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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.
This looks sweet, and it's cheaper than one of those LCD touch screen remote controls I was thinking of getting... Does it have an IR port that can be reprogrammed to work like a universal remote control for my entertainment system???
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Programming is like sex... Make one mistake and support it the rest of your life.
Hitachi also has a webpad that uses the Crusoe and runs Midori, the FLORA-ie55mi. I have actually had the chance to play with one, it is really nifty. Great on screen keyboard.
Here is the link. It's in Japanese. Babelfish to the rescue?
Execute? [Y/N] _
For giving users a choice of OS. That way, it can appear to the 'ease-of-use' folks and to the people who want to put Linux on thier TI-83.
Could this be a replacement for PDAs? Just pull one of these babies out of your portfolio. They seem a bit bulky for that, but with a platform like this, wireless web might gain popularity.
If municipal wireless (or unsecured corporate wireless) networks gain ground, then these could really take off, especially with the wide flexibility it offers.
Rambling furthur, if you stick one of those quarter-sized IBM harddrives in this thing, and it puts my computer to shame. Maybe all laptops will head this way, using Crusoe to lengthen battery life.
Just a thought.
Well, there is a much cheaper living room terminal availible. It's called a TuxScreen (originally called a shannon.) You can get the information here: http://www.tuxscreen.net , but please, leave 6 for me.
They only cost $99, and have a reasonably sized touch screen, PCMCIA slot, StrongARM processor, run Linux, IR Keyboard support, and have a phone attached.
This type of thing could wipe out the $600 palm and pocket pc devices... it is a sub-sub-notebook, with enough power to do apps, not just organizer type things. 800x600 screen? That beats out th 160x160 for doing something other than scratching out a quick memo.
+++ UGUCAUCGUAUUUCU
"AquaPad? Quick!! Sue them over the use of the word "Aqua" before we go bankrupt!!"
-- Everyone employed at Apple, Inc.
Bowie J. Poag
For something a little sooner and a little cheaper, check out the now liquidated Audreys. Sure, they aren't the newest toys, but I just ordered a handful from Tiger Direct for $90 a piece, plus $30 for the usb network adaptor.
Out of the box, it supports web browsing, email, and palm syncing among other things. And with a little hacking, it can play mp3s, be an X server/client, VNC server/client, web server, etc.
For around $600, this looks like it might make a great living room terminal.
I would have thought anyone that wanted a living room terminal would have bought a 3COM Audrey a couple months ago when they were going for $100...
-Ryan, with the unoriginal sig
I disagree
http://www.overclockers.com/tips665/
read it... you are the one who needs to get your priorities straight. (besides it is not 20,000 more like 6,500 not that that makes it any less tragic, just less sensationalized)
==>LaznWhy 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.
With the wireless connections, these will fit in great for our logistics personnel who wander around the warehouse taking inventory. Being able to utilize a decent sized, common web interface will be great as we already have that infrastructure in place...unfortunately it is only accessed at fixed terminals currently.
There have been other solutions, but they were either too bulky, poor battery management, but mostly only interfacable through proprietory inventory management software.
- AC
I hate to be negative here, especially because this looks so cool and is running Linux on a Transmeta cpu, but how useful could this ever really be to the average geek?
I understand that this might be great for those unable to get around or confined to bed, as it would be small and unobtrusive and allow easy access to the net, but at a pricetag of $600, could this ever be justified for someone perfectly capable of getting up and walking 15 feet to their machine?
For around $600, this looks like it might make a great living room terminal.
A great living room terminal? Do you really feel the need for a living room terminal? I spend about 10 hours a day in front of my machine, seriously, and that'd be more if I was working instead of attending class. When factoring in sleep (which is becoming less and less) and eating and simple things like transportation, I have very little time for anything else, and I very rarely find myself sitting around *itching* for the Internet, because normally I'm right there in front of it. I can't really imagine myself sitting in a recliner and thinking, "damn I wish I could get on the Internet but that'd mean I'd have to walk all the way over there, and use a keyboard, nahh I'll just sit here."
