Prediction: This is going to make NetPliance’s IPO huge. It has all of the buzzwords, ie. “Slashdot”, “Linux”, “Sub-$200 PC”, etc.
http://www.linux-hacker.net/iopener/
A little history:
* Some dude figures out how to add a hard drive (and thus the operating system of his choice) to the Netpliance. * Dude puts up a web page offering a $35 kit. * Web page URL gets posted to Slashdot. * Geek mania takes hold. Circuit City now sold out of I-Openers.
* IPO mania will pick up where geek mania leaves off.
This TOTALLY screws up the business case for the I-Opener, though, given that the device itself is clearly a loss leader to suck people into the $29.95 ISP.
-Ian.