I just got a chance to try out a Webware PC: a computer built around the new
You can also boot it into Windows, or whatever OS you have installed on the hard disk. Boring.
This built-in browser has a lot of great things but some drawbacks too.
In the plus category: This alternate operating system, provided by DeviceVM to Asus, is fast and convenient. There's no giant OS to boot before you get into your browser, which is a slimmed-down version of Firefox, not some weird, quasibrowser that doesn't do what you want. There's a Flash plug-in installed so most modern sites render properly. Flash videos play just fine. The system saves all your settings (including bookmarks) in memory, so you don't have to start from scratch every time you fire it up.
The P5E3 motherboard has nearly everything built in that you'll need. Connecting to a network--wired or WiFi--is fast and easy. Skype has access to the board's audio in and out ports.
Because the DeviceVM platform doesn't have access to the hard disks connected to the motherboard, the system is very secure. So if, say, guests wants to use your PC to check their Web mail, you can boot them into the ExpressGate environment (that's what Asus calls it) and not worry about them junking up your PC. You might want to clear your private data from the Firefox cache first, though.
And this motherboard is "green," at least in theory. Many people leave their PCs on all the time, because launching a browser from a cold PC can take several minutes. With this setup, you can turn off the PC when you're done browsing, and when you need to get back online, you can be there in seconds.
If you work primarily online--using browser-based tools like Google Docs for productivity, Salesforce.com or Basecamp for business operations, Meebo for IM, and so on--this setup is just great.
Should you get one of these motherboards just for its ExpressGate feature, though?
No. As cool and useful as ExpressGate feature is, the Asus P5E3 is the wrong product for it to be embedded in. This motherboard is at the top of the Asus line and costs $350 in a market where most other products are under $200. (To be fair, the motherboard is loaded with high-end features and technology). So forget using this product for cost savings. Since it's such a powerful mobo, it's going to be built into high-end PCs, most likely with high-end graphics cards and kilowatt power supplies that will obviate the potential power savings from the lightweight, instant-on operating system.
And it doesn't support Firefox plug-ins and add-ons, which is a drag.
I spoke with DeviceVM execs Sol Lipman and David Speiser, and I think they recognize the mismatch of their technology and the first product that carries it. However, the P5E3 isn't the only motherboard that will carry their embedded OS and browser. In the first quarter of 2008, we'll see laptops with the embedded browser, which is where it's really needed, and we should also start seeing it in less-expensive desktops.
The company is also adding more features to its pre-boot OS. Right now you get Firefox and Skype built in, but future revisions will get DVD and CD players, the Pidgin IM client, and the capability to play media files from the host machine's hard drive. To save electricity, a future revision of the P5E3 product will enable the Asus motherboard to drop into its lowest power mode when running the browser. (And even that is probably overkill for the lightweight OS.)
As I said, I don't think it'd be smart to buy this product for the sole purpose of using its embedded Web browser. It's a nice addition, though, and this capability makes sense for laptops and especially for low-price, low-powered, Web-only PCs. A year ago, the concept of a Web-only computer was a nonstarter for almost everyone, but with today's Web-based apps it begins to make sense for a lot of users. Products using this technology, configured without Windows or hard drives, can be very capable workstations.
See also, the late, great Palm Foleo, (R.I.P.).
Product Specifications:
Product Description:
ASUS P5E3 Deluxe/WiFi-AP@n AiLifestyle Series - Motherboard - ATX - Intel X38 Express
Product Type:
Motherboard
Form Factor:
ATX
Dimensions (WxDxH):
12 in x 9.6 in
Chipset Type:
Intel X38 Express / Intel ICH9R
Multi-Core Support:
Dual-Core / Quad-core
Max Bus Speed:
1600 MHz
Processor:
0 ( 1 ) - LGA775 Socket
Compatible Processors:
Pentium 4
,
Pentium D
,
Core 2 Duo
,
Core 2 Quad
,
Core 2 Extreme
,
Pentium Extreme Edition
64-bit Processors Compatibility:
Yes
Cache Memory:
None
RAM:
0 MB (installed) / 8 GB (max)
Supported RAM Technology:
DDR3 SDRAM
Supported RAM Integrity Check:
Non-ECC
Storage Controller:
ATA-133
,
ESATA port
,
Serial ATA-300 (RAID)
USB Ports Configuration:
12 x USB
Storage Ports Configuration:
1 x ATA, 6 x SATA, 2 x eSATA
FireWire Ports Configuration:
2 x FireWire
Audio Output:
Sound card - 7.1 channel surround
Communications:
None
Networking:
Network adapter - Marvell Yukon 88E8056 / Realtek 8110SC - Ethernet
,
- IEEE 802.11a
,
- IEEE 802.11b
,
- IEEE 802.11g
,
- Fast Ethernet
,
- Gigabit Ethernet
,
- IEEE 802.11n (draft)