The CherryPal cloud PC: $249, ready for (the new world) order

There's no OS to speak of, no optical drive, just 4GB of flash storage and 256MB of RAM, and you're limited to a 400MHz Freescale 5121E processor with integrated graphics under the hood. But the CherryPal desktop PC -- just revealed with a $249 price tag -- is definitely worth making a fuss over. About the size of a plastic paperback sporting a pair of USB ports and VGA-out, the mini PC plugs directly into the CherryPal Cloud via 802.11b/g WiFi or 10/100 Ethernet for 50GB of free Internet storage, automatic system updates, and access to a number of webified apps (which also reside locally) including iTunes, OpenOffice, and a CherryPal-branded instant messenger and media client (though we figured iTunes would have taken care of the media playback). Of course, the lack of traditional specifications results in just a fraction of the power consumption used by that electron gobbler sitting on your desk. Not bad if your PC's primary function is to playback audio, surf the web, and occasionally edit an Office document. Oh, and that name, CherryPal? It originates from an early tester who declared it, "sweeter than an Apple." We'll see when the first CherryPal desktop ships at the end of this month -- order today.

[Via Crave]

[Mindfield @ Jul 21st 2008 7:26AM]

Another useless commentary by an Apple fanboy.

Me, I dislike it simply for its network storage. Network storage = fail. Put some substantial Flash in there and it could be a handy little device.

[a @ Jul 21st 2008 7:32AM]

For more storage, you could plug in one of your old ipods, I suppose...

I like having music available, but I don't like having my laptop ON and attached to my stereo all of the time. I built a HTPC but it was loud, too large, and also had to be on all of the time to be useful.

Something like this would be handy for music... Wattage? (I didn't RTFA).

[RussianVolga @ Jul 21st 2008 8:06AM]

A whole whopping 2 Watts.

[Bob @ Jul 21st 2008 8:20AM]

Or you could just get an external USB drive, or even a 16GB thumb drives are affordable on eBay, some going for $30 (that's how much I paid for mine)...

[Saad Rabia @ Jul 21st 2008 7:44AM]

For me, seeing this in every home, is a dream that will come true. :)

With faster internet speeds (100 Mbps soon), blazing fast and cheap chips. we are getting closer and closer to the cloud computing era that Bill G. and many others talked about.

Imagine: visiting your friend's house and loging into your "desktop" from their 1 inch by 1 inch machine!

I say in 10 years or less.

[Ryan Karolak @ Jul 21st 2008 7:50AM]

problem with 1x1" is how are you supposed to interface with it? I suppose you can have a usb port on it, and maybe something for video out, but you'd be attaching hubs, external drives, network interfaces, ect. It'll be much bigger than 1x1".

I think eventually we'll have powerful computers this size, even perhaps PDA size for the most common desktops that don't require lots of upgrades such as gaming machines. It would be nice to have a PDA-size computer with a small screen for accessing some quick information and the ability to dock and become a full desktop.

[Bob @ Jul 21st 2008 8:23AM]

@ Ryan K...

Already do...

http://www.oqo.com/

[Kinger @ Jul 21st 2008 8:28AM]

ha ha ha ha the OQO ya sure it's great. If you want to melt your fingers off...for a couple hours

[GenBanks @ Jul 21st 2008 8:47AM]

It will revolutionize gaming as well, no more console/pc divide if you just log into a server and play all games directly, not from the hardware you're running.

[TRAFFICBLOWS @ Jul 21st 2008 11:02AM]

@Ryan

Ummm ports? There's this thing called wireless...

[Saad Rabia @ Jul 21st 2008 2:11PM]

@ Ryan Karolak: Only that the future is going to be all wirless, even video streeming from your device to a monitor of any type is going to be wireless. Also charging your 1x1 inch device is going to be trough wireless electricity, maybe it might need wired charging but the batteries will ask for a charge every couple of days or maybe weeks with full use.

The future is crazy.

[Bob @ Jul 22nd 2008 8:50AM]

@ Kinger

Um... Have you even read their website since their (OQO's) first launch? They are on their 3rd model slick, thermal management has improved HUGE time in the Model 02, try reading some reviews before you post ignorant comments like that.

[Bob @ Jul 22nd 2008 8:51AM]

Yeah, the future is wireless! Even wireless will be wireless!

