Globalscale has released a tiny Linux PC that plugs straight into a power outlet, for a reasonable price of $150. It's the size of a phone charger, and could be good as a computer or server to write and test applications. It could also be used as a print server or as a tool to test new operating systems.

The DreamPlug plug-in PC uses smartphone-class hardware: a Marvell Sheeva processor at 1.2GHz (it runs on an Arm processor, which is found in most smartphones). It comes with 2.6.3x kernel (Linus Torvalds last month announced that 2.6.38 kernel development was complete).

The PC comes from Marvell's SheevaPlug concept, introduced a few years ago as a full-fledged PC alternative. The DreamPlug includes the latest Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0 drivers. The PC concept itself hasn't take off extensively, but it has served as a cheap PC option for developers looking to write Linux applications.

The shipping hardware includes

- 512MB 16bit DDR2-800 MHz
- 1 GB on board micro-SD storage
- 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports
- 2 USB 2.1 ports
- Wi-Fi b/g
- SD card socket
- Audio interfaces

The memory at 512MB seems less in an era where average systems include 2GB to 4GB of RAM. The company promises memory expandability, but PCs, where memory can be expanded to 8GB, still remain a better development option. Full-fledged desktops can be purchased for as little as $299. But if your apartment is small and you are looking to preserve space, the plug-in PC is your answer.

You can view further details and purchase information of the DreamPlug PC on Globalscale's site.