14 DAY TRIAL // According to recent reports a couple from Australia is planning to release a small, low-power, low-cost computer system that will compete with other similar devices in the yet-to-emerge market of cloud PCs. Indirectly, the couple will actually go up against major computer system vendors such as HP, Dell or Acer, which are currently competing in the netbook market with their own small-sized, low-power, ultraportable computer systems.
52-year old John Nicholls and his wife, Jeanne, 47-years of age, are reported to be planning a new line of tiny PCs that will be called Hot-e. As compared to currently available netbooks, these systems are said to be designed to fit the palm of the user's hand.
The two aren't strangers to the manufacturing of this type of products, as they have been making cheap computers for a while now. However, they now intend to deliver a faster range with the entry-level being sold for just under $100. According to Nicholls, his computer is actually a cut-down single board system, which apparently runs on just three watts, making it ideal for developing countries. "What we've done is try to reduce the cost as much as possible by reducing the number of chips in it," he said.
The systems made by the Nicholls are said to be thin clients that provide the very basic computing power, as most of the processing and data storage is handled by a remote server accessed over the Internet, a profile that fits what we call cloud computers.
Before starting its company called ThinLinX, Nicholls was a commercial pilot until the collapse of Ansett in 2001. According to recent reports, he has just partnered with a "major, global company" that makes software, whose name can't be revealed due to a non-disclosure agreement.