A new computer startup called CherryPal is looking to capitalize on the “cloud computing” buzz by introducing their first product called the CherryPal PC. According to CEO Max Seybold, “Cloud computing has always made sense on paper; CherryPal is the first product that delivers on that promise to consumers.”

First and foremost – what exactly is the CherryPal PC?  It’s supposedly an inexpensive (both to buy and to operate) PC powered by Freescale’s mobileGT MPC5121e processor. TheMPC5121e is built around the Power Architecture and features three cores – a Power Architecture core, a 3D graphics core, and an audio processor core. The system is basically a stripped down PC with many components removed for simplicity sake. Coming in at around 10.5 oz, the CherryPal PC features the following:

• 400MHz Freescale processor
• 256MB of RAM
• 4GB flash
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
• Two USB ports
• Ethernet port
• VGA output
• 3.5 mm audio out jack
• 2vDC 2.5mm 10 watt AC-DC power adapter
• Measures 1.3 x 5.8 x 4.2 inches

Now according to Engadget, the CherryPal PC will run a version of the Debian OS which makes sense since anything else running on this system with these specs would probably be fairly slow.

While there’s no word on the exact price, there’s little doubt that the system will be inexpensive to operate. 

But how exactly does this deliver “on the promise of cloud computing”? It appears the argument is – there’s no reason to purchase a $500-$1000 dollar computer to capitalize on computing resources delivered via the Internet or the “cloud.”  With the advent of Internet delivered applications and storage, there’s less of a reason to have a complex PC and more of a reason to have a simple network client PC. Doesn’t this remind you of the network client promise that Java was supposed to usher in?

Truth is.. the idea was always a solid premise.. but many things were missing back then. Broadband wasn’t as prevalent several years ago; Internet infrastructures weren’t as well developed; and more importantly, Google wasn’t really a factor as of yet.

So with that said, will the CherryPal PC make any sort of headway here? It’s hard to say really. It would have to be VERY inexpensive in order for it to be really relevant. With low end PC’s retailing for as low as $399 at times (and that comes with Windows mind you), the price point for the CherryPal will have to be significantly lower. Also – the fact that it’s running Debian is in many ways a detriment to the system. While the computing elite may shun Windows, the regular consumer audience knows and works well with Windows (notice I didn’t necessarily say love!). Throwing a Linux-based OS, no matter how nicely spruced up it is, is still not going to make life easier for a consumer.

I guess we’ll wait and see if CherryPal can really deliver on the promise of cloud computing.

[Check it out via Engadget, Marketwatch]

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