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Tiqit Handheld PC
ParisTG sent us: "Tiqit Computers unveiled the eightythree, basically a handheld PC (as in IBM compatible). It will even boot Linux. Comes with 128-256MB RAM, 266-300MHz, 640x480 18bit screen, and a 10GB hard drive. The brochure with images (pdf) is online."
Looking through the specs, one sees that the unit only has a four-inch screen
Displays are typically measured diagonally. By Pythagoras's right triangle theorem, the diagonal measure of the display is equivalent to 800 pixels, and on a four-inch display, that's 200 dpi.
certain Windows or X controls will be downright lilliputian
Typically, Windows and X controls are drawn to look good between 72 dpi and 96 dpi, but that's configurable in most theme engines. Set up large fonts (in Windows, do Control Panel > Display > Settings tab > Advanced... > General tab > 192 dpi), and you have a very readable display. Throw in ClearType, and you pretty much have print equivalent resolution.
Will I retire or break 10K?
yes you can... you'll have to decide between a new bmw 6 series or your beloved head mounted display (a HUD would be stupid with this device) because of the silly resolution requirements. but if you are willing to come down to reality... you can buy a color 640x480 Head mounted display for around $900.00 easily. check the wearable computing sites for information on how and where to buy. (wearables.org is a good start) most everyone who uses a HUD or wearable would puke at the idea of wating resources and money and processing power for such a silly requirement (where you gonna get a pc-104 formfactor Geforce3 to run that?)
a bit of advice from one of thsoe that have had a wearable computer for over 4 years now (built my first in late 1998) quit setting requirements that are silly and you'll get more enjoyment out of life. I still use my circa 1995 head mounted display that is text only, and uses a vibrating mirror and a row of red led's to produce a nice crisp display that is easily readable when I am focusing on something other than the display
Oh, a 50column text display is your best choice for data display while moving or not paying specific attention to the data display... and this is the only real reason to wear a Head mounted display... data overlay onto your vision.
If you want one to look cool... dont... it doesn't look cool.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Please consider that this ``handheld'' has dimensions of 5.4" x 4" x 1.1" and a weight of 20oz (567g). This is neither something like a palmtop (except for very large palms) nor one of these slim notebooks. While it is without question quite some achievement to squeeze all this stuff into this format, you might still wonder if it is practical.
I don't see where using an operating system designed for large screen use is going to be very efficient on that tiny thing. Neither do I see where you're going to get more than 4 seconds of battery life out of that thing just judging by the hardware components and the size/weight remaining for actual battery.
:P
I think it's neat, don't get me wrong. I just don't think it's practical. Not by a longshot.
I must also sieze this opportunity to point out something that nags me about slashdot. I've said it before and I'll say it again - this site and it's readers are looking through Linux-colored glasses at the world. This gets annoying to the readers who don't actually use it. Case in point - the submitter doesn't say what OS the device uses, but he does say that it can run Linux. Frankly I rather doubt we'd even be discussing it here if it didn't. "Slashdot: We like Linux. Not much else" would be a more accurate tag-line to appear at the top of each page.
And yet I love you guys anyhow.
You like your Macintosh better than me, don't you Dave? Dave? Can you hear me Dave?