Aussies take on computer giants

Two Australians are taking on the computer giants by developing a range of PCs that fit into a user’s palm.

Two Australians are taking on the computer giants by developing a range of PCs that fit into a user’s palm.

John Nicholls and his wife Jeanne from the Sunshine Coast have developed “Hot-E” computers, which cost $US100 and are tiny, even compared to laptops.

Using “cloud computing” technology, the PCs use processing and data storage handled by remote servers in a separate location. The couple’s company, ThinLinX, has spent five years developing the device.

“We just reached the break-even point recently… It’s been a very long, bumpy road to say the least, and a lot of money,” Nicholls told The Age.

“The developing world was the focus initially, but this thing has got a practical use anywhere… you could put 50 of them in a classroom and they’re only using three watts each instead of 200 or 300 watts that normal PCs use.”

John won’t reveal much, but says ThinLinX has just partnered with a “major, global company,” and an announcement from them will appear soon.