Personal Internet Communicator
Encyclopedia
The Personal Internet Communicator (PIC) is a consumer device released by AMD in 2004 to allow people in emerging countries like India
, Uruguay
and the Caribbean
access to the internet
. The PIC has been deployed by Internet service provider
s (ISPs) in several developing countries. It is based on an AMD Geode
CPU and uses Microsoft Windows CE
and Microsoft Internet Explorer
6.0.
The fanless PC runs the low-power Geode
x86 processor and is equipped with 128 MB DDR
memory and a 10 GB 3.5-inch hard drive. The device's price is $185 with a keyboard, mouse, and preinstalled software for basic personal computing and internet/email access and $249 with a monitor included.
, a high volume contract manufacturing
specialist. Other companies integrated into the development include Seagate
, Samsung
, and Macromedia
.
The ISP's include the Tata Group
(India), CRC
(México), Telmex
(México), and Cable and Wireless (in the Caribbean). PIC should market to consumers in five cities in India. CRC is claimed to offer the device in Mexico along with a suite of educational software. Cable and Wireless plans to deploy the PIC in support of disaster relief efforts throughout the Caribbean.
Hardware Specs:
Electrical Specs:
The Dectop's original BIOS does not allow any human interaction during POST
at boot time. Therefore, it is not possible to format and re-install any other operating system. Any attempts to install a different OS, even when extracting the disk from the main chassis fail, since BIOS
would look for WinCE's main boot file. However Data Evolution is known to sell the dectop pre-flashed with a different BIOS that allows for CD/USB booting, allowing the use of live-cd images or installing other operating systems.
AMD's PIC 50x15 was originally delivered with Windows CE 5.0 pre-installed in two partitions. The working (bootable) partition was allowed to boot normally, but when it failed, the BIOS would recover the partition's base-installation from a backup recovery disk in a small partition in the disk.
When re-flashed with a more forgiving BIOS, the Dectop allows the user to install any x86-compatible operating system desired (32 bits only). It is known to work with any linux distribution, as well as Windows XP and other versions. However, upgrading the unit's main memory to 512 MBytes is recommended for reliable operation.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
and the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
access to the internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. The PIC has been deployed by Internet service provider
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
s (ISPs) in several developing countries. It is based on an AMD Geode
Geode (processor)
Geode is a series of x86-compatible system-on-a-chip microprocessors and I/O companions produced by AMD, targeted at the embedded computing market....
CPU and uses Microsoft Windows CE
Windows CE
Microsoft Windows CE is an operating system developed by Microsoft for embedded systems. Windows CE is a distinct operating system and kernel, rather than a trimmed-down version of desktop Windows...
and Microsoft Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer
Windows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
6.0.
The fanless PC runs the low-power Geode
Geode (processor)
Geode is a series of x86-compatible system-on-a-chip microprocessors and I/O companions produced by AMD, targeted at the embedded computing market....
x86 processor and is equipped with 128 MB DDR
DDR SDRAM
Double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory is a class of memory integrated circuits used in computers. DDR SDRAM has been superseded by DDR2 SDRAM and DDR3 SDRAM, neither of which are either forward or backward compatible with DDR SDRAM, meaning that DDR2 or DDR3 memory modules...
memory and a 10 GB 3.5-inch hard drive. The device's price is $185 with a keyboard, mouse, and preinstalled software for basic personal computing and internet/email access and $249 with a monitor included.
Transfer to Data Evolution Corporation
AMD stopped work on the Personal Internet Communicator project after nearly two years of planning and development. In December 2006 AMD transferred PIC manufacturing assets to Data Evolution Corporation and the device is now being marketed as the decTOP. Additional product information is available at www.dataevolution.com.Business model
The PIC is branded, marketed, and sold by local service providers such as telecommunications companies and government-sponsored communications programs. AMD owns the design of the PIC, but the device is currently manufactured by SolectronSolectron
Solectron Corporation was a global electronics manufacturing company for original equipment manufacturers . It pioneered the electronics manufacturing services industry in 1977 and was a leader in the field...
