Project Orphelia, a thumb-sized drive that turns any display with an HDMI port into an Android PC, is to start shipping in July at a price of around $100, reports PCWorld. It’s similar in form factor to a USB key, and simply plugs into any modern TV or monitor.
The first units will be offered to developers, with consumers expected to be able to get their hands on one around August.
While the portability of the device is appealing, you’re still going to need a bluetooth keyboard and mouse to do anything useful with it, raising questions as to how well it can really compete with a tablet or ultrabook. But Dell says it is working on a “keyboard-like technology’ to go with it, and the ability to get the big-screen experience on any TV set for around a hundred bucks may sway some.
Dell is pitching the device to the enterprise market as well as consumers, citing its track-record in corporate sales.
Dell is also pitching Ophelia to enterprises as a pocket-sized thin client, Dell’s executive director of cloud client computing Jeff McNaught said.
A set of features will allow IT administrators to manage and secure the device. For example, it could be wiped clean if it is lost. The feature set, called cloud client manager, will allow system administrators to see where users are and what they are doing with Ophelia.
“We want to make sure when we release the product that it’s perfect. The enterprise is one market we understand.”
The device runs Wyse thin client software, allowing it to connect to virtualization platforms from Citrix, Microsoft and VMware.
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