[Ryan Karolak @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:44PM]

@Previous comments

I suppose that depends on how far in the future we are talking about. In any case, I can see the possibility of having a 1x1" cube that can have wireless connections to everything. But even so, where's the practicality in that? Simply integrate a just as powerful computer into your cell phone. Let your cell phone interface wirelessly to the keyboards, mice, monitor, power, etc. Why carry an extra 1 inch cube around with you? Eventually I believe the cell phone will be the pinnacle device for pretty much all basic computing needs. "Docks" may be used to give additional features, screen size, keyboard, ect. Simply plug or bring your computer near a monitor hooked up to a keyboard and mouse and bang! you have a desktop set up with all the data, processing power, and connectivity from your cell phone. Want a more "laptop"-like feel? Buy a laptop enclosure. That seems more practical to me.

[mushy @ Jul 21st 2008 7:50AM]

I'm sure iTunes will run as smooth as milk with specs like these.

[Samboini @ Jul 21st 2008 8:59AM]

Ha. 5 stars for you my friend.

[neofolklore @ Jul 21st 2008 7:51AM]

WOOHOO NO MORE CITRIX! CITRIX CAN SUCK A BIG FAT ONE.

basically for those of you out of the loop, citrix are systems much like these that are very expensive and are essentially "windows to the network" because they just connect to a network server and stream info to your screen and have very little onboard storage. but they're expensive and suck alot.

[Ryback @ Jul 21st 2008 8:09AM]

Who's out of the loop?

[bigO @ Jul 21st 2008 11:41PM]

so...where are you gonna run your windows apps from this device? a citrix server me thinks...

[archibalis @ Jul 21st 2008 7:55AM]

and what about eeepc surf, it is more powerful and has a screen, keyboard, touchpad, OS, battery etc.. This one nice, but there is better things to buy.The main advantage of this cherry is size.

[Rob @ Jul 21st 2008 8:02AM]

About $100 too expensive. Nice concept though.

[mymaclife @ Jul 21st 2008 8:14AM]

You're confusing it with a Mac!

[Eric @ Jul 21st 2008 8:14AM]

I'm pretty sure that my iPod touch is more powerful than this thing

[Bob @ Jul 22nd 2008 8:54AM]

Haha, amazing comment! I ranked it positive because all the fanboys ranked it negative and it's way too hilarious and way too true... Bring on the low rankings fanboys!

[Bryant @ Jul 21st 2008 8:25AM]

Yeah, screw you too Clak ;)

[Bryant @ Jul 21st 2008 8:25AM]

GRR I clicked the reply button to the first comment. What the hell.

[Takashi @ Jul 21st 2008 8:26AM]

Interesting enough, this has iTunes running, according to the press release "on a version of open source Debian/GNU Linux that has been highly customized". In addition, the Freescale MPC5121e is actually Power Architecure (like iMac's older PowerPC range) with a PowerVR chipset. So it's a pretty nice embebbed system. Albeit I doubt it will play 720p video.

[Babau @ Jul 21st 2008 11:23PM]

Yeah I'm guessing it's actually Amarok or Rhythmbox or something. I can't figure out any other way they've done it.

[Bob @ Jul 22nd 2008 9:01AM]

Careful, you might get sued by Apple for running their software (iTunes) on non-Apple hardware that wasn't approved! Or, if Jack is right and it's not iTunes, you could get sued by Apple for promoting it as iTunes... Watch out, you could be the next Psystar!

[silverblackvoid @ Jul 21st 2008 8:34AM]

your handle says it all.

[silverblackvoid @ Jul 21st 2008 8:36AM]

sorry. i was replying to Ocean (im not 'clak')

[High Ranks make you sterile @ Jul 21st 2008 8:34AM]

Your comment is two poorly-developed questions which became a fragment -- with an exclamation point to boot. Congrats. :)

What the hell is a webified iTunes and why hasn't my OpenSUSE/Ubuntu-loving soul heard of this previous?

[Motoma @ Jul 21st 2008 9:31AM]

My thoughts as well. Additionally, does anybody else think that their logo is a little phallic?

[xCrUNK @ Jul 21st 2008 9:16AM]

Seriously, WHY BOTHER???

For $249, I can find a decent used laptop that blows this thing away.

I think sometimes you folks here are addicted to gadgets and buy anything that comes wrapped in plastic.

Seriously, you guys must be broke all the time.

[notangry @ Jul 21st 2008 4:48PM]

xCrUNK, your stupid comment shows you don't get the idea of the cherrypal concept: a small, basic machine that is "green" as in it uses only 2 friggin' watts and is made of environmentally less-damaging materials. Your use PC you're talking about is completely counter to that concept.

Sheesh.

[LarryLarryLarry @ Jul 21st 2008 8:14PM]

Alternative Explanation: He "gets it" completely but doesn't give a shit.

Count me in.

