Maddog mad about Linux thin clients

By Linux Devices
2007-07-18

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Well-known Linux luminary Jon "maddog" Hall is CTO and "ambassador" of a startup selling Linux-based thin clients and network appliances. Koolu currently has two hardware offerings that run Ubuntu Linux, and work with Google Apps in energy- and pollution-sparing installations for business, government, and...

education.

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During an allegedly illustrious professorial and computer industry career spanning 25 years, Hall worked at DEC (Digital Equipment) in the mid 1990s. He was reportedly instrumental in getting 64-bit Alpha hardware provided to Linus Torvalds and others helping with that critical first of Linux's many architecture ports. Hall subsequently earned a reputation as one of Linux's greatest promoters, tirelessly delivering keynote after keynote address at perhaps every Linux conference ever held.

Koolu's motto is "save a tonne with koolu," referring to the amount of carbon emissions spared by its low-powered device, compared to running a standard client PC for a year. Network-based computing -- for example with Google Apps as the backend -- also offers advantages in data security, safety, and computer maintenance, the company contends.

Currently, Koolu offers two Linux-based clients, both based on AMD Geode LX800 embedded processors. A $200 Thin Client model sports 256MB of PC3400 RAM, 16-bit audio (some devices in its class offer only 8-bit mono audio), and four USB ports. A $300 Network Appliance model adds a 40GB hard drive, and upgrades the RAM to 512MB.

Koolu client
Along with its clients, Koolu also offers Ubuntu desktop and server support, priced from $250 to $4,000 per year, with "9 x 5" and "24 x 7" plans offered.

Additionally, the company sponsors a community organization hosting some interesting projects, such as an OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) port to the Koolu thin client hardware. Further details are on Koolu's website.

--Henry Kingman

Thanks to Jon Wickes for calling this story to our attention.

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