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Webpads, Anyone?
crons writes: "Just found this on the LinuxDevices.com website. FIC is releasing a webpad called the AquaPAD that runs Midori Linux and has a Tranmeta 500MHZ Crusoe cpu. Here's the story from LinuxDevices.com, and here are a few specs. An 802.11b wireless LAN card is supported in the PCMCIA slot, as are modules for GSM, GPRS, and Bluetooth." For around $600, this looks like it might make a great living room terminal.
Why do people constantly feel the need to pit devices against each other, especially when they are clearly in different niche markets?
Palm's are small enough to fit in your pocket, and are designed for taking short notes, keeping appointments, contact information, diet logs, cell phones, GPS guides, MP3 players, etc. Things you want in your pocket. Their screen sizes are adequate for these needs.
Laptops are mobile PC's. Enough said on that.
And in the middle now are webpads. A laptop with a touch screen instead of a keyboard, wireless connectivity, emphasis on internet and information access, roughly the size of a pad of paper. These are not meant to be carried EVERYWHERE like a PDA, and are generally not going to be used for the same things as PDA's.
If anything, webpads could evolve into laptop-killers for most people, NOT palm-killers.
Enough already!
"And like that
I'm having the strangest sense of Deja Vu on this article. I'm 97.3% sure I've seen this on /. before, but I can't find the link. And since my web browser remembered that I've been to the FIC webpage and all the links to their aquapad were already visitied, I know this has been here before.
So what's the big news? Did the price drop? I seemed to remember them being around $1000, I suppose $600 is more reasonable, but built in 802.11b would make it a lot more appealing.
Things you think are in the Constitution, but are not.
Yes, yes, I'd like to be able to browse the web in my living room using a comfortable wireless webpad about the size of an etch-a-sketch. But what about when I have to move beyond point and clicking to enter text. Laptops, especially when balanced precariously on knees, cause my shoulders to stress up because I have to be soooo careful not to hit the wrong key.
Yes, I need a personal organizer, but this is too big to strap to my belt.
Things that could really ingratiate this into a living room setting:
- is there an Uber-remote app for it and necessary IR hardware peripheral
- make it a nicely integrated controller to a media server in a different part of the house to stream digital video and digital audio to your TV and stereo.
My current home electronics system is a mess due to the multiple I/O ports on the VCR, DVD player, satellite TV, TiVo, TV, Receiver. If this device could make my life more convenient from that perspective (and it sure looks like it could), then it would get my vote for a purchase."Provided by the management for your protection."
My father told me 3 things were very important in life, all must be achieved to have a balance.
:)
A day has 24 hours.
8 to work.
8 to play.
8 to sleep.
He would tell you that your life seems to be overlapping somewhat. I think you should meet my father
Po