NEC has announced what it claims is the industry's first commercial laptop without a hard disk drive.

The 12.1-inch Parafield is targeted almost exclusively at corporate customers and aims to combine the security of network-dependant thin-client systems with the flexibility of regular laptops by including 3GB of flash ROM for Windows XP Professional and application storage along with 512MB of RAM. This road warrior's delight can be had immediately in Japan for $3742 (£2164 inc. VAT).

The Parafield has been developed as a replacement for existing thin-client systems and combines both high data-security with the ability to be used anywhere. Conventional laptop computers can work anywhere but represent a potential security threat should they be lost or stolen. Thin-client systems get around this by working off a corporate server, however they require a network connection to work properly and such a connection is not always available.

NEC's latest computer offering attempts to combine the strengths of both systems while avoiding the weaknesses. For instance, the operating system and application software is all stored locally in flash ROM so the machine can function in the absence of a network. Flash ROM is the type of memory typically used to store a PC's BIOS or the firmware in electronics devices and allows limited reprogramming.

Local storage is provided in the computer's RAM, which is cleared when the machine is switched off, thus removing any potential security risk from data theft but also requiring a back-up before the computer is switched off. This can be done with a central server or, should a network not be available, to a USB memory device.

The machine is based on an Intel Pentium M processor running at 1.73GHz and runs on the Windows XP Professional operating system. It has 3GB of ROM space for the operating system and other software and 512MB of main memory. The screen has an XGA resolution (1024x768 pixels) and there's also has a PC Card slot, Ethernet socket and USB2.0 port.

BIOS, Dec 02, 05 | Print | Send | Comments (1) | Posted In Laptop