AMD Use Windows CE in Low Cost Personal Internet Communicator

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=19332' target='_blank'>http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=19332</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Chip Firm AMD said it has introduced its Geode based Personal Internet Communicator (PIC) in a cooperative deal with Indian giant Tata Indicom Broadband...... the PIC probably costs around $185 without a minitor (a small monitor). AMD, in a release, underplayed the technical features of the PIC - but did say it will include a customised version of Windows CE and will include browser, word processor, spreadsheet and a presentation viewer." </i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/32123a-10_picangfrt50x15_E.gif" /> <br /><br />AMD apparently see the PIC as a way of opening the Internet and technology up to the masses who can't currently afford it, e.g. in Mexico, India etc. In a touch that <a href="http://www.usc.edu/schools/annenberg/asc/projects/comm544/library/images/336.html">Matisse would appreciate</a>, AMD say on their website, "<i>The PIC is not a computer</i>". Umm, OK. :huh: Full details of the Geode can be found at the AMD website <a href="http://www.amd.com/us-en/Weblets/0,,7832_12095_12099_12117,00.html">here.</a>

[ricksfiona]

Well, the monitor would cost maybe $100 - $150 and at that price, you're only a few bucks away from a regular desktop computer and you'll be getting a ton more power in the process.

I live in a relatively poor area in the San Francisco Bay area... A neighbor of mine who lives in a studio-shack with her son, her daughter, her daughter's husband and sometimes husband asked for advice on purchasing a computer... They told me what they wanted to do with the computer and that her children would be doing school work Internet related work... I spec'd out several systems, the most expensive being about $2400 (19", CDR, DVD, 512MB, etc..., this is how much computers like this cost at the time). She chose this model and paid CASH! This woman works probably a $10 - $15/hour job and they live in a shack...

When people REALLY want something... They'll wait and save (or go into debt) to get what they want. If it's cool and cheap, people will buy it. If it's cool and expensive, that will be fine too (within reason). If it sucks, then it doesn't matter how cheap the item is...

Do I think a device like this will fly? Nope. You can't REAL games on it and probably can't play movies on it. Sorry guys, this sounds like a loser to me...

[hotweiss]

This product would be successful everywhere at that price, depending if it works as promised. Too bad, but I guess it's better to sell $600 AMD 64 CPU's that people can give you 100x more profit. Of course, you get 100x the performance. Just keep in mind that a good number of people don't need 100x the performance.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Do I think a device like this will fly? Nope. You can't REAL games on it and probably can't play movies on it. Sorry guys, this sounds like a loser to me...

Ricksfiona, as mentioned in the post, this is mean for poorer countries and is meant to offer the basics including web access. This isn't the computer you are looking for. :wink:

[EricMCarson]

Do I think a device like this will fly? Nope. You can't REAL games on it and probably can't play movies on it. Sorry guys, this sounds like a loser to me...

I think the device you're thinking of is the XBox... Come on, this is a great device for people that need basic computing (word processor, internet, PDF view/print). And for $185, you really can't go wrong (try buying an XBox + REAL game for that).

[GoldKey]

But for $369 you can often get an e-machine WITH a monitor and a printer.

[Bajan Cherry]

Interesting! I have not seen any business announcements here in India about this device yet. And I am not sure if I see much business case either. $185/- for those poor guys is still lot of money, and that too if one considers that for that money, one can buy second hand pentium or celeron based fully loaded PC. Heck, when I wanted to sell my P-II machine, I was offered half of that price.

[Jason Dunn]

Guys, this is less about the price point and functionality than it is about the nature of the device - look at that thing, it's designed like an appliance, not a computer. It's probably meant to never need servicing, never need cleaning, and take a hell of a beating in less than ideal environments.

[ricksfiona]

But for $369 you can often get an e-machine WITH a monitor and a printer.

THANK YOU! This is exactly what I mean.

I understand the nature of the device. An appliance for people to use to access the 'Net. But it doesn't matter. I mean, there is only so much you can do via the 'Net and people will feel the limitations quickly on this device. Plus you would probably have access via dial-up or cellular, so e-mail and IM is pretty much it.

If there was a tribe or city that had limited funds, they would centralize access. Someone would say "if everyone is going to use it, don't we want something with more features that would further benefit the community.

PLUS, any smart non-profit working with these folks would get this stuff donated. Or someone within the tribe/town could get this stuff donated.

[surur]

In a developing country, once you buy your pc for say $500, the rest of your software is free. We are talking from MS Office 2003 to Photoshop to Quark Express etc etc. Thousands of dollars worth of software (and functionality). In other words you pay for the hardware (because you have to) but no-one pays for the bits.

This is only possible due to the network effect, where some-one in a developed country decided to crack the software and post it on the internet, making it available to everybody else.

If you buy one of these devices you are stuck on a proprietary (non-standard) platform, meaning you can only do what the OEM intended you to do, and can not expand your capabilities through "free" software. Alternatively you get to pay first world prices for software in the third world, and get told to like it or lump it.

People in the third world are not stupid. They will know if they buy one of these they will not be able to go to the market and buy a pirated game for $5, they wont be able to do their resume in Word, or watch a DVD of the latest theatre release on their PC.

This device is not meant to accessorize a PC (like a pocketpc does) but to replace a fullsized desktop pc.

This makes it useless at this price point. Maybe at $50, but then only for 5 year old children. By the time they are seven they would also want to do some Desk Top Publishing (if only to make a poster for school).

Surur

[Hugh Nano]

In a touch that Matisse would appreciate (http://www.usc.edu/schools/annenberg/asc/projects/comm544/library/images/336.html), AMD say on their website, "The PIC is not a computer".

I believe you mean Magritte... ;)

[Mobile_Bear]

In a developing country, once you buy your pc for say $500, the rest of your software is free. We are talking from MS Office 2003 to Photoshop to Quark Express etc etc. Thousands of dollars worth of software (and functionality). In other words you pay for the hardware (because you have to) but no-one pays for the bits.

I totally agree, I lived in Mexico for some years, and believe me, you can find very cheap computers, literally, on street markets.


...where some-one in a developed country decided to crack the software and post it on the internet, making it available to everybody else.

If you buy a device on these informal establishments, they usually include a bunch of Software for free, too.


People in the third world are not stupid. They will know if they buy one of these they will not be able to go to the market and buy a pirated game for $5, they wont be able to do their resume in Word, or watch a DVD of the latest theatre release on their PC.

This device is not meant to accessorize a PC (like a pocketpc does) but to replace a fullsized desktop pc.

I do not see a place for devices like this, even in places like Mexico (in my own reduced and limited experience), where there are already in place means for acquiring cheap, convinient systems.