Tiny PCs - A Break From The Past
by Mark Ontkush, Boston, Massachusetts, USA on 10.18.07
Several PC 'facturers are creating ecological history by inventing "Good Enough" computers that are extremely efficient when used in the proper niche. Barring the standard marketing model (ahem, above), these models aren't the newest, fastest, or even latest tech. But, they are the best use of electrons for certain applications. And that's green, refreshing, and novel.
Exhibit A is the Eee PC line of sub-notebook computers from Asus.
The basic model has a 2GB of solid-state Flash storage (which eliminates the spinning hard drive) and a wee 256MB of memory. More "advanced" models have simply more storage and memory, and maybe a camera and a bigger battery. The simple, brass tacks design is the green element here; this is simply what the on-the-go roadie needs to check email, surf the web, do a little Skype, check a few Wikipedia entries. They all come with Linux but will operate with Windows if you have to; the middle of the road model is around £219 including VAT.
Fit-PC is another offering from CompuLab, an Israeli company that manufactures low power systems. The CPU is a modest 500MHz AMD Geode LX800 and the entire system, including hard drive and 256MB of main memory, uses only 3-5W of total power. At those levels, you could use a foot treadle to run it. The Extreme Tech review is fair and balanced; this thing isn't going to leap tall mountains, and in fact some things one might take for granted - like viewing Flash-intensive web sites and having six windows open at once - noticeably slow the equipment. But form factor, power savings, and cost carry the day, particularly for applications that requires always-on usage and a light duty applications mix. It's $285. :: The Register :: Extreme Tech
these are really cool, and cute. i'd buy one, if i needed a computer i could carry around. maybe when my daughter goes to college. . . i bet it would be great for that!
i would like to use my compuser like that but it would take a new kind och screen to be able to work i bright sunligh. It would be cool ifparts of the laptop were solarpanels that boosted the clarity when use outdoors!
Cool and cute indeed. And the computer ain't bad either! (RImshot)
I actually disagree that these are green. By being cheap and having limited functions, these products are ripe for purchase as second, additional computers. Marketing them to lower-income consumers, especially in the developing world, would be more productive, as the machines would be primary computers. However, although it's great for development, enabling non-users to purchase computers is not necessarily eco.
I still think the Sony Vaio ultra-lite PCs that came out in the late 1990's are the best I've seen. They had a built-in webcam AND you could plug it into your television.
I wish I could get a simple cell phone.
The constant software updates seem to push to computer sales. My late 10 year old notebook still fuctions perfectly, but if I want to install the latest version of Internet Explorer or iTunes, I need a newer operating system, which requires more power, memory and storage than my perfectly good laptop has.
This is an interesting new wave for computing. Personally, I think the only one that's truly born of good intentions is the One Laptop Per Child initiative (laptop.org). The ultimate success of the project has yet to prove itself, but the concept is really the only revolutionary one in this mini-laptop trend and it's really the only one with significant efficiency increases. For a quick synopsis, check out NYT's David Pogue's vlog on OLPC.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BBoghPvyhts
2gb if memory? WTF? My Ipod has more memory.
perhaps combine this low power laptops with the new xios/3 OS system from http://xcerion.com/ instead of memory hogging microsoft windows vista?
I have been looking at this very topic ("hiptop" PC that will save me from buying several other gadgets). I'm just about sold on the HTC Advantage. 5" screen so you can still carry it with you every day, GPS, cell phone, cell data (EDGE, etc), WiFi, Bluetooth, 8 gig HD.
This will save me from buying:
- a new cell phone (my current one is 4+ years old and I expect it won't last much longer)
- a GPS system
- a laptop
- satellite equipment for high-speed internet (no DSL or cable available where I live)
Hiptops have been tried before without success, but I think their time has come. If a 5" screen isn't big enough, HTC just announced a 7" version, too (HTC Shift).
Review of the Advantage: www.mobiletechreview.com/HTC-Advantage.htm