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."

Comments

needs more storage...

[mikey504]

OK, so it doesn't really *need* it, but why not?

Is the storage solid state? (I can't get the article right now). If not, it seems like they could double the storage without impacting the price. Maybe these are "old" specs?

This + MMORPGs

[RollingThunder]

This could have a very interesting effect on MMORPG players. Why ever disconnect (unless your internet access fees are exorbitant)? Just pull it from your station at home, play on the bus/carpool to work, and then stash it in your drawer, checking frequently that your macros are still working properly.

I know I'd find it incredibly usefuly in WW2Online, for those moments I notice a weakness in the front, and just five minutes of game time could make a difference!

... Something similar?

[Anonymous Coward]

The Fujitsu P-Series:
Transmeta 5800
256M ram
20Gig drive
Available with optional builtin wireless
Builtin firewire, ethernet, modem, usb, s-video out and optical digital audi out
builtin (removable) DVD drive / burner
3.5 pounds...
Runs Linux...

Stock Motherboard?

[mac123]

Sounds remarkably like the machine I'm typing from now:

http://www.fujitsupc.com/www/products_notebooks.sh tml?products/notebooks/p2000

With less hard disk and no CDRW/DVD

Re:Stock Motherboard?

[mac123]

Actually, its 50% more money, and that is easily explainable due to the removal of the CDRW/DVD drive, smaller disk and smaller screen..all else is identical "spec-wise"

As for the size, when you dump the CDRW (1//2 the length of the machine) and shrink the screen and use a 1.8" hard drive (instead of 2.5"), you get the aforementioned device.

Oh..and you can order it with 802.11B wireless integrated.

Also check the Sony Picturebook for size/specs.

I sincerely think it is a stock motherboard someone has put together.

Human interfaces are the size bottleneck

[m_evanchik]

The real bottleneck to shrinking computers are no longer really the actual chips and disks. These are getting smaller and lighter and more energy efficient (well, at least the first two anyway).

What has not been effectively shrunk yet is the areas of human interface. The input (mouse and keyboard) and output (computer screen)

On the input size, cameras and microphones are shrinking, so these may be useful. On the output side, I know there are small screens out there, but to get real work done, you often need a big screen area.

MobilePro 7xx series sized

[SylvesterTheCat]

Make it the size of Mobilepro 7xx family and now we have something to talk about as far as a "desktop replacement."

Better yet. Make a lower-end one that has less ram, flash storage instead of a HD and configure processor to emulate a StrongArm. (IIRC, one of the strengths of the Crusoe is that it can emulate other architectures, although I may be wrong.)

Give the user the option of either PalmOS 5.0 or PPC 3.0. Drop the price a bit so that it is competitive with HP Jornada 720. Give the slightly larger form factor of the Mobilepro size (keyboard / screen), it then becomes a viable alternative for a lot of people to a full-blown laptop.

Advantages compared to Palm-sized PDAs:
better keyboard / screen usability

Advantages compared to laptop:
instant on
longer battery life
smaller overall size / less weight
lower cost

Sure you wouldn't be able to carry it in your shirt / pants pocket, but so what? Like I'm going to carry anything that cost me over a couple hundred dollars in my shirt pocket. Put it in your briefcase, shoulder bag, whatever.

I'd buy one.