Lunch @ Pieros 2006

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Lunch @ Pieros 2006

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Brian Kristensen
Brad

Jan. 5, 2006

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Introduction

Lunch @ Pieros is the third press event we have attended during this year's CES. While CES Unveiled and the Pepcom Digital Experience took place before CES actually began, Lunch @ Pieros took place during the opening day of CES. You can find our CES Unveiled coverage here, and check back soon for our Pepcom Digital Experience coverage which will feature several interesting additions to the consumer electronics market. While CES Unveiled and the Digital Experience were larger events featuring 100-200 booths each, Lunch @ Pieros was much smaller and more intimate with roughly 23 companies. Not surprisingly, Lunch @ Pieros took place in the Pieros restaurant across the street from the Las Vegas Convention Center. We were treated to a good meal and got the chance to talk one-on-one with many companies.

Chili Systems

Chili Systems primarily are a software company who focus on small business server applications. Using a Unix-based server platform, they offer network storage, a mail server, firewall, NAT, DHCP and VPN services all in one convenient small form factor box!the Chili Box. For a starting price of $499, small business and home users can purchase an enterprise level server set up without any licensing issues. Currently there are two Chili Boxes (one wired, one wireless) and the base price goes up as the wires disappear. Remote connectivity is easily attained through Chili Systems' website. Each server box uses a unique human name, not an IP address, so you can just call up your server's name over the web and manage your information with no IP addresses to remember. Options for backup storage are mainly limited to external USB hard drives as Chili Systems is banking on users who won't rely on RAID arrays for data mirroring. However, the VIA motherboards that power the Chili Box can be purchased with RAID controllers if the customer is an advanced user. All of this is wrapped in a nifty red case with a flame paint job.

DualCor Technologies

One small company with big plans is DualCor. They have created the first computer that uses two processors and two operating systems interchangeably. Plus, the whole unit is about the size of a PSP. Sounds strange at first, but in practice the theory works well. The idea behind the DualCor is that the unit can be connected to an external monitor for use as a workstation and then simply detached for use as a handheld PC. While in workstation mode, the user can run Windows XP Tablet PC edition when connected to a full time power source. Then when you're on the go, run Windows Mobile 5.0 OS to save battery life. Either operating system can be used at the customer's discretion with an average battery life of 3-8 hours of combined OS use. The dual processors, a Via C7-M 1.5 GHz and Intel PXA263 400 MHz, take turns depending on what OS is used. With 40 GB of shared storage, 1 GB of DDR2 RAM and 1 GB of flash memory there is more than enough processing power to run most any office application. Three USB, one mini-VGA and one Compact Flash ports are also hidden along the edges of the 1.25" thick device. A 5" 800x480 262k color touch screen outputs info during "handtop" operation. Oh yeah, and did I mention that it is a cell phone as well and sporting Bluetooth, 802.11 ethernet and 3G - UMTS capabilities. Keep an eye out for the DualCor.

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Page 1: Introduction, Chili Systems and DualCor
Page 2: Global Cache, HUSH, iTuner and CMWare
Page 3: Linspire, NetMax, Sennheiser and TelEvolution
Page 4: VIA, ZVOX and Maxan

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