Another case of virtualization's green IT side effect

Ran across another instance of an IT services company that designed some thin client hardware as the centerpiece of a virtualization and business continuity solution only to discover that its technology has some serious green IT side effects.

The product is called the Verdio PC. It looks sort of Mac-mini-ish, runs off a dual-core Intel Atom processor, has an aluminum casing for recycling considerations and runs on 28 watts of power, according to Terell Jones, director of the infrastructure practice for EcomNets, which designed the technology. "You can break it down and reuse what is inside it when you're done," he says.

Here's a video about the technology. EcomNets has already created a calculator so you can run some numbers on whether or not the product would be relevant for your organization.

Depending on how it is configured, Verdio is $99 in a virtualized version or between $299 to $399 in a standalone form, Jones says.

The hardware is already being used in university environments and it is being evaluated by a large hotel/hospitality company whose name you would know, according to Jones. Among other things, the design is being tweaked to include two USB ports on the front, as well as a CD-ROM. EcomNet is also evaluating a solid state drive option.

If you think about it, virtualization is sort of the ultimate green strategy, because you're taking older hardware out of service and installing a more energy-efficient alternative. Of course, most people view this as a side benefit, but EcomNets is hoping it becomes a technology differentiator.