RSSCherryPal computer-Internet appliance hybrid goes on sale for $249
By Tim Conneally | Published July 21, 2008, 4:40 PM
Not quite a thin client, not quite a full-blown desktop, the two-watt CherryPal C100 "cloud computer" is available for order today.
Silicon Valley startup CherryPal is offering its eponymous system with a profile of only 5.8" x 4.2" x 1.3", weighing only 10 ounces, with a crawling 400MHz processing speed. But it's not designed to replace a full-fledged desktop, and at most resembles an Internet appliance.
For $249, the CherryPal has a Freescale MPC5121e MobileGT processor, 256MB of DDR2 RAM, 4GB of NAND Flash memory (supplemented by 50GB of free, non-subscription cloud storage), 802.11b/g wireless, 2 USB ports, 1 10/100 Ethernet port, and DBA-15 VGA and 3.5mm stereo outputs.
Unlike Asus, which took its successful Eee brand of netbook and converted it into a desktop, CherryPal leans more heavily on the cloud computing paradigm, where practically all functions are handled over the Internet through a modified version of Firefox.
The company claims it will take care of all the "technical details, like upgrading or installing software," so the user will never even have to go into the Debian GNU/Linux operating system that runs underneath.
Asus' Eee Box, on the other hand is a more full-featured desktop unit running Windows XP, equipped with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB DDR2 RAM, and 80GB hard drive. While it also claims to have reduced power consumption by 90%, Anandtech stats put the Eee Box at 14.4W when idle and 19W under load. When compared to the CherryPal's meager 2W consumption, it seems like a power hog.
CherryPal will concentrate mostly upon "cloud" applications that run within Firefox, such as Google Docs and other Web-based services (Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, etc. are all considered applications). Users can store files on their free 50GB CherryPalCloud account, which utilizes Amazon's S3 storage service.
The company plans to make money by serving up ads as these Web applications are loaded, but hasn't said when they will start appearing. CherryPal plans to make further announcements on its advertising initiative in the near future.
Still, the CherryPal will have some local desktop-based functionality, including OpenOffice, and the company's own branded IM client and media player. Strangely, CherryPal claims its diminutive PC will also run iTunes, although it's not clear how this would be accomplished since Apple has not released a version of its media player and digital media store for Linux.
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Please come visit. I am excited
about how the CherryPal can bridge barriers to people who have not had access to computers
or the internet because of money, fear, education or other challenges.
The CherryPal C100 desktop is now available for order. You can get $10 off at http://72.51.37.17/shop/ by ordering through Paypal and using CODE CPP206
I will be commenting on my experience of using it on my blog as soon as I get my own CherryPal C100!
CherryPal for Everyone http://cherrypal.blogspot.com
Use CODE CPP206 for $10 off CherryPal
purchase price at Paypal
http://72.51.37.17/shop/
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LAME
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Might be wrong but doesn't seem to have the horse power to handle video streams, which would make it interesting. Without - what's the point of it? Better off with a netbook for 'textual' web services.
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This is pretty lame. Seriously, who would use it.
One thing is good though:
At least it takes care of "'technical details, like upgrading or installing software,' so the user will never even have to go into the Debian GNU/Linux operating system that runs underneath."
I wish I had something that does that!
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Got $249?
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Looks like a good way to market to the Grandparents. WebTV was an interesting approach, but it ran into problems when the web started advancing. Plus, you couldn't really troubleshoot the connection if they were piggy-backing another ISP.
It's a good move. Plenty of people say "Oh I'll just use it for the web and e-mail." and pay for a computer with capabilities they'll never really use.
Hopefully this takes off.
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Looks interesting.
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