, a high volume contract manufacturing
Contract manufacturer
A contract manufacturer is a manufacturer that contracts with a firm for components or products. It is a form of outsourcing.-Business model:...
specialist. Other companies integrated into the development include Seagate
Seagate Technology
Seagate Technology is one of the world's largest manufacturers of hard disk drives. Incorporated in 1978 as Shugart Technology, Seagate is currently incorporated in Dublin, Ireland and has its principal executive offices in Scotts Valley, California, United States.-1970s:On November 1, 1979...
, Samsung
Samsung
The Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea...
, and Macromedia
Macromedia
Macromedia was an American graphics and web development software company headquartered in San Francisco, California that produced such products as Flash and Dreamweaver. Its rival, Adobe Systems, acquired Macromedia on December 3, 2005 and controls the line of Macromedia...
.
The ISP's include the Tata Group
Tata Group
Tata Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Tata Group is one of the largest companies in India by market capitalization and revenue. It has interests in communications and information technology, engineering, materials, services, energy,...
(India), CRC
CRC
- Organizations :* California Rehabilitation Center, a state prison in the USA* Cambridge Regional College, a further education college* Cambridge Regional College F.C., a semi-professional football club in England* Canada Research Chair* Capital Research Center...
(México), Telmex
Telmex
Telmex is a telecommunications company headquartered in Mexico City that provides telecommunication products and services in Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil and other countries in Latin America. In addition to traditional fixed-line telephone service, Telmex also offers Internet access, data,...
(México), and Cable and Wireless (in the Caribbean). PIC should market to consumers in five cities in India. CRC is claimed to offer the device in Mexico along with a suite of educational software. Cable and Wireless plans to deploy the PIC in support of disaster relief efforts throughout the Caribbean.
Hardware
The device is designed for minimal cost like a consumer audio/video appliance, is not internally expandable, and comes equipped with a minimum set of interfaces which include a VGA graphics display interface, four USB 1.1 ports, a built-in 56 kbit/s ITU v.92 Fax/Modem and an AC'97 audio interface providing sound capabilities. There is also an IDE-connector and the case can house a normal 3.5" HDD.Hardware Specs:
- AMD Geode GX 500@1.0W processor, 366 MHz clock rate
- 128 MBytes DDR RAM (Up to 512 MBytes)
- VGA display interface up to 1600x1200
- four USB 1.1 ports
- 56 kbit/s ITU v.92 Fax/Modem
- AC'97 audio interface
- Fanless design.
Electrical Specs:
- Input Voltage: 12 VDC (Factory provided AC/DC converter)
- Power Dissipation: 8 Watts (plus power supply's own dissipation)
- Total power Dissipation: 12.7 Watts @ 100% CPU Load
Software
- Firmware
The Dectop's original BIOS does not allow any human interaction during POST
POST (HTTP)
In computing, POST is one of many request methods supported by the HTTP protocol used by the World Wide Web. The POST request method is used when the client needs to send data to the server as part of the request, such as when uploading a file or submitting a completed form.In contrast to the GET...
at boot time. Therefore, it is not possible to format and re-install any other operating system. Any attempts to install a different OS, even when extracting the disk from the main chassis fail, since BIOS
BIOS
In IBM PC compatible computers, the basic input/output system , also known as the System BIOS or ROM BIOS , is a de facto standard defining a firmware interface....
would look for WinCE's main boot file. However Data Evolution is known to sell the dectop pre-flashed with a different BIOS that allows for CD/USB booting, allowing the use of live-cd images or installing other operating systems.
- Operating System
AMD's PIC 50x15 was originally delivered with Windows CE 5.0 pre-installed in two partitions. The working (bootable) partition was allowed to boot normally, but when it failed, the BIOS would recover the partition's base-installation from a backup recovery disk in a small partition in the disk.
When re-flashed with a more forgiving BIOS, the Dectop allows the user to install any x86-compatible operating system desired (32 bits only). It is known to work with any linux distribution, as well as Windows XP and other versions. However, upgrading the unit's main memory to 512 MBytes is recommended for reliable operation.