Wednesday, April 17, 2002
The New 'pocket PC'?
Posted by Brad Adrian in "OFF-TOPIC" @ 08:19 AM
http://news.com.com/2100-1040-883861.html
Here's an article forwarded to us by Darren Humphries about a new PC that startup company OQO is developing. It's essentially a very small Windows XP-compatible PC that can supposedly double as a handheld and desktop computer (via a docking station).
The OQO Web site includes a few specs:
• Powered by a Crusoe TM5800 processor at up to 1 GHz
• 10 GB hard drive
• 256 MB RAM
• 4-inch VGA color LCD touchscreen
• Weighs 250 grams
• Lithium polymer battery
• Built-in 802.11 and Bluetooth networking
The article also gives some perspectives on the market viability of such an all-in-one computer. My favorite line, though, is the opening one:
"First there was the pocket calculator. Then there was the pocket organizer. And if start-up OQO gets its way, the next big thing will be the pocket PC."
(Guess the writer doesn't know about OUR little hobby, does he?)
This kind of product has been a kind of "holy grail" in the computing industry for several years. Personally, I know that I use my Pocket PC for MUCH more now than I did a year ago, but I don't know if I'd really want a handheld device that completely replaces my desktop. I use them for different things, and even the OQO system would force me to make compromises on both the portability side and the desktop side.
Am I alone?
Here's an article forwarded to us by Darren Humphries about a new PC that startup company OQO is developing. It's essentially a very small Windows XP-compatible PC that can supposedly double as a handheld and desktop computer (via a docking station).
The OQO Web site includes a few specs:
• Powered by a Crusoe TM5800 processor at up to 1 GHz
• 10 GB hard drive
• 256 MB RAM
• 4-inch VGA color LCD touchscreen
• Weighs 250 grams
• Lithium polymer battery
• Built-in 802.11 and Bluetooth networking
The article also gives some perspectives on the market viability of such an all-in-one computer. My favorite line, though, is the opening one:
"First there was the pocket calculator. Then there was the pocket organizer. And if start-up OQO gets its way, the next big thing will be the pocket PC."
(Guess the writer doesn't know about OUR little hobby, does he?)
This kind of product has been a kind of "holy grail" in the computing industry for several years. Personally, I know that I use my Pocket PC for MUCH more now than I did a year ago, but I don't know if I'd really want a handheld device that completely replaces my desktop. I use them for different things, and even the OQO system would force me to make compromises on both the portability side and the desktop side.
Am I alone?