Also, configuration/ease of use becomes an issue, because I like to be webbrowsing in a comfortable and familiar environment, where I have my bookmarks at hand, I have my mp3s playing, I have Kinkatta up so people can IM me, I've got about 25 windows open, maybe even KVirc on #debian; in other words, if I'm only 15 feet from my computer, I'd rather just get up and go full Internet mode than sit around, dealing with a small screen and uncomfortable interface. Yes I read the specs and saw that it offers a "full" range of Internet tools, but you ever try to communicate on IRC with handwriting recognition?
Basically, I can't see buying one of these as anything but self-indulgence, unless of course you have an understandable need such as a disability preventing you from using a regular computer/terminal set up. If I had a spare $600 to burn on geekstuff that I'd never fully use, I'd think about building a cluster or an mp3 jukebox/mapping+gps system for my car, at least I'll have the parts left over in a couple months after I realize how little I used it.
Sorry to be so cynical, but after dropping $500 on a PDA that I only used to play Doom and for playing mp3s and it didn't help me get organized one bit, I've started to rethink my approach to gadgets.
Just my $0.02,
Mike
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."
Think 802.11 and all your mp3s stored on the network.. This device really doesn't need much local storage once you add wireless ethernet.
This thing isn't for bringing to Starbucks, use a real laptop for that. I want one of these for sitting in my living room and doing quick tasks like checking my mail.
All movements for social change begin as missions, evolve into businesses, and end up as rackets.
potential uses: looking up movie listings, online banking, imdb access while watching a movie or show,
doodling, reading online magazines, photo album viewing, etc.
if this comes out at that price and has a useful handwriting input mechanism, i'd buy one. it gets rid of most desires for a computer in the living room.
Touch screens still don't cut it for me. My stubby callused fingers are about as precise as a horse's hoof for a pointing device.
Also, the 'soft' keyboards that can be displayed on these touch screens are frustratingly inaccurate due to a lack of tactile feedback (no click-clack).
Combine a Web pad with a chording keyboard-mouse combination and we would have something great. 'Til then I'll stick with my Palm.
I have no pants and I must scream
how many MP3s can you store? One?
You don't have to store MP3s. You store all of your MP3s on your workstation/server and stream them to your webpad. 802.11 is certainly fast enough.
The potential uses for this are plentiful. I can hook it up to my stereo and stream audio. I can have my web recipes in the kitchen. I can chill on the porch and surf while listening to music. I'm thinking of it largely as a dumb terminal that connects wirelessly. I don't need it to have much horsepower because it can pull everything off of larger machines (ala X and other UNIX goodness). What's important to me is that it's:
- Small
- Light
- Cheap
The fact that it uses Linux makes it even sweeter because it'll be infinitely hackable. Sign me up.This
I would use the 802.11 connection and grab my .mp3's one at a time through my network. You'd have your home server sitting somewhere else, and THAT guy would hold your gigs and gigs of songs for you.
I'm also thinking that you would use the home server to cache web pages on if you wanted to. You may also want to stream in some video too. You could also use it to sync your calendar, email, etc.
I'd use one and carry it around the house with me so I could actually be productive from my couch, my bed, the throne, wherever. It'll add additonal freedom for the telecommuters.
I still want the uber-remote, for it, though.
Where the wind blows, the tumbleweed goes.
for them to fail on the market so I can pick up 6-7 at 100.00 each!
I plan on using them for game terminals.PnP games. my player can send my private communication, they can keep a complete history of there character, I can store them on my server, pretty much completly automate the mechanics of the game. excellent.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
-schussat
The hour of noon has passed. Let us go and get some Kentucky Fried Chicken.
If you had read the story, you'd know it comes in two versions. One runs Linux, the other WinCE. So wake up!!
All movements for social change begin as missions, evolve into businesses, and end up as rackets.
So I agree with you that the thing isn't very useful unless you're sitting around the house, but when you are, why not just go to your computer? Are you so lazy you can't drag your butt to your desk?
Well I work fulltime and study a 50% uni load AND have a familly (Wife, 1 kid), and we like to spend time reading together (me, uni materials, her, natural health/gemology magazines) but being an external CompSci student, a lot of my material is on the computer (web pages mostly) so I would love a device that lets me browse my web material away from the desk. Also the chance to read the online material outside on a warm sunny day is very tempting.
