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I actually own one of those. ;-) It is a complete pentium-class computer in a 2x3x3/4 package. It uses an AMD Elan processor, and IBM Microdrive, and a few other components (memory chips, cmos battery, etc.)
I bought it a few years ago from Tiqit Computers (a company founded by some people from Stanford). It was their now discontinued Matchbox PC model. I believe Slashdot had an article about some guys at Stanford using one as a webserver back then.
A friend of mine actually installed Windows 98 on it... (It came with RedHat, but he wanted to impress people, and who is impressed by Linux running on small systems anymore?)

And devices for this kind of usage are already appearing: Sony, Toshiba, and a few other companies have developed personal wireless file servers. Internet connectivity comes via a Bluetooth phone. Wireless head sets and keyboards give you sound and data entry. And a wirelessly networked PDA gives you a screen.

However, it makes sense to include a small screen on any wireless server you carry around, like Oqo, Antelope, and Tiqit are doing. Also, it makes sense to keep certain functions separate, like the cell phone, file server, and screen.

It's all a trade-off between power, size, and cost. And it doesn't look like Vulcan has any better technology than anybody else.

What, the Tiqit eightythree? It has a 266-300 MHz Pentium-compatible processor, a 4" 640x480 touchscreen, 256 MB RAM, and a 10 GB HDD. It doesn't have WiFi/Bluetooth, but it'll take PCMCIA/CardBus cards.

Laptop does not? Bull. Try this, and the first result when searching for Tiqit on Slashdot

If you want something today, get a mini laptop from Fujitsu, Sony, or Dynamism.

...I'd nominate the Tiqit 83. A similiar idea, only with a built-in keyboard which would seem to make it more useful. Any bets on which, if either, will make it to market first?

Check out the MatchBox PC . That seems like it woruld work for you.
Also, check out the OQO . Both are small, silent and powerful enough.

Roguelazer

Stanford's TIQIT (Linux/Wintel)

the UK's SOLO (ARM RISC, but comes with solar panels)

Tiqit's 83 Palm-held computer. Nuff said.

Not only that but it has a mini QWERTY keyboard on it. It is not as fast, running a NatSemi 300mhz Geode, but is fast enough to use it as a portable DivX player, and MP3 machine. Not to mention portable network sniffer.

Not only that but it has a mini QWERTY keyboard on it. It is not as fast, running a NatSemi 300mhz Geode, but is fast enough to use it as a portable DivX player, and MP3 machine. Not to mention portable network sniffer.

Check out Tigit Computers
You can even plug a monitor/keyboard/mouse into it...

The Screen Savers on TechTV had a couple of folks demoing a handheld REAL PC from Tiqit. A full 640x480 screen, built-in keyboard, PCMCIA, Secure Digital, docking ability. Price tag will be steep (upwards of $1000), and the processor isn't as beefy as I'd like, but the built-in screen is SEXY.

I would really consider the Tiqit eightythree to be an all-in-one handheld. It's an 300mhz x86 PC the size of a paperback book. If anyones interested, the have new pictures here. Oh, you can order it with a choice of OS.

Check out the eightythree - it's in the brochure PDF at http://www.tiqit.com .

It's a handheld-sized full PC; with 640x480 touchscreen, SMS-style keyboard and mini "nipple" mouse. 10 gig hard drive, all the ports you could want, the list goes on and on!

Damn, I'd love one of these.

One note about this hard drive, or any other hard drive for that matter. They might be tough and made for a laptop, but they will not work about 20,000-30,000 feet, confirmed by IBM engineers. We never got a chance to actually flight test one for fear of distruction, but the consensus was it wouldn't make it back anyway.

• 
  tiqit
  pocketPC
  

• 
  5G pcmcia
  

• 
  micro glasses
  

• printable cell phone
  

Xybernaut has been doing this for quite some time. There are also quite a few single board computers (SBCs) that are a very good base to build your own wearable. EMJ is a good place to find out more about SBC's. There are instructions for building your own matchbox server at the Stanford wearables page. With the addition of a HUD, this could easily be converted to a wearable. You can even order your own pre-made matchbox server here.


Enigma

Embedded Linux is okay, but you can run an entire distribution off one of one of these guys.

