Monday, December 1, 2008
Computer On - Now
As you are shopping for computers either as gifts for family or to burn through the rest of your year-end IT budget you might be running into SplashTop. SplashTop is a trade name for an small, instant-boot operating system that can be found on many notebook and desktop computers. I recently had an opportunity to setup and try out the similar ExpressGate from Asus on a desktop computer. (Note: ExpressGate might actually just be another name for SplashTop)
The idea is that you can boot into this very easy-to-use, stripped-down operating system to make a quick Skype call, check email, or perform a quick web search. The ExpressGate from Asus that I was trying did boot in less than 15 seconds. They claim a faster boot time, but it does depend on hardware and BIOS configuration. Once booted up I was able to access a short list of web-eccentric applications such as a browser, multi-interface instant messaging client, and Skype. ExpressGate does store your bookmarks and preferences for later reference.
Once I was done using the interface, I could choose to shutdown the computer or launch Windows. While the computer is booting, I could also skip the ExpressGate by simplying not pushing a button during a 5-second waiting period.
Another recent entry into this space is Cloud. It is produced by gOS that was the operating system developer for the $199 Wal Mart computer last year. They feature a small Apple-esque task bar at the bottom of a web browser for jumping to other applications. They are marketing the product to netbook owners and builders in addition to the standard Windows or Linux operating systems.
I believe that these are great developments for computers. If you consider how many times you start the computer just to pull up a quick web search or check email these instant-on operating systems are a real time saver.
Labels: Cloud, gOS, laptop, notebook computer, Skype, Wal-Mart
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Small Computers Are The "In" Thing
It can be said that Apple started this small-computer trend with the MAC-mini, but others are picking up the ball and running with it. In addition to the very small ASUS eee notebook computer there are other companies entering the fray with small desktop computers as well. Most of these companies are small shops, but you can bet that bigger names such as Dell and HP will jump on board if they see an opportunity.
One of the small shops is Sharp and Tappin of England. They have created the PicoPC which uses the same low-power processor as the gPC
now available at Wal Mart. You can purchase the computer as a kit or a ready-built, tested unit. The cost is still prohibitive, but it will get better if more manufacturers join the fray. The unit pictured on the right costs 295 Euros or $424.89 at the current exchange rate.Labels: Apple, Asus, eee, thin client, Wal-Mart
Thursday, November 22, 2007
The Google PC
It has long been rumored that Google has wanted to get into the personal computer operating
system business. Based on Google's recent moves I doubt they want to go that far but instead have chosen to provide application support to those that want to build low-cost computers based on open source software.Wal-Mart is now featuring a low-cost PC that is based on Linux with a nice mix of Google-hosted applications and built-in open source software. This isn't a "Black Friday" dash for a low-price computer. It is what appears to be an everyday item in the electronics department in many Wal-Mart stores. The Everex gPC is a low-power $198 computer with a nice mix of applications.
The applications pre-installed or linked to include Skype, Wikipedia, Google Docs, Gmail, Facebook, Google Maps, and Gimp. That is a package that will allow most people to take care of all of their needs. The obstacles that will cause problems for some users is difficulty in finding a printer or scanner that will work with the Linux Ubuntu operating system.
Not all Wal-Marts currently carry this low-priced computer, but many do have them in stock. My father recently saw one at the Deland, FL Wal-Mart store. Here is a list of stores that carry the gPC. One last feature that many will like is that this computer includes 24/7 toll-free phone tech support.
Labels: Google, Linux, thin client, Wal-Mart
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