Remember the Plug Computer? The eco-friendly PC that fits inside a mains plug is headed to Europe, and this time, there’ll be Wi-Fi on board so you can ditch the cables altogether!
We’re all about putting computers in absurd places like doors and taps, but the Plug Computer kit from Marvell a few months back actually looked both practical and affordable, offering remote access to your computer’s contents without having to leave it powered on the whole time.
Now though, the Plug Computer is headed to Europe, with major players like Seagate, Buffalo and LaCie all working on products with Plug Computer technology, due out in the next few months.
So far, Plug Computer products in the US have all required an ethernet connection, so they’ve needed to be placed near the router, but Marvell’s vice president of enterprise business, Simon Milner, says that “we have partners embedding Wi-Fi.”
That means that if you hook up a large USB flash drive or external hard drive, you’ll be able to pop a Plug Computer in anywhere around the house and leave it on all the time, since it uses so little power. And given that Pogoplug, a US partner with Marvell, has iPhone and BlackBerry support, you’ll be able to run a powerful, useful home server for cheaper than ever before, and get to it from a smartphone too.
Marvell wouldn’t say which companies are prepping a Wi-Fi friendly Plug Computer, but expect more details to make a break from the skirting boards in the next few months.
Out TBC | £TBC | Marvell
I’ve been waiting ages for my SheevaPlug to arrive, the production delays are HUGE. I don’t expect to see mass production of these for another year..