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Can Ncomputing's $70 Computing Device Pitchfork it to Tech Stardom?

Posted 08/01/08 at 05:30:46 PM  by Pulkit Chandna

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Silicon Valley has played host to innumerable tech startups that promised to be the next Intel or Google only to vanish away without a trace, or an apology for their erroneous claims. Now Tomshardware’s Wolfang Gruener, who claims to have successfully portended Google’s spectacular rise, has placed his bet on Ncomputing to be the next Google.

It isn’t exactly the most perilous punt ever, as Ncomputing is in one of the hottest tech niches of our times, i.e. highly affordable, no-frills computing. No, Ncomputing isn’t building the cheapest netbook or low-cost PC. It is doing things differently by pioneering a viable cloud computing solution for plebeians. Its computing device is like a set-top-box that can be connected to a monitor, keyboard and mouse, and can share the resources of a full-fledged Windows or Linux PC - using an Ethernet connection - to allow a user to surf the internet, watch media and use other essential applications.

In this manner up to 30 devices can share the resources of a single PC via an Ethernet connection. Its range starts with a $200 bundle that includes three X-series access devices and a PCI card – effectively less than $70 a pop for its magic device. The energy rating of its device is a commendable 1 watt.

The company claims that any basic PC with a Core 2 Duo processor and 1 GB ram is good enough to serve as a host for up to six X-series devices. The L-series devices lie at the other end of the price band as they are priced at $150 a pop. They can be used to distribute the computing power of a quad-core host to 30 different users.

Ncomputing does have a lot of things going for it and is in the right place at the right time. Inexpensive computing is burgeoning and everyone is upbeat about this tech niche.

The company claims to have sold 1 million of its magic boxes in the past 20 months around the globe. But before Ncomputing can rub shoulders with the likes of Google and Intel, it will have to pass its acid test by successfully winning mainstream consumers.

It currently caters to various organizations with such generic – or even trivial - computing needs that don’t actually merit an expensive legion of full-fledged computers.

Can you imagine a place for cloud computing in ordinary homes, in your homes? The answer to this question will decide Ncomputing’s standing amongst the who’s who of Silicon Valley in times to follow.

COMMENTS:12
TAGS: intel, Google, hardware, build a rig, cloud computing, computers, ncomputing, x-series, l-series
COMMENTS
avatar Another "sign me up!" I

Submitted by Shalbatana on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 7:53am

 Another "sign me up!"

I don't do wireless, and have threaded an ethernet port to each room of the house. So with this I could sit with a wireless keyboard and compute from anywhere, still using my computer. I like it.

_______________________________

"There's no time like the future."

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avatarOld way with new twist

Submitted by KOMMANDER on Sat, 08/02/2008 - 4:42am

Unix systems did this years ago. The only thing diffrent is the use of ethernet to do it with. Remote terminals have been around for a long time. The thing is that home owners couldn't take advantage of it because of the cost for the hardware and you needed a server addition of Windows. I know that you could use Linux but most folks wouldn't go there so Windows was the only route for most. I hope this takes off as its a good solution for a lot of families that can't afford 2 or even three systems but who could afford one highend system and then some used monitors keyboards, and mice. KOMMANDER

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avatarCouldn't agree more...

Submitted by mattlesak on Sat, 08/02/2008 - 5:32am

Completely agree with KOMMANDER, what's old is new again!
I'm always hoped someone would do this because it makes so much sense.
A lot of effort had been put into this concept, check out:
The Linux Terminal Server Project
Microsoft Terminal Services
Citrix XenApp
And I'm sure there are more, but you get the point.
Today's local computing power is so under utilized, especially home users.

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avatarOh i didnt notice there were

Submitted by Pentium 0 on Fri, 08/01/2008 - 5:59pm

Oh i didnt notice there were 2 models of the L series, the 230 having a usb port. Thanks for pointing that out.

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avatarUSB

Submitted by Techrocket9 on Fri, 08/01/2008 - 5:44pm

Pentium 0, the top-of-the-line L ($210.00) model has one USB port which it claims is for Flash Drives. Idk if it works with other stuff, but it could.

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avatarSounds great but having no

Submitted by Pentium 0 on Fri, 08/01/2008 - 5:24pm

Sounds great but having no usb ports on the machines is a deal breaker for me...

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avatarEven if this device isn't

Submitted by sirphunkee on Fri, 08/01/2008 - 3:50pm

Even if this device isn't the one that makes the market explode, I definitely believe that this model of resource-sharing is one that's set to take off big time.  Now that most home processors are more than capable of running numerours applications/threads at once, this sounds like the best plan for getting as much use out of one "regular" CPU as possible.  As much as I'd love to build a full-featured rig for every corner of my house, this would be a much better (read: cheaper) way to get net access and other basic functionality distributed.

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avatar**WARNING** Crazy theory

Submitted by jwalch.hawk on Sat, 08/02/2008 - 12:57am

**WARNING** Crazy theory a-coming...
" the best plan for getting as much use out of one 'regular' CPU as possible."
You know, by putting CPUs in constant use... 
It's *possible* that we could end up with a shortened CPU lifespan...
Planned obsolence in action.
Shh...  No one tell Intel.  

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avatarlol.   or even better (for

Submitted by sirphunkee on Sat, 08/02/2008 - 12:43pm

lol.   or even better (for Intel etc), we consumers will start having to buy CPU's based on MTBF ratings, not just speed/horsepower.

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avatarThese are great for small schools!

Submitted by velcroman270 on Fri, 08/01/2008 - 3:35pm

I work for a school district's IT department and these are the best things for any school on a tight IT budget, they work great and are pretty reliable we all ready have 20+ in service and they very seldomly do they break, only host computer breaks. And the server version is not as good as the single host computer. The server relies on your network, so the more network traffic you have the slower the xboxes as we call them work. And you can run them on a older machine too!..these are the best! A cheap and inexpensive way to upgrade a computer lab or make an entire new one!

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avatarThis sounds like 1999...

Submitted by astrocramp on Fri, 08/01/2008 - 2:36pm

Remember back when Larry Ellison and Scott McNealy used to blather on about the "PC is dead, the internet is the computer"? Deja vous.

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avatarso you are a skeptic?

Submitted by opulent_rigs on Fri, 08/01/2008 - 2:40pm

an early skeptic. future giants always have plenty of em lol. but you have a point buddy

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