If you felt down in the mouth because your small form-factory Windows PC was made to look clumsy by Apple's Mac mini, you'll probably be relieved - or even further aghast - to know that there's a PC's coming that makes the mini look like a monster. That machine is called Jack PC and it's, well, er, just look at the picture lower down the page. Yes, it's small enough to fit into a network wall port - really!
Of course, this isn't an all-singing, games-playing, faster-than-lighting kind of a PC. It's a thin-client terminal that relies on Xcalibur Global management software paired with far more sophisticated hardware within a business network system for a range of services and functions.
Nonetheless, it's reckoned to be far faster than similar-priced terminals that are ten times the size, at least according to its maker, Israel-headquartered Chip PC, and the Newcastle-based technology-consultancy firm Jade Integration that's promising to be the first to exhibit the product in the UK - at the IT Works 2006 exhibition being held June 14 and 15 at St James's Park.
Take a close look at the Jack PC - or, rather the face that it presents to the world - and you'll see there are eight sockets. These are DVI, four USB, headphone and mic plus power-in that's only needed if the network isn't set up to supply the required 5V/2.4A juice. Power consumption is just 5W - a fraction of the 80-100W that a typical office PC is said to use - though in each case the figure excludes the monitor and takes no account of network servers.
If the system is set up and ready, all that's involved is plugging in monitor and a keyboard and mouse - and knowing the right password. Chip PC offers a range of add-ons to get the best use out of the sockets and existing peripherals. The list takes in an external USB PC/SC Smart Card Reader and a variety of adaptors including USB-to-serial and USB-to-PS/2, plus a dual-monitor splitter and a DVI-to-VGA dongle.
Intriguing stuff - and it makes you wonder quite how most of us will be doing our home computing a few years down the line! To find out more about Jack PC, visit the product's home page and also Jade Integration. Comment, too, if the mood takes you, over in the HEXUS.community.
HEXUS.links
Chip PC - Jack PC home page
Chip PC - home page
Jade Integration - home page (Tel: 0845 125 9622.)
IT Works 2006 exhibition - home page
