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AlphaSmart Shows Palm-Based Laptop
krswan writes: "AlphaSmart, which has built proprietary 'mini-laptops' for education in the past, has released a Palm Compatible device with a full keyboard, built in rechargeable batteries, 2 USB ports, and two Secure Digital and Multimedia Card compatible slots - all for $399. It is only about 2 lbs and the screen resolution is 560X160. As a teacher, I would love 30 or so for my classroom. More details at the Dana website." It's basically still more a glorified keyboard (like the older AlphaSmart products) than a laptop, but that's not a bad thing.
I would think a bunch of thin-clients would make more sense than these suckers -- the spec pages seem to show that they are more geared toward PDA-similar stuff -- store appointments and the like
would be nice to have somebody remind me when that next physics test would be, though
My life in the land of the rising sun.
As a writer, working for a magazine or even writing heavier stuff than articles, it might be a nice alternative, or addition to a laptop.
At least if batteries are any longer lasting than the average laptop (i.e. 3 hours)...
My favourite device for younger children would have to be the tablet. These little devices are all fine and good, but a tablet can use either an attached keyboard or pen with a monitor size considerably larger than these tiny screens.
:)
And they're pretty cheap for what you get
Sincerely,
-Matt
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I owned an HPC Pro. The problem was not that they offered too little. The problem was that they offered too much. It's all about the operating system.
The entire point of a PDA or an ultraportable is instant-on, rapid data access and entry. My Palm IIIe used to do that, but I wanted a bigger display, so I got a Vadem Clio. What a dog! Windows CE HPC Pro 2.0 was just a Windows 95 clone, complete with Start menu, Word, Excel, etc.
Who wants to use a PDA or an instant-on device where your information is stored in databases and files that have to be copied around with Windows exporer? Where you have to treat your CompactFlash card as a hard drive, double-tapping on my computer, then double-tapping on the drive icon to see the files there? Not to mention that Windows CE could reliably be expected to crash once a day.
Someone would want to give me a bit of contact information. "Wait!" I'd say, and I'd hit the power switch, then tap Start -> Programs -> Pocket Outlook -> Contacts, then I'd wait for the little spinning hourglass while the Pocket Outlook contacts manager started... Then I'd finally be writing the information in, and suddenly I'd say "oops, hold on" and I'd have to turn the machine over, stick the stylus into the reset hole because the thing had crashed... then it was time to wait for a reboot... This is not what a PDA or ultraportable laptop is supposed to be like!
I imagine a Palm-based unit with a full-size keyboard will do quite well. I used to own a TRS-80 Model 100 and, as another poster has already pointed out, it was quite a nice machine for writing, reporting, etc. on the go.
As for me, I am now using dead technology -- a Newton 2100 -- whose operating system is so far ahead of Palm and PocketPC that it makes your heart sink to realize how long it will take other platforms to catch up -- and whose carry-along keyboard is actually quite small and quite nice. I only hope that my Newton (and its two spares) last long enough to see the day when a true successor emerges.
STOP . AMERICA . NOW
Well at 399 you can buy almost a Pocket PC which makes it more attractive since I would need the xtra memory. Then if I want a laptop replacement I will get a Fujitsu tablet Pc or something like that. And even in designtechnica.com have some review on a laptop replacent that at least run WindowsXP for less than 1000, not to mention that you can get a IBM Thinkpad for $600 at http://app.infopia.com
The JZA