AMD Geode Internet Appliance

Justin Davidow writes "For a new twist on internet appliances, AMD is finally attempting to go mainstream with their mobile Geode processor, with the Personal Internet Communicator (PIC), a stand-alone device that allows users a striped down laptop/inflated PDA (without a screen included!) for internet surfing.
Expected retail price: $299USD." Be cool to play around with - I'd love to test it out.

Star Trek

[AKAImBatman]

Given the name of the device, I have a feeling that the "oversized Star Trek Communicator" look is intentional. Now if only it actually flipped open. :-)

Breaking open a geode

[RobertB-DC]

Interesting choice of name. It implies that there might be something interesting on the inside, once you get past the cruft on the outside.

This web page may be of use: How To Break Open A Geode! [geodegallery.com] Oddly enough, some of the information may apply to this particular type of "Geode":

"Below I will describe the most popular methods to opening geodes (besides sawing them). There are many different ways to open a geode, but no matter how you do it, the key is PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE! If you want the geode to break into two halves, you absolutely CANNOT just hit it as hard as you want to with a hammer! If it is hollow, you will be left with pieces in most cases, not two halves!"

The page goes on to detail:
* Hammer/Chisel Method
* Sock Method
* Pipe Cutter Method

I want one already!

Yay, stripes!

[rf600r]

I am so pleased that this device is "striped down." Now if we could only get some stripes going across, we'd have a real winner!

Typos..

[Durinthal]

I'd imagine a laptop made from multicolored fine feathers would be very cool to play with, indeed!

Re:Perpetual Payment Processing

[geeber]

Don't think "hacker geek" as the market for this product. Think "person with a real life who just wants to USE their computer, not play with it."

And why do you consider "hacker geek" and "real life" (whatever that is) mutually exclusive?

Re:Mac Mini

[idlake]

That's not a fair comparison--they'll probably give away refurbed versions of this thing for free soon.

Oxymoronic, already...

[frank_adrian314159]

A quote from the article:

To protect system integrity and help ensure trouble-free performance over time, the ... PIC device is Microsoft® Windows® Powered.

That oughta be good for some kind of karma!

Re:Perpetual Payment Processing

[phliar]

Brand new. No refurbs.

At Fry's, that's not saying much -- there's no difference between "brand new" and "customer return".