What to Do With a $99 Wall Wart Linux Server

Guanine writes in with a follow-up to our discussion a few months back on the SheevaPlug: 1.2-GHz ARM-compliant processor, 512 MB DDR2, 512 MB flash, USB 2.0, gigabit ethernet, in a package the size of a wall wart, for $99. Saul Hansell's Bits Blog in the NY Times talks about a few applications for such a device, whose price point Hansell claims will drop to $40 before too long. "The first plausible use for the plug computer is to attach one of these gizmos to a USB hard drive. Voila, you've got a network server. Cloud Engines, a startup, has in fact built a $99 plug computer called Pogoplug, that will let you share the files on your hard drive, not only in your home but also anywhere on the Internet. ... [Marvell's CEO said] 'Eventually you won't see the plug. We want this device to be in your TV, your stereo system, your DVD player.'"

Comments

Bla bla bla ... WHERE IS IT?

[itsme1234]

Frankly I think there is some demand for such a thing; heck Amazon still sells the NSLU2 for close to $100 (and even more on some European local sites). However at this point this new gizmo is close to vaporware to me. Let's say I'm sold, where do I get it? The site referenced in the article is really not that helpful:

- doesn't look like somebody I want to do business with (sorry)
- Availability: Ships in 1 to 2 weeks
- read the specs (WTF?):
        * Dimensions (L x W x D): 4" x 2.5" x 2"
        * Power requirements: 110V/220V
        * Drive connection: USB 2.0
        * Network connection: Gigabit Ethernet
        * Web browsers: Safari, FireFox, IE (v. 7 and above), Chrome, Opera
        * File access: Windows Explorer, Mac Finder
- ships only to American Samoa, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, United States, US Virgin Islands