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Indian Linux PDA For $300

raj2569 writes "Business Line is reporting that kaii (hand in South Indian languages), a Linux PDA to hit the market in Oct. Based on Hitachi SH7727 @ 160MHz, with 64 MB SDRAM, 32 MB Flash, 3.5" Colour TFT (320x240x64k-16 bit) and USB host controller, the device looks cool. The monochrome will be priced at $200"

191 comments

  1. USB Host Controller! by DJPenguin · · Score: 1

    That's one thing I wish my ipaq had. (Running linux of course)

    I really want to be able to connect my Archos MP3 player to my ipaq to be able to use it as a removable hard drive, but, they are both USB-slaves... :(

    1. Re:USB Host Controller! by ackthpt · · Score: 1

      Hmm. how about accessing a USB harddrive? :-) There's some small USB drives, about $160 for 20GB, seems like a nice combination.

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    2. Re:USB Host Controller! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's a thingie which lets you run some USB Host interfaces through TCP/IP. Linux soon.

    3. Re:USB Host Controller! by hexdcml · · Score: 1

      you do mean USB 2.0 right or FireWire... since USB is way too slow. I mean, I even think copying stuff onto my iPod takes too long ;-) I dread to think what USB 1.0 would be like

      --
      Fight Crime - Shoot Back!
  2. Hmmm by Mr_Silver · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Based on Hitachi SH7727 @ 160MHz, with 64 MB SDRAM, 32 MB Flash, 3.5" Colour TFT (320x240x64k-16 bit) and USB host controller, the device looks cool. The monochrome will be priced at $200.

    With a specification and price like that, it makes the new Palm Zire look rather overpriced wouldn't you say?

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    1. Re:Hmmm by Target+Drone · · Score: 2
      With a specification and price like that, it makes the new Palm Zire [palm.com] look rather overpriced wouldn't you say?

      Especially when you consider that you can't necessarily trust the Palm specifications.

      I think Palm really hurt their reputation as well as the rest of the industries with that move. It's sad but the first thing I thought of when I saw that the Kaii has 16 bit color was "Gee, I wonder if it really does have 16 bit color or if they're just fudging the specs".

    2. Re:Hmmm by suman28 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      When you make a product in a developing country, with such cheap labor and parts, them can certainly make a cheap product. Now ask, what $300 means for the Indian market and most will say "way too expensive".

    3. Re:Hmmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Add to that the fact that they're including Linux, Windows and Mac OSX sync software!

      Looks like a damn fine product, seems like the China and India are starting to offer some competition to the west.

    4. Re:Hmmm by fault0 · · Score: 2

      > with such cheap labor and parts, them can certainly make a cheap product

      Except that most PDA's are made in developing countries, heh. My ipaq was made in Malaysia (which is only semi-developing granted).

      > Now ask, what $300 means for the Indian market and most will say "way too expensive".

      What market are they selling these in? If it's available in the US, I might be interested.

    5. Re:Hmmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Geez, if India with over one billion people is still a developing country I would hate to see what it will be like when it is fully grown.

    6. Re:Hmmm by twalk · · Score: 1

      I've got a Sony 615, and can attest to the fact that even though it has "true 16-bit color", I get really bad color seperation. So bad, that my old 8-bit color IIIc gives superior color. Even my friend's m130 (the device that you're knocking) gives better color. This is normal for a 615. (So why hasn't Sony been knocked about this?)

      Don't put any faith at all in any PDA screen from any manufactuer. You really have to check it out yourself.

    7. Re:Hmmm by aseem_asthana · · Score: 1

      I don't think that developing means the population. If that were the case China would be considered developing.

  3. Awww, someone had to say it by Karna · · Score: 1

    ..... pretty cool, you've got to hand it to these guys

    --
    All weakness is within you, As is all courage.
  4. a real picture... by vermicious · · Score: 2, Insightful

    and not an artists conception would be nice...

    1. Re:a real picture... by Rik+van+Riel · · Score: 2

      Yup, I wouldn't buy one before it's being produced, either.

      However, this does look like a nice project to watch and I wouldn't mind having one of these nice little toys to eg. read documentation, source code or even email while on the plane ;)

  5. They left out the most important information.... by jcrb · · Score: 1


    Which Linux release are they using????? :-)

    --
    -jon
  6. Interesting, but... by El+Pollo+Loco · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I fail to see how people in India can afford to drop 200(or 300 if you read the title of the article) on a PDA, considering last time I was there, most of my familys electricity was turned off at 9pm. And while the website claims to be a low cost alternative for India and others, it does not include hindi as a native language(it must be developed).

    1. Re:Interesting, but... by monadicIO · · Score: 1

      You're assuming that India is necessarily the only market.