Also on the point of the stereo, for me (once more the above criteria) I like to listen to classical music while I study, if I had one of these,I believe they have a headphone connector, so I could read my online material outside listening to Bach or Mozart with headphones. I think it's pretty nice looking myself, I just wonder how easy it would be to set up with X.
(Also I was thinking that coupled with a server that is administered with WebMin, it could become a handy little mobile administration unit for the server adimin on the go, providing it handles https, and I don't see why not.)
"I'll take the red pill. No! Blue! AAAaaaahhhhhhhhh"
- Monty Python meets the Matrix
When I heard "WebPad", I immediately flashed on an image of a commercial:
WebPad -- for those light-traffic days when you still need complete protection. WebPad fits your information needs perfectly, but still fits inside your purse. WebPad will absorb all your information with no leaks, and no bulky installation.
WebPad, 133t enough for a geek, but made for a woman.
For the real manly types it needs a name like "DataSlab"
One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
go to ebay.
search for pen computer
buy one that costs at least $400.00
plug in a 802.11 card
Voila webpad. no brains required.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
For me, I really want this space to converge.
1)I want (BADLY) for something that is more powerful than a PDA - thus why the wince pocket pc's appeal to me - they have enough power to do more than just keep appointments and sync email. The form factor makes it tough to do anything but basic app - but even something like MP3's are tough to do with under 64M of storage. If this thing uses standard SDRAM, then w00t! 512M today is an easy thing to see happening. That does not even include the micro HDD advances... I want something less than a super mobile PC, more than a PDA.
2) I want something smaller than my thinkpad. I end up lugging this think in and out of meetings all day long. Toss it in my carry-on, and I don't have a lot of space left.
3) I want something I can code to - if that's IBM's j9, Microsoft's wince c++ package, whatever, I want to build some custom apps. If its a closed systsem - thanks, but no thanks. Give me a compiler and a resonable chance of building something, and hey, I'm in....
4) The only reason I don't have a pocket pc right now is the bloody price. If palm could run a JVM and had enough space to store a few hours of MP3's I'd shell out the $400 for one of the sony jobs. Its close... The wince kits have almost enough power and RAM, but come on... $600 is way to much when I compair it to some of the laptops out there. Get the price down to $300, and things get interesting.
In short, I'd like to see my laptop and PDA killed off. Way to many "wants" in this post....
+++ UGUCAUCGUAUUUCU
It's a bit of a cheek not to include 802.11 or Bluetooth in the unit, AND only have one PCMCIA slot and one CF slot. It means that you use up your most valuable expansion ports just adding in the wireless connectivity. As an owner of an Ultralight portable with no internal drives and only one PCMCIA slot, I can tell you that it's a pain having to choose between your CD drive and a 100Mb/s network. I'm sure there are plenty more examples like that...
If I could actually order one, I would. But lots of nifty Linux-based devices have been announced (Sharp's PDA, HP's Linux Jornada, Yopy, etc.), and they just don't seem to be making it to market. I believe that this thing exists and ships when I see it.
Unfortunately the current screens aren't reflective, so they wash out in bright light, but the next line will be sunlight readable.
Judging from specs of the current crop of Crusoe single board computers, the Crusoe was only giving a power saving relative to same clock rate x86 CPU's. My 200MHz SBC uses 8W, whereas the 500MHz Crusoe SBC's all use about 8-10W. Sure I get more cycles, but in a mobile computer you want maximum uptime, not sitting around tethered to a power cord.
Everyone around here beats the "Palm is better because it lasts longer" drum, why not do the same over webpads?
Maybe $150. $600? no way. I paid less than that for my main box.
Not two mention storage options concerning the USB ports and PC-Card slot.
This is yet another arena where there is lots of cool vapor and little actual product.
...How about a LaunchPad?
Or maybe a LilyPad?
I'm enthused to see that this has a tablet form factor -- I'd rather tuck something under my arm or slip it into my shoulder pad if it means a screen big enough to comfortably read (and if not yet, eventually write on).
"How many light bulbs does it take to change a person?" --BMcC-->
Of course, web pads are only part of the solution. We still don't have the "last-mile" technology we need to get content into the webpad. And we still need some kind of economic model that will compensate content providers.