So a little gedankexperiment: You take to work a little palmtop something or other -- actually, this would be a perfect task for a Tiqit computer -- hook up a small hard drive (hell, you get 10 meg drives free at Burger King these days), hook it up to the ethernet at work, and stuff it behind some drywall. Voila, instant hidden server. (Best Ron Popeil voice: "Just set it...and...forget it!") You access it from public terminals/net cafes, following the usual precaustions (stay away from where you live, pay cash, don't use the same place twice), and you don't keep logs on the damn thing.

Before the flames start, IANAY (I Am Not Awake Yet), nor do I know much about networking. Is this sort of thing feasible, or is it just another cool idea that is utterly impractical? Anyone?

http://www.tiqit.com/icons/plugged2.jpg is the great picture. The same as above, but enlarged about 2x.

http://www.tiqit.com/icons/plugged2.jpg is the great picture. The same as above, but enlarged about 2x.

Finally, this discussion comes to light without me having to ask it. I've been thinking about trying this for about 2 or 3 months, the problem I have is that my design seems rather novel, and I havn't seen any of the small boards/systems (like LART, TINI, TIQIT, uCLinux) that would support it hardware-wise, let alone getting the software working for it. Most of the following rant is nothing more than a pipe dream, but if you know of something to make this dream a reality, by God post it.

I envision a bifold device, about the size of a deck of cards, with rounded edges. The device flips open (either spring loaded to a set angle ala Psion, or with a friction clutch holding it at any angle), and both inside faces are LCDs with digitizers on them. The side that you hold in your hand is the input area,which can be changed to fit the application (for example, all buttons for a calculator app, or a few buttons with a writing area for a notepad app). The top half is the display area.

Two displays/digitizers may seem like a waste, but an infinitely configurable input area seems like it might be just the kind of thing to make this badboy very easy and fast to use. The other nice thing about two halves is that you get about twice the screen real estate, as well as a measure of screen protection. Additionally, the bottom half in the hand, with the top half above, allows you to write while resting your writing hand against the holding hand, which would make input more natural (i.e., just moving the wrist, as opposed to the whole arm I envision this system using Quikwriting as the primary input method, but implemetning other software would also be necessary, especially the stuff with the input area and receiving input. I could imagine that a writing area with four general buttons would be the default, and a special call would be executed to change this, that way, only programs that need to have a different input method would have it. Other programs could act as if they were receiveing input from a keyboard.

I already have the case design in my head (at least the design for individual manufacture). The problem I've run into is the lack of suitable hardware. Some of the devices listed above are small enough, but do not include any way (that I can see) of having a configurable input area that is separate from the display screen.

I am a Mechanical and Biomedical engineer by training, so most of the aspects of specialized hardware implementation are beyond me, and I have been looking into using pre-built boards and stuffing them into a novel case (which my training does let me specialize). So I ask you, fellow /.ers, "what do you think?" Am I a deranged loon, or does an idea like this have some merit (if not, I'll still want to build one for myself)? Can anyone offer me guidance for hardware and even some software? Anyone want to help build one?

--Copyright, 2000 by WhyCause (just in case something pans out)

I've got an Abit mobo in my box and everyone knows and loves the SoftCPU system they have to let you tweak your system speed.

I was slightly suprised to see that the 66 MHz 486-SX (AMD Elan SC410) fitted to this machine has the following option: CPU is BIOS-settable for 100 MHz operation with heat sink installed.

http://www.tiqit.com/computer/specifi cations/

I used a 66MHz DX at 100MHz for quite a while as my main machine a few year back and I have one recommendation... if you're going to do this carry the unit in a bag, not your trouser pocket!

From the Tiqit website, there is a link that gives pricing. They say $1xxx.00 (watch this space), so given that, figure one or two thousand dollars for a complete "gizmo".
Too bad. I'd take one for a couple hundred bucks.

From the Tiqit website, there is a link that gives pricing. They say $1xxx.00 (watch this space), so given that, figure one or two thousand dollars for a complete "gizmo".
Too bad. I'd take one for a couple hundred bucks.

Tiqit.com has a link not so cleverly hidden making fun of Win95. It's on the main page in the bottom of the right frame. Or just click here.

Now these computers are much easier to take to LAN parties than putting a handle on your tower.

Also take a look at Tiqit, founded to market minature computers by the Stanford professor whose matchbox web server was slashdotted sometime back.