To most normal people, "Nas" is just a rapper from Queens. But techies know NAS as network-attached storage - essentially, computers with hard drivers that act as personal servers.

At CES this year, Marvell is trying to amp up the capabilities of NAS (the servers, not the rapper) with their "Plug Computer 3.0" platform, which features a 2-ghz processor, hard drive, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Plug 3.0-based computers look like power adapters (see the one at left) and will run Linux on their ARM-based Marvell ARMADA 300 CPUs. 

The most popular Plug Computer-based device so far is the Pogoplug, which connects your external hard drives to the Internet. But Marvell sees the faster processor in Plug 3.0 as enabling new features, such as the ability to stream video between rooms (say, from a PC in one room to a TV in another.)

"Your iPhone or your BlackBerry or your Android OS based phone can be your terminal to your network at home," streaming all your home media from afar, said Bob Salem, director of marketing for Marvell's enterprise business unit.

The wireless capabilities will give Plug 3.0 devices new applications in the industrial, medical and security fields as well, Salem said. 

Plug 3.0 computers will also be cheaper than the $129 Pogoplug, Salem said.

"We have the technology to make a really low power, high-performance headless server sold in the market for under $100," he said.

Marvell sponsors a Web site, at plugcomputer.org, where they try to encourage open-source programmers to create applications for the plug devices.