Acer pulled a surprise out of its back pocket, an all-in-one PC that looks a lot like an intelligent monitor. You can boot it in seconds and browse, view local media or content from a server. You can watch TV, too.
Acer doesn’t even call this thing a PC but that’s what it is. OS and CPU still not announced… They don’t say it’s that other OS, so it’s probably not. That leaves Android/Linux or MeeGo on ARM or Atom, most likely.
see SlashGear
This thing makes sense. It’s essentially a thin client of sorts with a local browser application. Combined with an in-house file-server or the Internet, it’s a tidy, cool, quiet and inexpensive device. Assuming it has no fans, it should last as long as a monitor and do most of what people do on a PC except waste stuff. Acer has some all-in-one PCs running that other OS but this thing seems different.
see Acer Clear-fi
Acer has produced other all-in-one products and use the Clear.fi networking so that desktops, notebooks and the all-in-ones present a similar on-screen appearance and can use the same networked resources. They have used it on Linux and that other OS.
see Clear.fi
I believe components are manufactured better now than in the past. Just look at how much longer cars are lasting. My prejudice against all-in-one devices is from my experience years ago.
PS Not all old stuff was flaky. My first Hard drive was a MiniScribe 40MB. I bought it in 1987. It never did die. I took it apart many years later to see if I could use the motor. It was about the size and weight of a hand grenade. I still have it… some where.
When was the last time a component went? OK, I guess it’s hard to add NICs etc. except at USB devices…
The only problem I have with all-in-one devices is that when one component goes, it usually takes the whole unit with it.
If one lamp were to go on the monitor everything else would be useless.