"Flash media storage for general usage, or also referred to as thumb drives, pen drives, and USB flash drives have exploded with popularity in recent years. With these drive capacities now exceeding 4GB, and transfer rates increasing ever so rapidly, users have turned to these devices in order to prepare miniature file back-ups, file transfers, and sharing data--among other things. However, when it comes to the subject of mobile storage and computing, only time will tell what the next generation devices will look like. The engineers at Realm Systems have designed a new product that is roughly the size of two thumb drives yet rather than simply offering data storage capabilities they have designed an entire Linux server. In fact, the server is the world's smallest being able to fit in the palm of your hand. For operation, the device is dependent upon an existing computer system running Microsoft Windows XP or Linux. The Realm Systems server, dubbed the BlackDog, is designed to be a new mobile open-source platform for mobilizing software applications. Although the BlackDog does require a USB port on a client computer for operation, it is fully extendable to meet any needs thrown its way with thorough SDK software and immediate detection when plugging into either Windows or Linux. Behind the scenes, the 400MHz PowerPC processor is running Debian Linux with the 2.6.10 kernel and 64MB of RAM. Other features for the Realm Systems BlackDog include a biometric scanner and MMC expansion slot. Will this 1.6-ounce computer be able to emerge itself into a new class of mobile computing? Today we are taking the Realm Systems BlackDog for a walk as we see the viability of this very product..."
