ECS' IBuddie PCs Built To Be SMB-Friendly

The iBuddie looks like a notebook PC, with an LCD monitor that closes over the keyboard for portability. However, there is no built-in battery, allowing the vendor to use full-power processors instead of power-saving mobile processor chips.

The iBuddies are available with Celeron, Pentium 4 and Athlon processors. The Celeron-based models come in fixed configurations, but the Pentium and Athlon

versions can be configured by solution providers for choice of processor, hard-drive size and memory, said Philip Wong, senior project manager at ECS.

Unlike a notebook PC, the iBuddie uses industry-standard components that can be sourced from anywhere, said Mike Chou, ECS senior vice president. And because the unit doesn't use a battery, it's lighter and generates less heat than a notebook, he said. The barebones version with an Athlon processor starts at about $700.

Solution providers will soon be able to offer all-in-one PCs built into a 15-inch or 18-inch LCD panel from ECS. Like the iBuddie, these systems can be configured online with a variety of processors, storage devices and memory choices, and will include an RF keyboard and mouse, Wong said.

The all-in-one system also includes a built-in LCD input connector, Wong said. "If worse comes to worst, and the PC's technology becomes obsolete, customers can still use it as an LCD monitor," he said.

Phil McGourty, CEO of Amazin Webs, a Gladwin, Mich.-based white-box seller, praised the iBuddie as a great desktop replacement for the SMB market. McGourty is selling the iBuddie to college students and doctors' offices, two markets where compact form factor is important.

"They [college students can't lug around a big PC, and their desk space is limited. And this system costs $1,500 less than a Gateway or Dell PC," McGourty said.

"The only hassle with the all-in-one system is that it takes forever to get a replacement," he said. "It might take a month. You can't use an off-the-shelf motherboard or power supply."

Thomas Kuang, manager of Digital Technology International, a New York-based white-box maker, was less impressed with the iBuddie. "The LCD had a lot of dots on the screen out of the box, and the external battery is heavy," he said. "When we sell out our stock, we're done with it."