“Monitor manufacturer ViewSonic will become the latest entrant
into the Internet appliance market when it shows off a series of
computing devices in briefings in New York later today.”
“The company, primarily known for monitors and its colorful bird
logo, will show off 21 information appliance prototypes today,
company executives said. The models range from a PC without a hard
drive to a wireless Web pad featuring a 15-inch screen and a
Transmeta processor. The devices will start to trickle into the
market later this year.”
“…The company will also use contract manufacturers to
build the devices, which will give the company greater flexibility
in internal technology. Rather than offer a single operating system
or chip, ViewSonic plans to offer devices containing Linux, BeOS,
Windows CE and other operating systems. The devices will also
contain processors from Transmeta, National Semiconductor or Intel,
depending on what the customer wants, Weedfald added.“