Hewlett-Packard announced today that it would offer an alternative desktop PC solution for enterprises that it calls the Consolidated Client Infrastructure (CCI). The new solution combines thin client computing with rack-mounted blade PCs to dramatically lower costs and boost security and reliability. "Access" is handled on the users' desktops via a Transmeta-based thin client that runs embedded Windows XP. The box has four USB ports, as well as ports for a monitor, mouse and keyboard. It's a generic "end-user replaceable device," which means an expensive IT person doesn’t have to come to the user to fix it. CCI "computing" takes place on what has been called "blade PCs"—the equivalent of blade servers: rack-mounted personal computers-on-a-card, each dedicated to a single user for each session. "Resources" include virtualized storage, Internet access and so on, which all reside in the data center and are provisioned on an as-needed basis. Data storage is virtualized, but application file storage takes place on hard drives associated with each PC.
Tuesday, December 02, 2003
Microsoft Experimenting With Blogging Tool for College Students
Microsoft is working on a student blog project called 'The Spoke,' which is a new community site from Microsoft's Academic Developer Division. I guess blogging technology could help bring cheating and plagiarism into the 21st century.
Cerritos, California, to Get Ubiquitous Wi-Fi
Cerritos, California, population 50,000, will soon get citywide Wi-Fi access paid for by the city. Aiirnet Wireless has agreed to place shoebox-sized radio transmitters throughout the city, which will enable access for building inspectors, enforcement officers and others. Consumers may be home access for a fee.
Monday, December 01, 2003
Researchers Create Flexible Robot Skin
The University of Tokyo's Institute of Industrial Science has created an electronic artificial skin material that can be flexed and contoured into shape. The "skin" has sensors built in, which can transmit sensory information to a robot brain, including pressure-sensitive data. It's reportedly going to be useful for robot nurses and electronic friends for children. I guess people don't like human nurses and playmates.
Microsoft Longhorn Available From Malaysian Street Vendors
Microsoft's "Longhorn" successor to Windows XP, which isn't expected to become legally available the public until 2006 at the earliest, is already for sale by street vendors in the Malaysian city of Johor Bahru for less than $2 per copy.
Sunday, November 30, 2003
Apple Tablet News Broke in April
Everyone is talking about a Robert X. Cringeley piece in which he drops matter-of-factly that Apple will come out with a Tablet in January. This speculation may be based in part by a Taiwan Economic News report way back in April that said Apple had placed an order with Taiwan's Quanta for 15-inch tablets. (Link requires free registration.)
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