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Transmeta Powered High-End Portable?
NETHED writes: "CNet is running a
story on the oQo (Very flash heavy) ultra portable computer. 'Along with Windows XP, it will come with a 5800 Crusoe processor from Transmeta, a 10GB hard drive, 256MB of memory, connection ports for FireWire and USB (universal serial bus), and wireless networking connections through either WiFi or Bluetooth.' Sounds like a winner, considering they want it to cost LESS than 1000USD. Now, only if this didn't sound like vaporware."
This device sounds pretty cool. However, I think Transmeta is going to have a hard time penetrating the corporate market which seems to be where the profits are. Big corporations are so pro-Intel, it makes it tough for the AMDs and Transmetas of the world.
"The screen measures just four inches in diameter"
How is diameter useful in describing a rectangular screen? Did I learn a different defintion of diameter from everyone else, or is this just very poor writing? I know it can be used for shapes other than circles, but I don't think this use is right.
I hate these putzes who get to write reviews of cool stuff but really have no writing or tech credentials (I submit to you those 2 clowns on zdnet, josh taylor or john something, 2 retards to do piss-poor reviews on cool, new products)
"We see this as 'This is your only computer,'" said Colin Hunter, executive vice president of OQO. "It isn't a PDA (personal digital assistant). With this device you can dock it in and it is your PC."
I don't see this as my only computer... I just see it as taking up where handhelds leave off. Anyone remember the Apple Newton? That's what I want in a handheld. A fully functional computer with great battery life. I'm not looking for a desktop replacement ("portable desktop" might be more accurate) since I need a desktop for a lot of what I do. I'm not looking for a Palm/WinCE device, since I want more features than they offer. I'm looking for an instant-on, compact, take-anywhere, digital notebook. I'm out to replace pens and paper.
--Bennett Prescott
Former Lord Of Packets
Well, I'm sure they wanted to put a larger hard drive in the unit but since they are using the small hard drive from Toshiba (the one that comes in the iPod) I don't think they had much of a choice what with only 5 and 10 gig versions.
Regardless, this thing seems pretty well connected. With that connectivity, why not store your mp3's on an external drive/system? Then you can just stream your music via samba or http or something to the device? You could probably have a small (1 gig or so) "cache" of your favorite songs at the time. I'd love to have an mp3 player with a built in 802.11[a|b] card. My home and my workplace have wireless internet access so I'd just need an hour or so of music for the commute and such.
Looks like a pretty cool device but I'd want to see if the small screen is crisp enough to read and browse the web with.
Geoffeg
The concept is still interesting. From what I gathered from the article, what they want this thing to do is make this your 'one computer'. So when you're at home, dock it and a big screen monitor and keyboard and mouse are all up and running. When you go somewhere, undock it and take it with you.
I find this concept interesting. I have both a desktop and a laptop, and to tell you the truth I'm a little sick of trying to keep everything sync'd. There are some apps where the laptop excels for it's mobility, and then there's my desktop which is just a better layout for woking in.
Coming from the point of view of 'All you need is this device' instead of using a PDA as an accessory to my computer, I'd say it's a pretty cool idea.
As for XP, I remember a while back they announed some sort of interface for XP that was geared for Television. The idea was that the buttons had to be big and tuned to the app that it was running. Presumably, this type of interface would also facilitate using Windows XP in lower resolution modes, including that of a PDA. If that's the case, then this device may take advantage of that functionality.
As for the apps, I think you have a good point. Existing apps may behave kind of funny on it. I'm curious if they'll have to wedge IE into the smaller form factor, of if they have some other trick up their sleeve.
"Derp de derp."
I'm not saying the concept isn't interesting, but I don't think the concept works in the long-run.
I personally like the idea that I have all of my information on 2 or 3 different physical devices. It makes crashes and hardware failures less catastophic...(if I drop my palm pilot, I don't lose all of my financial information)
Which brings me to another point, some things I keep on my desktop I don't want/need on a Handheld.
As for the idea of the 4inch screen, I have to belive that they are limited to current consumer grade LCD technology which limits a 4 inch screen to no larger than ~400x400 which, for this OS would be awkward at best...
Anyone who has tried to use a 640x480 screen resolution recently knows the pain involved in using any resolution under 800x600 (and in some cases 1024x768).
I don't think that this is a very modular design...and for most ppl, that is a big benefit of having a desktop... Now, looking at the thickness of the unit, I'ld also have to belive that the notebook dock would be thicker than most notebooks. Which brings me to an interesting point...Even though it's supposed to be light, the thing looks damned thick for a handheld.
Notebooks did this for a while, but they all kinda died...there are some residual things like port replicators that came out of it, but the idea of a notebook that docks to form a complete desktop kinda died. One reason is that the combined cost was more expensive than buying 2 seperate units and the fact that notebooks kind of matured into the equivalent of a desktop.
- Windows XP
- 5800 Crusoe processor
- 10GB hard drive
- 256MB of memory
- connection ports for FireWire and USB
Which of those make this a "high end" portable? Hell, you can get iBooks with better specs than that. It must be the price that makes it 'high-end'.