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50×15. Doesn’t seem like much, does it? Well, remember it. Advanced Micro Devices, AMD to enthusiasists, is a leading computer processor manufactuer who has launched the 50×15 program to bring advanced technology and internet access at affordable prices to people across the world.  Although this is a multi-faceted, multiple solution plan, its main instrument is the P.I.C., or Personal Internet Communicator, pictured at right. 

The P.I.C. is a particularly innovative device and should fit quite well into AMD’s intended application, provided they receive the support they need.  The hardware and included software is minimal, but effective.  Don’t expect to see any P.I.Cs dual-botting linux and windows, running SLI or Crossfire videocard solutions, nor implementing dual channel memory and RAID 0 arrays.  The device isn’t designed for high performance computing.  It is an inexpensive, passively cooled device powered by a windows-based OS that is said to be immune to viruses and malware.

Included software is as follows:

Windows® Powered Operating System
Web Browser – Microsoft® Internet Explorer 6.0
E-mail
Macromedia Flash Player
Windows Media® Player
Presentation viewer for Microsoft® PowerPoint®
PDF Viewer
Windows® Messenger
Microsoft® Windows® 2D Game Pack
SoftMaker Word Processor and Spreadsheet applications– compatible with Microsoft® Word/Microsoft® Excel®
Image viewer – .jpg, .bmp, .png, and .gif filetypes
Zip/Unzip compression utility

(taken from AMD’S PIC website: http://www.amd.com/us-en/ConnectivitySolutions/ProductInformation/0,,50_2330_12264_12262,00.html)

The hard drive is only 10gb, but that should be plenty for the intended audience, even for most of us now, music and video collections excluded.  AMD has already introduced this device in many nations, but it relies on low-cost Internet Service Providers to jump on the bandwagon in order to be an effective means of getting technology in the hands of those who need it.  This product should be indespensible in helping bring knowledge and computing ability to people in developing nations or even those around home who just need a simple internet machine without noise or troubles with viruses.  This is a truly unique product and an aggresive first step toward helping remedy many of the problems created by technological deficiency worldwide, as compared to developed nations.

You can find all the information about the P.I.C here, as well as where to purchase it.  I honestly think that this could do a lot for a lot of people, even around home.  I may have to begin pointing people this way instead of their local Best Buy or Circuit City when they ask where to get a cheap computer for internet and word processing.  Please feel free to post a comment and discuss what you think of the viability of this innovation; I’ll look forward to seeing and responding to what you have to say.

Chris Leckness (3570 Posts) - Website | Twitter | Facebook

Chris Leckness is the Owner/Administrator of Mobilitysite. He is a Microsoft MVP, Mobile Devices and a member of the exclusive focus group, Mobius. Chris runs a Mobilitysite, GotZune, and a few other smaller sites and blogs. His personal blog is chris.leckness.com.