Airtel launched Net PC today claiming to be “a next-generation computer that never goes obsolete and never crashes”. Really? To straighten the marketing lingo, it’s basically a PC in the clouds (on the server) and for Rs. 7,999 Airtel gives the user a 15-inch LCD monitor, keyboard and mouse. A user also gets a 10GB storage and Companion, a small router-like device from Nivio, responsible for storing all the user data on the cloud.
The idea is attractive but there are many reasons why this initiative can turn into failure.
– Net PC requires Airtel broadband. This requirement cripples the potential user base. Imagine a user wanting a Net PC but cannot do so because Airtel does not provide broadband service in his area.
– Add to it, crappy broadband plans. Airtel is offering monthly plans – Rs. 699 (256Kbps conn, 3GB bandwidth, MS Office Standard), Rs. 899 (256Kbps conn, 3GB bandwidth, MS Office Standard with Admin rights) and Rs. 1,199 (256Kbps conn, 3GB bandwidth, MS Office Premium with Admin rights). These are recurring expenses since the plans are on monthly basis and did I say they are unattractive?
– If broadband plan prices are not a deterrent, the bandwidth is. Who in the world can be satisfied with 3GB/month bandwidth when he has to edit his office docs, download content on his 10GB space and then re-download on the USB drive, surf the internet, all from the same account.
– A user cannot use it like a normal PC. What happens if the Airtel connection is down?
Despite all the aforementioned reasons if you’re still intrigued by the idea of a “crashless” PC, you can head over here to register yourself one.
SafeDesk offers the same thing, but it isn’t dependent on DSL. They use a thin client to authenticate the user to the cloud, then allow them numerous applications and 5GB of storage. Using a Dell MiniV10 Notebook with Wi-Fi and/or broadband connection, the user can access their Cloud PC from anywhere.