      --

      The law of excluded middle : Either I'm foo or I'm foobar

    2. Re:Interesting, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Actually, you'd be amazed at the sheer number of people in the middle class in India. Many of the middle class are businessmen or professionals who buy electronics in the range of $100-$1000 (Indian Rs. 5000 to Rs. 50,000). They may not replace the electronic as often (I know several people who are still happy with PII-400s there), but they certainly are able and willing to afford the one time purchases of these items.

    3. Re:Interesting, but... by grumpygrodyguy · · Score: 1, Troll

      Actually, you'd be amazed at the sheer number of people in the middle class in India

      Yes, the middle class in India is booming almost as quickly as it's diminishing in the US. I wonder if there's a correlation?

      --
      The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky
    4. Re:Interesting, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is an excellent start. There is absolutely no need for inclusion of hindi or any other local language. Even if 10% of the literate population in India can use it, that is 35 million people and will go a long way towards making life much easier for a huge percentage of the population. Much like a significant portion of internet users in India use internet cafes (15c/hour) to access the internet, if this pda product serves a need, multiple mechanisms will evolve to make it cheaply available to a lot of people.

      Its a good thing they didn't bother wasting time porting to hindi etc and pandering to all sorts of unimaginative stuck up linguistic chauvinists. Those who are imaginative will learn to make the most of what is available, while those who are not will keep whining endlessly.

    5. Re:Interesting, but... by pubjames · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I fail to see how people in India can afford to drop 200(or 300 if you read the title of the article) on a PDA

      Well, last time I was in India I met several software engineers that had worked in the USA and had moved back to India because they said the standard of living was better and that they were relatively better off working in India than they were in the USA!

      India is a big place with a massive population. Even if only a small percentage are wealthy enough for electronics toys, that's still a huge market.

    6. Re:Interesting, but... by IndependentVik · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Not including hindi shouldn't hurt the PDA too badly. Almost all the educated folks who can afford to drop $300 on a PDA already know english. Watch some Indian tv and movies sometime--knowing english is considered chic. Movies aren't my only source of information on this topic, of course; both of my parents are from the subcontinent.

      --
      I'd suggest you don't use Slashdot as your only news source, or you will suffer permanent brain damage.
    7. Re:Interesting, but... by jilles · · Score: 3, Insightful

      There's more than a billion indians. Most of them indeed are not very rich but there's a sizeable, though relatively small, upperclass that can afford this kind of stuff. Considering the unicode abilities of the device, they can always ship versions for other countries (e.g. china, middle east, etc.).

      --

      Jilles
    8. Re:Interesting, but... by pubjames · · Score: 2

      Its a good thing they didn't bother wasting time porting to hindi etc and pandering to all sorts of unimaginative stuck up linguistic chauvinists.

      Ha! That's funny. Let me guess... English is your first language isn't it? And it's probably your only language..?

    9. Re:Interesting, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hindi aint the only language in india (theres about thirty) - just the official one. There's no point in spending time on just Hindi anyway

    10. Re:Interesting, but... by hey! · · Score: 2

      India has a billion people; the middle class is, if I recall correctly, comparable to size to the middle class in the US, although relatively less as a proportion of the population.

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
    11. Re:Interesting, but... by frodo+from+middle+ea · · Score: 2, Informative
      considering last time I was there, most of my familys electricity was turned off at 9pm.

      only if u stay in some remote village. INmy home town bombay, the worst of the worst black outs last for about 2-3 hours and happen very rarely like once or twice a year.

      Also in india , most of the schooling is done in english. the regional languages and nationl language hindi is only tought in schools. Once you are in high school or college, preety much most of your education is in english, unless you are studying languages.

      Almost all scientific education is in english. So if you meet an indian, chances are that if he is educated, he will know english. If he is not educated, why would he need a PDA for any way ?

      --
      for the last time people, I am "frodo from middle eaRTH", not "middle eaST".
    12. Re:Interesting, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      ...it does not include hindi as a native language

      The article mentions that this is a South Indian product. Hindi is more common in the north. Also, "Kaii" is Telegu... so if anything, that's what should be supported.

      For those that don't know too much about India, every state (for the most part) has it's own regional language. But most people know English as a second language, and it's commonly used to communicate with others from other states. (India, BTW, has the world's largest English-speaking population) The fact that this palmtop is in English, allows it's use throughout the country... and allows for a useful export product. The fact that it doesn't support Hindi (yet) seems to me to be a pretty minor issue.

    13. Re:Interesting, but... by fault0 · · Score: 3, Informative

      > it does not include hindi as a native language(it must be developed).

