Software in a box..
Really thinking outside the box
Monday, March 28, 2005 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News
Talk to Fred Meyer, CEO of start-up Cast Iron Systems, about his company's data-integration product and you picture a shrink-wrapped cardboard box with a few software CDs inside.
Instead, his company makes something that more resembles a server or router, which can be slipped onto a rack in a corporate data center.
That product design choice is not by accident. Selling a hardware, rather than software, product gives Cast Iron Systems, which announced a fourth round of venture funding on Monday, an edge over rivals, Meyer said.
This is an interesting concept. Let's take it to its logical conclusion: With the advent of flash memory, tons of USB connections on PC, and high performance, one can imagine an increasing number of "programs" actually coming in a more physical form. No more installing to the hard drive. You just plug it into your computer or network or whatever and the software is "just there" ready to go.
Reply #2 Monday, March 28, 2005 7:14 PM
I don't mean to imply that most or all software woudl go this route.
But I can see it being used for games, specialized apps (Maya, 3D Studio, engineering apps).
We don't use floppies today because they lack the size and speed necessary. Flash RAM has neither of those problems.
Reply #3 Monday, March 28, 2005 7:22 PM
Reply #4 Monday, March 28, 2005 11:21 PM
You will have a flash drive like device that contains an operating system and some critical data files, but what happens is you can plug this into a number of different devices. Plug it into a desktop like device with keyboard, mouse, display(s), and other peripherals and it detects what is available and uses them, plug it into a PDA type device with a touch screen and it abopts the appropriate profile. There will be access points around similar to ATM's for public access. Most of your data and program software will be accessed via whatever net connection is available, the key will contain your preferences and access details, along with the operating software to utilise the devices.
I hope I have explained this OK.
Reply #5 Tuesday, March 29, 2005 12:08 AM
I definitely like Jim Gutherson's idea: You carry around a portable hard drive--either an iPod-esque MP3 player, a regular hard drive, or a flash drive--and carry all your programs and files on it. Then you plug that into a nearby computer as needed.
Reply #6 Tuesday, March 29, 2005 12:54 AM
Solid state media is about as safe as it gets.
Nothing that has gone before is as impervious to damage.
As and when pricing comes down....that USB stick will oust the DVD from computers and loungerooms alike....
Reply #7 Tuesday, March 29, 2005 2:12 AM
http://www.vnunet.com/features/72614
Check the part about stuffing information into a crystal that's about same size as sugar cube... and has 1 TB capacity.
Oh yeah it's also solid state technology. No spinning disks here.
It also says that it has highly insane transfer speed to match the insane storage space. Something about seeing all 1 MB sized 'pages' at once.
Reply #8 Tuesday, March 29, 2005 10:18 AM
| I don't mean to imply that most or all software woudl go this route. |
Ok. So I overgeneralized your generalization. I'll go sit in the corner with the pointy hat on now. I'm getting used to it.
Mr. XX wrote:
| Check the part about stuffing information into a crystal that's about same size as sugar cube... and has 1 TB capacity. |
Good Grief! It's the Bablyon 5 data crystal! That's just sweet! (no pun intended).
Reply #9 Tuesday, March 29, 2005 7:36 PM
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Reply #1 Monday, March 28, 2005 7:09 PM
I can see the "program on a flash drive" option for a server. You have your server with half-a-dozen flash drive slots in the front. When you upgrade a piece of software, you simply pop out the appropriate flash drive and insert the new one. Everybody on the network is instantly upgraded because the shortcuts to the software don't change.
But it would never be practical for individual computers - especially laptops. You're either left with a daisychain of flash drives in your USB port, or you're having to prioritize which software goes in the limited on-board slots. Or, even worse, carrying a bag of USB drives with different pieces of software. That'd just be annoying - like carrying floppies around.
Then again...
I can picture a laptop with a door in the palm rest like a Panasonic Toughbook's CD-ROM drive. Underneath the door is half-a-dozen SD card sized impressions. You simply slip your SD card with your software in and close the door. The laptop would automatically recognize the card. I could see Microsoft distributing Office this way - copy protection, and only one person can use a specific copy at at ime.
It wouldn't work for all software just because of the limited physical space for such slots. But maybe it's not so impractical after all.