Midori Linux Powered FIC Aquapad

quantumgravity1 writes: "Check out this review of the FIC Aquapad. It has a 500MHz Transmeta Crusoe CPU, runs Midori Linux, is wireless capable, and is totally portable. According to pics included it is comparable to the Iopener in size. There's no hard drive, but it comes with up to 256MB of memory with 32 embedded for the os, but you can expand it with compact flash or the IBM Microdrive. GPS support is in the works, but it already supports MP3 and MPG. Now I just need a wireless setup at home, or perhaps I can do some mobile sniffing. :)"

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Re:/.'ed

[HMC CS Major]

It's not slashdotted, but I'll give you the text of the front page anyway ...

FIC was demoing their AquaPAD at this year's Comdex. Several pads were connected to a wireless network in their meeting room. They have been working on the AquaPAD design for a couple of years, and the growing popularity of wireless networking could spell a hot product. Immediately upon using the demo pads at the show test units were requested. The AquaPAD is a web pad class device powered by a 500MHz Transmeta Crusoe TM5400 CPU. This CPU uses the Long-Run power saving function with a core voltage that can vary from 1.2V to 1.6V. The CPU has a 96KB L1 cache and has the Northbridge functions integrated. The Crusoe is paired with the ALi Super South M1535 that handles the IO functions including IDE and USB support. The embedded OS, which can be either Transmeta's Midori Linux or Windows CE, is stored on 32MB of internal flash memory. SDRAM memory is available from 128MB to 256MB. Larger OS installations can be used if they are put on an external drive or on a compact flash card or IBM Microdrive. There is no internal hard drive, however support for the IBM Microdrive and compact flash memory is included. The screen is an 8.4" TFT touchscreen which runs at 800X600X16. The pad also includes a small speaker and microphone. A headphone jack and USB ports and an infrared port are also provided. Power comes either via the included power cord, lithium battery, or the optional base charger. An attempt to open the pad was made, but proved to be more difficult than expected so no pictures of internal components are provided. Below are the specifications as provided by FIC. Item Feature DIMENSION 274mm(L) X 164mm(W) X 26.7mm(H) WEIGHT 1.15 Kg PROCESSOR Transmeta Crusoe TM5400 / 500MHz oe Core Voltage support of 1.2V to 1.6V oe I/O Voltage support for 2.5V and 3.3V oe Transmeta Long-Run function oe Cache L1: 96KB oe Northbridge integrated SOUTHBRIDGE ALi Super South M1535 MEMORY SO-DIMM Support, Default 128MB SDRAM 64bit data bus, non ECC support Max system memory support: 256MB STORAGE CompactFlash 32MB/64MB/128MB/256MB MicroDrive support 1GB (CF Type) DISPLAY TFT-LCD 8.4h, 800X600 color. With Touchscreen BATTERY / LIFE 3600mA, 7.2V, 4-cell Panasonic Lithium battery. Battery Life: 2.8 ~ 3.5 hours Battery charge time: 2 hours - must Gas Gauge Support (bq2050H) POWER ADAPTER 36W Max, 100-240V Output Voltage : 12V, 3A Dimension: 105mm(L) X 60mmX 30mm(H) EXPANSIONS One CardBus PCMCIA Type II One Compact Flash (IDE available now) INPUT / OUTPUT & CONNECTORS One DC in power jack Two Standard USB ports (Host) One Audio jack for Line out (3D Audio) One Build-in Speaker 1 Watt One Build-in Microphone One IrDA 1.1 (FIR 4Mbps) One Cradle Connector SWITCHES Power Switch (slide) x 1 Brightness Button x 2 (Up and Down) Volume Button x 2 (Up and Down) LED INDICATOR Support for three LEDs : 1 (Left) for Suspend: Blinking and Off (Yellow) 1 (Middle) for Power: On and Off (Green) 1 (Right) for Charger: Blinking for Battery Low, On for DC-in Charging, and Off for others (Amber) BLUETOOTH (Optional) USB dongle module UART interface support by v2.0 (next version) Case Material Magnesium Alloy O/S Midori (Mobile Linux), WinCE 3.0 ACCESSORIES Userfs Manual Stylus Pen AC Power Adapter with power cord Cradle (Optional) -Power charging function -Additional socket for battery unit recharging -Auto priority circuit for system recharging Carry Bag AGENCY LISTING EMC: FCC / CE Safety: UL / C-UL / TUV PACKING Single Packing including : -AquaPAD system unit (with a plastic protection cover) -AC Power Adapter with power Cord -Userfs manual -Carry Bag

Aw, man, FIC?!?

[Anonymous Coward]

C'mon, FIC? Transmeta couldnt find a better partner than that?!?

Geez, FIC sucks. Everything FIC touches turns to shit!

I've had two FIC motherboards (a VA-503+, a K6/Socket7 motherboard, and a SD-11) and they were both the most rotten, buggy, broken-as-designed examples of crappitude you could possibly imagine. Dozens of BIOS flashes later, and they still havent fixed the bugs. As motherboard manufacturers go, FIC is the bottom of the barrel. FIC's the sort of company that use the "rush a half-done design to market, fix it later" paradigm. Bleah.

I suppose it serves me right for buying two of them - had to be the first one on the block with a K7 - no one else had any problems making a stable K7 motherboard. (except fsckin' FIC, of course)