PC -- is the single biggest challenge facing our industry today. Perhaps the most important segment of this under-served mass market is school children, including students in the United States and other developed countries, as well as those in developing nations," said Stephen Dukker, Chairman and CEO of NComputing. "We're gratified that NComputing's technology can be an important part of the solution in Macedonia and around the world."

NComputing's corporate mission is to provide affordable PC access to under-resourced markets around the world, including schools and users in developing and developed countries. The company's revolutionary technology allows a single PC to be shared by multiple simultaneous users -- each running their own applications. Setup is simple, and begins with software on the shared PC that creates multiple virtual user desktops. Standard monitors, keyboards and mice then plug into very low-cost, highly reliable virtual PCs (also known as access terminals). As a major leap forward in green computing, NComputing solutions draw between one and five watts of power for each added user, versus 115 for a typical PC. Neither IT staff nor end users require special training, and the system is compatible with Windows, Linux and standard PC applications. Pricing is as low as $70 per seat.

With NComputing's X300, up to seven users can simultaneously share a single PC. The cost and power savings are critical in school deployments, including in Macedonia, because budgets and electricity are often limited. Macedonia also chose NComputing's technology because maintenance and replacement costs are a fraction of what they are for traditional PC deployments. NComputing's solid-state virtual PC terminals have no moving parts and require little or no maintenance, so the principal maintenance costs follow only the shared PCs and monitors. In addition, in an upgrade cycle to newer PCs, only the PCs themselves, not the virtual PC terminals, need to be replaced.

Through a global network of resellers, NComputing also offers the L-series, which connects via Ethernet at any distance from a shared PC or server on either Local Area Networks or over the Internet. The number of L-series virtual PCs supported is limited only by the power of the shared PC. Hundreds can be supported on virtualized servers.

When completed, Macedonia's Computer for Every Child initiative will have deployed approximately 160,000 NComputing virtual PC terminals and 20,000 NComputing-enabled PCs (which each also support a student on the attached monitor) running the Ubuntu Linux-based operating system. The Haier Company, a diversified manufacturer and PC maker, and one of China's largest and most respected companies, won the contract for procurement and installation. The project will enable a range of innovative educational programs, including interactive web-based classes in which specialized experts teach lessons in such areas as mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics to multiple schools and classrooms around the country.

NComputing's multi-user system software and low-cost virtual PC terminals represent the next generation of thin computing, in which multi-user computing finally becomes affordable and accessible, and the user-experience equals that of a dedicated PC. The Macedonia project is at the same time, the largest known thin client and desktop Linux deployment ever undertaken.

"This project would not have been possible 5 years ago," said Ivanovski. "Today's least expensive desktop PCs are so powerful we use less than 10% of their capacity and NComputing's technology puts this wasted power to work."

In a brief 18 months after starting active shipments, NComputing has sold more than 500,000 seats, including more than 200,000 to U.S. schools, providing technology that addresses the needs of under-served markets worldwide, as well as those of small business and enterprise customers. The company's technology is being sold and deployed in more than 80 countries -- including thousands of schools, corporate and small business offices, and villages and cities in Africa, Europe, Asia and South America.

Until the next post,

Steve

26.25 gigaflops Server for less than 2,500 USD and fits into a suit case

From:Calvin College
3201 Burton Street, SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Written by Allison Graff, web communications coordinator

Student, prof build budget supercomputer
August 30 , 2007

When Tim Brom, Class 07, (pictured right) set out to build a budget supercomputer with Calvin computer science professor Joel Adams, he didn’t know the product of his efforts might end up in his checked baggage headed for England.

Brom, now a graduate student at the University of Kentucky continuing his studies in computer science, worked with Adams to build Microwulf, a machine that is among the smallest and least expensive supercomputers on the planet.

“It’s small enough to check on an airplane or fit next to a desk,” said Brom.

This may prove useful next summer when Brom and others from his graduate program travel to England to do work that will require “a significant amount of computing power.” And as the price of commercial supercomputers is often prohibitive for many educational institutions, bringing a “personal” supercomputer like Microwulf could be a cost-effective solution for the group of graduate researchers.

“So far as we can tell, this is the first supercomputer to have this low price/performance ratio—the first to cost less than $100/Gflop,” said Adams.

This is a significant achievement considering that Microwulf is more than twice as fast as Deep Blue, the IBM-created supercomputer that beat world chess champion Gary Kasparov in 1997, and cost only a fraction of the $5 million spent to build Deep Blue.

Microwulf has been measured to process 26.25 gigaflops, or 26.25 billion double-precision floating point instructions, per second. It achieves this performance by relying on four dual-core motherboards connected by an 8-port Gigabyt Ethernet switch. The connected components form a three-tiered system that looks like a triple-decker sandwich.


Supercomputers like Microwulf are used to solve problems that take too much number-crunching for an ordinary desktop to handle, either because its processor is too slow, or because it doesn’t have enough memory, said Adams. Truly huge supercomputers (more than 100 times as fast as Microwulf) are used by organizations like the National Weather Service to process meteorological data and by the United States Missile Defense Agency to simulate nuclear tests.

Microwulf is considered a Beowulf cluster, a group of networked computers that run open source software and work in parallel to solve a single problem. Beowulf clusters are so named because their homemade, cost-effective nature liberates researchers from expensive commercial options for super-computing, much like Beowulf of the Old English poem liberated the Danes from the tyrannical rule of Grendel.

Do Brom and Adams see themselves as “liberators” by unveiling of a system like Microwulf?

“We’re taking the liberation a step further,” said Adams. “Instead of a bunch of researchers having to share a single Beowulf cluster supercomputer, now each researcher can have their own.”

Just two years ago, building a personal supercomputer like Microwulf for the price of a high-performance desktop was out of the realm of possibility for Adams and Brom. But when they saw a portable Beowulf cluster called Little Fe at a conference in October 2005, they began to think about building their system.

“I was really enjoying my high-performance computing class and wanted to keep working in that area after the class ended. I was also thinking about graduate school at the time and a project like Microwulf looks good on a curriculum vitae,” said Brom.

So by the summer of 2006 when the price of hardware materials needed to build Microwulf had gone down, Adams asked his academic department to provide $2500 for the project. He also asked Brom, then beginning his last year at Calvin, to help him build the supercomputer. In January of 2007, they began to piece together their system and by March, they were running tests to see just what Microwulf could do. In the end, the project came in under budget with Microwulf donning a price-tag of just $2470. With current hardware prices, another system like Microwulf would cost half of what it cost Adams and Brom to build earlier this year.

Though supercomputers are typically evaluated on their price/performance ratio, Adams built Microwulf giving attention to its power/performance ratio as well. In other words, he wanted to pay attention to the system’s energy consumption.

“This is becoming increasingly important, as excess power consumption is inefficient and generates waste heat, which can in turn decrease reliability,” said Adams on his Web site.

Adams and Brom managed to build Microwulf so that it could plug into one standard 120V wall outlet. This feature only enhances the system’s portability, allowing it to be taken to classrooms and other research labs where large power supplies are unavailable.

Adams isn’t going to let Microwulf gather dust in the supercomputing lab in the Science Building. Instead he’s going to take it out on the road, mostly to middle school and high school classrooms to try and get teenagers hooked on computer science.

Microwulf’s inventors aren’t set on keeping their blueprints for the supercomputer a secret. In fact, they’ve just published a detailed description and evaluation of their project on Cluster Monkey so others can build their own portable and affordable supercomputers.

It remains to be seen whether Brom will be able to get his wire-filled personal supercomputer past airport security next summer.

Until the next post,

Steve