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]
posted July 21st 2008 7:06AM
I'm digging my $180 Chumby (http://chumby.com/) - it comes with a touchscreen, speakers, iPod support, b/g wifi and mic. Everyone falls in love with it when they meet it. I can't imagine the same effect with that cherry.
Does the cherrypal support Flash?
Funny, how come no one talks about the gPC (http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/31/everexs-199-green-pc-attention-ignorant-wal-mart-shoppers/) in reference to this?
The gPC was only $199, and sports better specs than this. Ok, so it uses more wattage, but it more resembles a traditional desktop and is more likely to be accepted by the consumer market.
Oh, right- it did! Remember when the gPC sold out at Walmart after 3 days??
IMO, gPC was seen primarily as an even cheaper eMachine. It annoyed me even more than an eMachine because of the pathetic 'jumping on the green bandwagon' marketing angle. There is nothing green about a huge hunk of metals and plastics used to surf the internet.. hell the sheer size screamed irony. If green was the goal why was it so damn big and empty?
This would be sold to people who have money to buy silly gadgets. I don't see many people buying this as their first home PC honestly.
Isn't ASUS's recently announced eBox (is speculatively) priced between 200$ to 300$ too? It has a x86 processor too. Though it's a little bit bigger than the CherryPal but can be a little more useful.
Hi Matt. Good to hear from you again. Yes, we actually did work out the media jukebox in late December. But, that solution is not present in the CherryPal stack, as it was a localhost application, not a "cloud" approach. Our lead software developer, Ryan Quinn, was the genius behind the media solution we eventually got working. He and I are no longer associated with THTF.
NEW WORLD ORDER!!!, NEOCONS SCUMBAGS, ENGADGET IS OWNED BY AOL which is a CFR member pushing for war!!! Research the CFR wake up sheeps! :D Sorry but, I couldn't resist that phrase :) had to shout some truth here :D
If it really does Itunes, it would make a nice server for my apple tv (paired with NAS or maybe a Drobo). however, i have my doubts.