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Curious Blend of VPN, PDA and USB Drive

Posted by michael on from the if-you-build-it-they-will-come dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Realm Systems has developed a cellphone-sized mobile device that takes advantage of the hardware of a another PC by attaching via USB. It requires an Internet connection to connect to a backend system, but acts as a fully functional PC with dual PowerPC processors, a 20 GB drive and all your applications - if you can find someone who lets you connect to their PC. An interesting option especially for a price of $195 for the mobile device." So, for a $10,000 central server, a $1000 PC, and a $195 device, you can have the computing power of: a $1000 PC. It seems like there might be cheaper ways.

22 of 84 comments (clear)

  1. WiFi by Daxx_61 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Why not use Wi-Fi? Why bother with USB at all?

    --
    Quoth the server, "404."
    1. Re:WiFi by thea64man · · Score: 2, Informative

      Well I would guess that probably because if they used Wi-Fi #1 some computers don't have Wi-Fi(although many do) #2 most computers have USB #3 USB is cheaper (i think) I like the concept but the actual product could use refinement.

  2. Too damn proprietory by Kris_J · · Score: 3, Interesting
    And it looks like it wants to more or less shut down the host PC. It's be more interesting if it was accessible via a terminal services, VNC or X window itself.

    Come to think of it, a couple of friends have a Sharp Zaurus and it's SSH-able when it's sitting in its cradle...

    1. Re:Too damn proprietory by Homology · · Score: 2, Informative
      And it looks like it wants to more or less shut down the host PC. It's be more interesting if it was accessible via a terminal services, VNC or X window itself.

      Come to think of it, a couple of friends have a Sharp Zaurus and it's SSH-able when it's sitting in its cradle...

      The developers of OpenBSD is porting OpenBSD to Sharp Zaurus

    2. Re:Too damn proprietory by AndroidCat · · Score: 2, Funny
      attaches via an USB interface to any computer, takes over the Internet connection and creates a VPN connection via Terminal services to a proprietary backend system, the SOBA router. In this process, the MPS hibernates the host PC's operating system and takes over hardware components such as screen, graphics, keyboard and mouse.
      Sounds like demonic possession. Cue the creepy ring-tones!
      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  3. Wank words by hool5400 · · Score: 2, Funny

    "It is a paradigm shift,"

    Jesus H Christ. I'm getting sick of this pointy haired bullshit.

    --

    Remember, it takes 42 muscles to frown and only 4 to pull the trigger of a sniper rifle.
  4. Neat idea, but by wcitechnologies · · Score: 3, Insightful
    They need to find a way to lower the cost of production and the price they are selling it, or it will fail.

    It is a harsh truth, but I'd rather use VNC on my PocketPC than pay out the end for this kind of portability.

    --
    Electrons are free; it is moving them that becomes expensive.
    1. Re:Neat idea, but by Spy+Hunter · · Score: 4, Informative
      It's not for you, it's for large companies. Now that I understand what it is, I think it could actually be useful. The article didn't help much, but if you want to know what it really is:

      It is a USB hard drive + integrated computer running something like knoppix + fingerprint scanner, in a package not much larger than an iPod. You take it with you anywhere, then plug it into any computer you find. After scanning your fingerprint it automatically takes over that computer and brings up your suspended Linux desktop on the screen, just how you left it. It also sets up a VPN over the Internet to access your company's intranet so you can work just like you were in the office. When you're done you unplug it, which instantly suspends your session until you plug it in again.

      The central server is cool because it backs up all of the devices as they are being used, so if somebody loses theirs it's not a problem. You can just copy their backed-up image onto a new device and give it to them. You can also track usage and do security junk like that. I'm not a big fan of that feature, since it will probably lead to stupidly restrictive policies that are automatically enforced with an iron hand by the software. But that's a management problem, not a problem with the technology per se.

      --
      main(c,r){for(r=32;r;) printf(++c>31?c=!r--,"\n":c<r?" ":~c&r?" `":" #");}
    2. Re:Neat idea, but by Spy+Hunter · · Score: 2, Informative
      Oh, I forgot to list the disadvantages. The way I see it, hardware compatibility will probably be spotty. Not only does it need to detect and have drivers for all types of PC graphics cards, network/wireless cards, sound cards, modems, and mice; it has to use them all through this weird USB connection, plus it has to dynamically switch to a completely different set without rebooting when it is plugged into a different PC. Even if it works this process can't be very fast, not to mention the fact that it needs to re-setup the Internet connection (if it's not using DHCP you'll need to specify the correct network settings too, ouch) and don't forget that it needs to hibernate Windows too, which takes a while and doesn't always work correctly. I couldn't see the whole process taking less than a minute in a best-case scenario, which makes it a lot more annoying to, say, plug it in for a quick email check.

      Either that, or it doesn't really hibernate and take over the host computer like they say, but instead simply runs a proxy program on the host computer's OS to display stuff on the screen and get input from the keyboard/mouse. This would be fast, convenient, and highly compatible (and I suspect for these reasons that this is how it really works); however, it would be completely vulnerable to keyloggers or other malicious software running on the host machine, defeating the whole security aspect of the device.

      --
      main(c,r){for(r=32;r;) printf(++c>31?c=!r--,"\n":c<r?" ":~c&r?" `":" #");}
  5. This is the first by ZSpade · · Score: 5, Interesting

    and last time we'll ever see this piece of technology. Guy 1: Yeah, let me give you my business address. Guy 2: Hold on I'll put it on my MPS... Guy 2: Uhh, You wouldn't happen to have a computer on you, would you?

