NorhTec Gecko Surfboard is neither gecko nor surfboard (it's a keyboard PC)
By Donald Melanson 
posted December 19th 2009 9:33AM
posted December 19th 2009 9:33AM
It's still a bit early to call it a full-on trend, but it looks like there will be at least a few keyboard PCs on hand at CES next month, including this newly announced Gecko Surfboard form NorhTec. While it doesn't pack a built-in screen like ASUS' Eee Keyboard, it does have a considerably lower $99 price tag, which certainly makes it quite a bit more attractive as a second (or third) PC. Of course, that price also means quite a few more trade-offs, but the 1GHz Xcore86 processor and 512MB of RAM will at least let you get the basics done, and NorhTec boasts that the PC consumes just 5W of power. No word on storage just yet, but the Surfboard will boot from either an SD card or a 2.5-inch hard drive, and it even includes a composite video out to let you hook it up to your TV for a proper 1982 experience (don't worry, it has a VGA port too). You'll also be able to get it loaded with Windows XP, but that will cost you an extra $50 over the $99 Linux version. Head on past the break for a video.
Meh?
@Blackflag486 git some Wireless HDMI in this and your g2g boi
Can I have a standard keyboard layout? That looks a bit weird to me...
@Mack Wong
What do you mean?
Looks normal to me...
@Mack Wong Looks like the cramped keyboard you would find in a 15" laptop. They are cramped because many OEM's are cramming in a numeric for some bizarre reason.
@TT Well, look at the numeric keypad... those operators are moved to the top-right corner. Also the backslash is next to left shift.
Also I'm afraid the keys are a bit cramped? Just get a bit wider like a normal keyboard and it will make everything looks better (and more usable)
@Mack Wong
Looks like the poster of the video said this in a youtube comment:
"The keyboard feels good.The one on this video is a Ukraniun layout with English keys. Not sure how that happened but the feel is fine."
So maybe the English version will be more standard.
Hmmm. Maybe If someone can get OS X on it, I'll buy.
@(Unverified)
Maybe that's what the new Mac Mini will be. If Apple can squeeze a computer into the Air then they could definitely do it with one of their keyboards ; )
"co² generated"
that's BS, it all depends where your power comes from, if you use niagara falls as a generator or a nuclear plant you have quite a different CO² footprint than a coal plant for instance, 0 compared to max achievable
@Wwhat
He was correctly assuming that people get their power from a conventional power source. Niagara Falls hasn't completely caught on just as yet.
@Wwhat Not to mention that it's one big grid. No one's power comes from any one source. We can all take a share in the CO2 guilt! (and the nuclear waste guilt)
Not exactly, in europe you can sign up for green power and the companies have to have the percentage of your use produced in green ways, verified by authorities, that frees you of guilt and kicks it over to those that don't sign up for it.
@Wwhat adds to cart ... http://store.sundancesolar.com/pofo5wasochf.html
I am impressed! I wonder if it will run Win 7 instead of XP?
Specs please...
#1 Can I attatch my own keyboard? cause I tend to stickey up mine real fast...
#2 $99? Sensationalist headline much? NEVER.. we al know this piece of tat will cost $299 when launched.
>>...it even includes a composite video out to let you hook it up to your TV for a proper 1982 experience...
Oops, my comment was cut off, you forgot to mention the COM port too. We need one of those today, right?
@vidrazor
on a device like this aimed at geeks and hacker types the answer is simply yes, this isn't a macbook or something.
I bought one of these once for $199. It was called a Commodore 64.
@apexwc
Are you keeping up with the commodore cuz the commodore is keeping up with you!
@apexwc
Your c64 ran at 1GJz and ran xp or linux? Nice model
GHz I meant to type
@Wwhat
No, but it had color! I just think it's funny that the "form factor" might finally be catching on.
haha, yeah it's going to be big soon.
@apexwc
GJz = gigajizz(?)
@apexwc This would be perfect for an EMU.
@derX
GJz requires better graphics than the c64 could provide :)
This is $100 and plugs into your TV... might be just cheap enough to be one of those unregrettable impulse purchases. I love how the move to a separate keyboard was hailed as an evolution and then all of a sudden, everything old is new again. ;)
Can you run Linux on a Sinclair?
He says 'it's not for HD or games but is good for webbrowsing' but of course with more and more sites using video, and HD video, and flash and tons of scripts, I fear that browsing needs more power than some games now.
And the video didn't show how fast the browsing is one can't but help notice.
Wow, that's impressive. That'd be an impressive file server / newsgroup / torrent machine that I could leave on 24/7. If my N270 Atom can do it, I'm sure this little thing could do it, too.
can i have one without the caps-lock key? thanks
@(Unverified)
WTF, but uhm well actually you can disable or reassign it via software or simply remove it manually
www.autohotkey.com has a good keyboard reassign thing, and MS has a utility to disable keys too.
You can also paint it gold and tell people it's s small bar of gold you like to keep handy.
@Wwhat :-) i was just referring to the irony that if i dont like the form factor of the keyboard i wont buy this computer
Tubular.
I wonder if you can disable the main keyboard so you can use it with a kvm without having to worry about stray keystrokes from the main unit laying on its side or something. This is a good deal, except for the builtin keyboard gimick (depending on whether or not the "Xcore86" actually performs up to a P-M at same clock).
@anderlan I should add, this is a good deal as an extra server, like in place of having to configure a virtual server. It doesn't take much power, so you don't have to think about the $10 extra on your power bill, like a regular 60Watt box would add. However, it's probably limited to only ever be a server--it probably doesn't have enough performance to work as a flash-playing workstation.
@anderlan Might as well get one of those MSI set top boxes using an ATOM in that case...
@anderlan
"flash-playing workstation."
So, you call addictinggames.com "work"...nice...does your boss know about this?
Someone should make a specialized Linux distro that boots straight into a C64 emulator, complete with BASIC and all. Then mod it so it can read C64 game cartridges.
$99 is actually not bad, at least it's a real x86 based computer and not just a toy like that $99 smartbook we saw a couple of days ago
@(Unverified) more like a shop point of sale in a remote location, as the man kindly suggested.
Wow! A built in 3G modem so you can leave your little 3G stick at home and just take a monitor and a generator when you go out.
it's for the Grandfolk O.K.?
WEBTV IS BACK Y'ALL !!!
@(Unverified)
I had a sneaking sus-picion you were, hence my closing goldbar idea
I"M GETTING SO FREAKING ANNOYED THAT i CAN'T TYPE SUSP-ICION ON ENGADGET, JESUS H CHRIST THE MORONIC NATURE OF IT IS MASSIVE
That was a reply to unverified user 2452361, but due to me having to edit it because I used "the forbidden word" it ended up here out of the thread.
hahahaha .. like the Linda Richman SNL Coffee Talk (Mike Meyers) skits ...
talk amongst yourselves ... lemme give ya a topic ... (insert title here) hahahahahha
i love it!
Keyboard fail...