Tiny Computer From Mynix

vnsnes writes: "Mynix brands their e-Space computer as the world's smallest PC. It is, '...the only alternative to Desktops and Notebooks; for those who need computing in two places, typically the Home and the Office.' It looks really cool, but would it really be practical for anyone? For people chucking information between home and office it would seem much more economical to get broadband service at home and setup a VPN. Why would anyone use e-Space as a notebook when it comes without a screen, a keyboard, or a mouse? Yes, you can save space with this little guy, but you'll still need room for a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse on your desk. And they aren't exactly cheap: about $1,600. For about the same price you can get a laptop computer with the same specs but with all the necessary peripherals. PC Magazine review here." I guess this fills the same niche that the Saintsong Cappucino does, whatever niche that is.

Comments

Assumptions

[DarkZero]

For people chucking information between home and office it would seem much more economical to get broadband service at home and setup a VPN

You're assuming that the target customer knows what a VPN is, which is a doubtful. Honestly, not that many average consumers have a VPN, a LAN, or even extremely common geek things like broadband service at home.

Desktop equal?

[Mahtar]

The e-Space is a full powered miniature Desktop system with a rich feature list that equals full sized desktop systems

Integrated ALI 1632 Graphics and Trident BIOS with support for additional 4MB of memory upgradeable to 8MB with AIMM.Intel® 3D Graphics with support for additional 4 MB of Digital Display cache memory with AIMM

Watch out, GeForce3.

Could be useful. . .

[Cyberllama]

Its a shame manufacturers don't put a little more thought into such products. A few more refinements and I would be able to think of dozens of uses. However, as it stands, I can still think of few:

1) Put linux on it and hide it away as a server. Everyone loves a tiny server, espeically at lan parties when the less equipment you have to lug around too much equipment.

2)How about a Beowulf cluster of 100 systems. . . In your closet!

3) uhm....Other stuff I guess? Honestly with just a tiny screen and some sort of input method this could really be neat. I mean Palms/PocketPc's just don't have enough power in them. . . But since the manufacturers seem more inclined to make a neat gadeget (which admittedly is enough to make me sort of want one) than they are a useful product you'd have to do this bit of mod work yourself.

Actually fairly useful,

[CharlieG]

but not at that price!

Picture you develop/work in two locations, home, and a client. The client may NOT allow you to have a VPN. They have supplied you with a desktop, plus a computer system. This allows you to bring YOUR box with you to have the environment YOU want - you use THEIR monitor and keyboard, and work!

Thing is, at that price, you can buy a laptop