Gdium: the Ultra portable without x86

The Eee PC wave, which will soon be followed by that of the Atom, seems to have given Linux a boost in the MID and UMPC segments. At any rate, it has been enough to oblige Microsoft to prolong the life of Windows XP and sell it at an attractive price to OEMs that respect the rather strict conditions (small diagonal sizes, low end processor, a maximum of 1 GB of DDR2, etc…). However, it seems to have also have given others some ideas. Linux functions on many more platforms than Microsoft’s ex-flagship OS and EMTEC has taken advantage of the situation to launch the Gdium, a netbook which uses a particular version of Linux Mandriva and is based on an MIPS-64 processor produced by ST.

While we are more used to seeing this type of CPU based on RISC architecture in game consoles (the Nintendo 64, Playstation 1 & 2, PSP), Cisco routers or Silicon Graphics stations, it seems well adapted because autonomy is announced at more than 4 hours.

Another detail also makes us think of certain game consoles: the totality of the operating system, memory (4 to 16 GB) and applications are found on a bootable USB key which is inserted on the front. In terms of components, the Gdium will have a 10" screen (native resolution of 1024x600), 3 USB ports, a SD HC card reader, a Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g module, an Ethernet port as well as an integrated Webcam and VGA output. Availability is planned for September for a price inferior to 400€.

In order for the concept of this product to be successful, developers (in the larger sense of this word) will have to follow while the frame of mind found in the Free community could also be precious asset. The only thing is that the Wintel platform has a more solid base...