    --
    Go ahead and call me unreliable; reliable is just a synonym for predictable.
  6. Overkill by lachlan76 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How exactly does this do the job better than a Knoppix CD and VNC/X over SSH/rdesktop?

    1. Re:Overkill by isometrick · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I'm still trying to figure out HOW it "takes over the machine", but it says that it maintains state on the host machine as well as itself. Hmmm...

    2. Re:Overkill by lachlan76 · · Score: 3, Informative

      My guess would be that it puts it into hibernation and then boots from USB.

  7. For a $10,000 server... by djsmiley · · Score: 3, Interesting

    "MPS devices will be available from $195. While we could imagine Realms technology to also be attractive for home users, the necessary SOBA router may be out of reach for most households: Pricing ranges from $10,000 to $40,000, depending on the amount of users."

    its not even a server, its an over the top router!

    --
    - http://www.milkme.co.uk
  8. I think by nahdude812 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I think that this is probably targeted at roaming corporate users. I split my time up between three corporate offices, a day here, a day there. Since I only have a cubicle in one of the three, I'm always having to use someone else's computer who's out for the day (it's a big company, there's always someone out). Each of the other guys in my group are in the same scenario.

    Our roaming profiles give us access to our documents when signed on to someone else's computer, but they don't give us access to our developer tools. We've thought about external USB / Firewire drives, but not all of the tools we use can work running right off a detachible device.

    This sounds like it might offer a better solution.

    --
    Slay a dragon... over lunch!
  9. Still doesn't beat Zaurus by zoum · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I don't think such device is decent enough compared to Sharp Zaurus Cxx model.

    Zaurus can be also connected to any PC via USB or WiFi connection...and you can control Zaurus via ssh or vnc, etc...Moreover, Zaurus itself functions as a mobile computing device with superb display in terms of size and resolution, and many other great features...

  10. gah! by torpor · · Score: 5, Insightful

    its awful, really .. to think that this whole thing is rendered useless by a USB-fob and a freebie operating system 'from those commies' ..

    but, what bothers me most about this is that we are *forever and perpetually* trying to build better client/server computing systems. we want power, but we don't want to be near the computer ..

    over and over, the same ol' problem. why don't we just make better, smaller, nicer, more comfy computers, and give up this whole 'beigebox' mentality?

    --
    ; -- the corruption of government starts with its secrets. a truly free people keep no secrets. --
  11. Similar to the Intel Personal Server by Jacco+de+Leeuw · · Score: 4, Interesting
    I see some resemblance with the Intel Personal Server.

    Don't know about the security. There is no keyboard on the thing so a (hardware) keylogger on the host PC would be disastrous.

    --
    -------
    Warning: Slashdot may contain traces of nuts.
  12. Exactly: Damn Small Linux does the job by kt0157 · · Score: 2, Informative
    I have a flask disk with Damn Small Linux and QEMU. Plug into a PC, run the emulator and away you go. And it's free.

    Next step: a 1Gb flash disk with Knoppix.

    Step after that: teeny tiny 40Gb Freecom FHD XS with any damn Linux distribution you want.

  13. Has its place by iamacat · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I don't think your USB virtual privacy machine 1. comes with 20GB of storage, 2. Runs apps as fast as dual PPC, 3. prevents malware on the host from just formatting its hard drive, 4. can be pulled out for instant suspend or 5. comes with a commercially supported server for VPN, backup and centralized administration.

    This is actually perfect for universities. Work from home or any lab, don't worry about hacked or infected public PCs (passwords can be entered with on-screen keyboard), for(;;) fork(); will not kill some central public server.

    The only curious thing is the choice of non-Intel CPU. I wonder what kind applications they run on this thing - Mozilla and OpenOffice? I know what I would run when I have to use other people's computers.

  14. What does this offer by CastrTroy · · Score: 2, Informative

    What does this offer over using a Linux live CD and a usb hard drive. If you just had computers that would boot off the usb hard drive, you wouldn't even need the Linux Live CD. Why does it need processors if it has to take over another PC to use it?

    --

    Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
  15. Re:Too damn proprietory? by BobPaul · · Score: 2, Insightful

    And it looks like it wants to more or less shut down the host PC. It's be more interesting if it was accessible via a terminal services, VNC or X window itself.

    I think it does use a terminal services client... most likely VNC. Look at the quote from the article below:

    By using a Terminal Server, an application that is available ob virtually any platform, Realm's technology does not depend on the operating system of the host system, but rather takes over the components it needs for data entry.

    Earlier in the article they said something like "Plug it into the USB port and it hibernates the host PC" or something similar. I have a strong feeling that was simply colorful language and does not literaly mean it sends the other PC into hibernate mode. If it did that it would have to:
    1) Boot the host off an image stored on the MPS that allows the host PC to be used as a hardware interface.
    2) Hope the host graphics and network systems are supported by this image.
    3) Hope the host was using DHCP, cause you don't know their network settings anymore.

    Where as if the Host PC was left running in Windows, Linux, or MacOS (as the article seems to suggest) plugging in the MPS would:
    1) Pop up a new drive on the system, such as plugging in a USB Keychain drive would.
    2) Autoload the appropriate VNC client for the host OS auto configured to log into the MPS.
    3) Autoload software appropriate for the OS to gain bridged network access using the existing configured network settings.

    I think it's far more probable that that the host PC is continusouly running, but there's a Terminal Services Client of sorts running always on top so you simply don't see the client OS. All you see is your MPS.