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Novatium Navigator

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PCQ Bureau
New Update

At first glance, it looks like an ordinary desktop PC. Go a little deeper into its Intel Atom based configuration, and once again, you'll feel that there's nothing extraordinary about it. But start using it, and you'll discover that what you're seeing is only a tip of the iceberg. Down below, there's mammoth capabilities hidden. The Navigator can be termed as a hybrid cloud based desktop, where you get some basic functionality like email and office in the PC itself, and a utility computing based desktop to support it from the cloud, which provides you lots of applications on a pay-per-use model and user management. This cuts down the need to purchase licensed software and install it on your desktop. You pay for what you use from the cloud.

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Snapshot

Price:Rs. 5,999 for PC, Rs. 3,999 for TFT Monitor (3 years warranty)

Key Specs:1 GB RAM, 6 USB ports, Intel Atom N230 CPU, UCaaS

Pros: Atom based Utility computing device, Pay per use model

Cons: None

Vendor: Novatium Solutions, Gurgaon, Tel: 486 9700

Write to:pcquest@cybermedia.co.in with name of the product in subject for more info.

SMS Buy 131011 to 56677



The device is meant for SMEs and the education sector is a “plug and compute” device to access the Novatium Desktop environment, which comprises of all basic functionality required for very basic productivity work. There's a range of applications available, right from basic productivity, to accounting, to even industry specific apps like a BPO. You can create multiple users in the cloud and assign them the applications as per their requirement. This way, the same physical machine is used, but the desktop environment changes for different users.

The Navigator can be used as a thin client too as it can be configured over the network to work along with a server to access applications and data over the local network. The best utility of the product comes from the fact that it allows for utility computing as a service (UcaaS). The user can pay for the applications he requires for the desired amount of time through the cloud based customer portal from Novatium known as nGene. Optional packages include CRM, ERP and Microsoft Office, which can be purchased on a pay per use model over the cloud for a desired amount of time. Other vertical specific applications are also available for the specific industry wanting to use the navigator. The device comes bundled with storage over the Cloud feature. Navigator also facilitates Desktop as a service (DaaS). The user can have multiple OS and the applications on these OS as a service. The different OS work like applications running over the cloud in parallel. The main UI of the device is Linux based and hence eliminates any licensing fee. It works on a widget like UI, which may be familiar and comfortable for most users. The users need not access all information through the browser now.

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The Navigator is much smaller and cheaper as compared to a full-fledged desktop. The small footprint allows it to be placed in smaller spaces. The cabinet is a vertical t ower structure that is sleek and portable. The Navigator is powered by an Intel Atom N230 processor and an optional 160 GB HDD that makes it power efficient as compared to a regular desktop. Its cabinet comes equipped with 6 USB 2.0 ports and hence externally connecting hard drives, thumb drives and other media peripherals is facilitated. The device is connected over LAN through DHCP support. Other noticeable features include support for VGA from XGA to SXGA.

Bottomline: A great utility computing

device with pay per use applications over the cloud translate to savings all around for SMEs. Also read the story on "Cloud Based Desktops" on pg. 22 to know more about this device and the cloud model it follows.

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