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CherryPal's cloud-based computer is unique because it offers the technology without subscription costs, and only draws two watts of power. The machine has no moving parts, and uses hardware encrpytion to provide a secure link to the cloud (which is run by Amazon).

To offset the costs of the cloud server, short ads are inserted whenever you open a program, but appear at no other time, to remain relatively unobtrusive. Though the device only has a 400 MHz Freescale MPC5121e mobileGT processor and 256 MB RAM, its user experience factor doesn't drop off because most of the work is done in the cloud. In fact, you are hardly exposed to the Linux-based OS because nearly everything is run from a modified version of Firefox.

CherryPal PC also has a 4 GB NAND Flash storage, 802.11g Wi-Fi, two USB 2.0 ports, 10/100 Ethernet, VGA out, and headphone out. It has a footprint of roughly 6 inches by 4 inches and is about an inch tall. It also comes out of the box with programs like iTunes, Open Office, custom media player and IM client, with more programs to appear. Each computer has a cloud storage limit of 50GB, which is likely to be expanded.

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Keywords: cloud computing, CherryPal PC, cloud computers, desktops, linux, top