[DssTrainer @ Jul 21st 2008 9:25AM]

Uh.. the Zonbu (http://www.pclaptop-review.com/2007/07/19/zonbu-mini-destop-review/) is a cloud-based mini pc for $249 with a 1.2G C7 processor and 512MB ram... sorry CherryPal, your price is teh fail and waaaay too high.

You might be able to compete with the Data Evolution DecTop tho, as it only has 366Mhz proc for $99... which means you need to drop $150

[SoloSalsa @ Jul 23rd 2008 11:12AM]

One problem, though: the Zonbu (the company that makes Zonbox, the computer) has been going through changes over the past few months, and right now, the Zonbox is not for sale.
Zonbox is really a private label eBox 485x series by ICOP Technology. The manufacturer has a very good selection of little aluminum computers, all with VIA processors. The best they make is the 486x series with 1.2GHz, 1GiB, and internal wireless. The trouble with getting an eBox is that Zonbu is one of two US distributors. WDL systems sells all kinds of eBoxes, but it costs a lot more than Zonbox (the equivalent from WDL costs $350).

[DssTrainer @ Jul 21st 2008 9:25AM]

Uh.. the Zonbu
(http://www.pclaptop-review.com/2007/07/19/zonbu-mini-destop-review/)
is a cloud-based mini pc for $249 with a 1.2G C7 processor and 512MB
ram... sorry CherryPal, your price is teh fail and waaaay too high.

You might be able to compete with the Data Evolution DecTop tho, as
it only has 366Mhz proc for $99... which means you need to drop $150

[DssTrainer @ Jul 21st 2008 9:30AM]

Then there's also the FitPC (http://www.fit-pc.com/new/specifications.html) for a few dollars more at 500Mhz, 256M ram, but a 60G HDD.

Fail again Mr CherryPal.

[0megapart!cle @ Jul 21st 2008 9:46AM]

Isn't that price kind of high for the specs? I mean, all that hardware is so far from cutting edge, and no display, I would think they could charge $150 or less.

[Takashi @ Jul 21st 2008 9:49AM]

What's with the lack of DVI/HDMI love with low-end units?

[Takashi @ Jul 21st 2008 9:53AM]

I bet half the price is for the embebbed iTunes licence. I think the main selling point is the 2W consumption, if that is really the power rating.

[kccboy2004 @ Jul 21st 2008 10:03AM]

anyobdy tried ncomputing ?

http://www.ncomputing.com/

[umijin @ Jul 21st 2008 10:13AM]

This is a revolutionary product in many ways, but some folks think that it has to do everything their current PCs do.

You could set this up as a webserver with the right software, or just take it with you and plug in a couple of USB hard drives - you have a file server, potentially.

It's not for everyone, but perhaps would be a good second computer for some homes with an extra monitor/keyboard around.

[Jack Campbell @ Jul 21st 2008 11:25AM]

To start off, I developed this product leading a team at Tsinghua Tongfang in Shenzhen. And, the CherryPal guys (Max Seybold & Co.) are merely rebadging it as an OEM piece. See the tale here: http://www.aboutjack.com/limepc.shtml

That said, the coolest part of this project was the groundbreaking operating system architectcure we developed -- not the strange must-be-connected cloud approach now shipping on the product.

Makes me wonder where the cool OS strategy went, and how CherryPal expects to actually sell enough of these to make any money. Strange.

[bbrv @ Jul 22nd 2008 8:00AM]

[irony]

What OS strategy Jack? How about elaborating on that along with all the other genius you applied singlehandedly to this product's development...

[/irony]

R&B :)

[Matt Sealey @ Jul 21st 2008 5:03PM]

Hi Jack!

Seems my memory is playing tricks on me, or it was you who suggested the iTunes compatibility that went into this loosely written Chinese copy, with your exposition of Songbird. I seem to recall, we told you.. that was a crock, and it still is.

It's nice to see you finally worked it out :)

[Jack Campbell @ Jul 21st 2008 11:31AM]

Oh... and there is no "iTunes" here. That's merely a carry over of some loosely written Chinese promotional copy. Just as the "2 Watts" value being promoted is cockeyed as well. The power envelope for the MPC5121e **processor only** is about 2 Watts in median demand usage. With the NAND and DDR2 powered, WIFI working, and the bus powered, doing web surfing it should draw around 4.0 to 4.5 Watts... still great, but not as advertised. I am surprised the Freescale guys haven't intervened in this advertising mistake.

[Byrdman @ Jul 21st 2008 11:32AM]

If you go and read the cherrypal website it says that this thing has a triple core processor