      Who cares about Hindi. I'm of Indian origin, and most of my family back home (especially older folks) can't speak Hindi well (only understand it), but can speak English and Bengali (their native language) proficiantly. In cities like Calcutta (where they're from), English is used in buisnesses as much, if not more than Hindi is.

      > considering last time I was there, most of my familys electricity was turned off at 9pm

      Heh, it's better in some places than others. At least all villages are close to being electrified (plan is to by 2007).

    14. Re:Interesting, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Are you sure it is only Telegu? It is Tamil too. Perhaps it has the same meaning in Kannada and Malayalam too.

    15. Re:Interesting, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good, let those rag heads get out of Silicon Valley and shit all over themselves. I wish all of them would leave for that better quality of living.

      I wonder if their PDAs smell as bad as them?

    16. Re:Interesting, but... by vvenka1 · · Score: 1

      I know a few indians who shelled out $700 on a monochrome palm V. I think $300 is far cheaper for all the indians(~20%) who can afford.

    17. Re:Interesting, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Qtopia, the software used for the GUI, is fully Unicode based and has runtime translation (i18n), so adding Hindi support would not be poarticularly difficult.

      Of course, there are probably more people who can read and write English in India than in England, so it isn't going to hinder the marketability of the product.

  7. I'll wager that this... by FFFish · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...curries favour with the Slashdot crowd.

    [groan!]

    --

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    Don't like it? Respond with words, not karma.
    1. Re:I'll wager that this... by zobo · · Score: 1

      But one of the most important questions is unaddressed: is the architecture big-Indian or little-Indian?

      --
      83chrise.nuf
    2. Re:I'll wager that this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's big-Endian and little-Endian, dumkopf.

    3. Re:I'll wager that this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, I'm real sure he didn't know that.

    4. Re:I'll wager that this... by BigBadBri · · Score: 1

      Expect the overclockers to come out with the KAII Vindaloo anytime soon.

      Other options - the Tandoori (in a bright red case), the Korma (running Windoze emulation for the English taste), and the ultimate - the Beowulf banquet of these...

      --
      oh brave new world, that has such people in it!
  8. mandrake 9.0 full install. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is confirmed by reliable resources.(Mr. Patel in the cube next to me.)

  9. Silicon valley? by lamz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Look out U.S./Canada/Japan! Is this the first of a flood of new products to come out of India?

    Luckily for me, I believe in capitalism, and I say the more the merrier.

    --

    Mike van Lammeren
    It will challenge your head, your brain, and your mind.

    1. Re:Silicon valley? by hey! · · Score: 3, Informative

      This doesn't seem likely to me. It'd come from China.

      The kind of manufacturing jobs that used to go to countries like India are pretty much all moving to China, where ironically, labor protections are weaker. My H1B friends say that many of their buddies from college have gone to southeast china to provide the brains for these operations.

      Coincidentally, I was listening to an NPR report on the potential impact of the west coast port lockout on Christmas toy sales. The interviewer asked a toy businessman which countries ship toys to the US retailers like Walmart, Toys-R-Us etc. His answer: "100% from China".

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
    2. Re:Silicon valley? by hahnar · · Score: 1

      i'm indian. the minds in india are amazing. it's really to bad about the poverty. i really hope for the best for this device.

      --
      what happened to spell check? please decode the above comment to your best ability.
  10. non-professional website. by garcia · · Score: 3, Informative

    I am less likely to purchase a PDA at $300 when the website is mostly "Under Construction".

    It has great features like MS Office compatible Office Suite (that I have never heard of), ability to Sync w/several OSs, and import info into PIMs like Outlook.

    Problem is I didn't see a CF card slot (for wlan and extra storage) and the site itself being pretty much scary.

    I would rather spend the money and purchase a new iPaq. Those are rock solid and have a long history of serving their users well.

    That's my worthless .02

    1. Re:non-professional website. by joyoflinux · · Score: 1

      I agree; the only sections I saw that were not under construction was news, hardware & software, and a very skimpy FAQ...Remember the saying, "If it looks too good to be true, it probably is." I'm not accusing the company of anything, but just beware when buying things like this from less well-known companies..

    2. Re:non-professional website. by rillian · · Score: 3, Informative

      Problem is I didn't see a CF card slot (for wlan and extra storage) and the site itself being pretty much scary.

      The hardware page says it has both an SD (flash) and CF2 slots. The site isn't that under construction.

    3. Re:non-professional website. by robotbrain · · Score: 1

      The article is also dated August 19. I really hope this isn't vapourware as I think every PDA should have a USB port. The SD + Compact Flash is a real bonus also!

  11. But... by Chagatai · · Score: 3, Funny
    all of these PDAs use Daler Mehndi for their startup sound.

    --
    --Chag
  12. Mirror of Business Line Article by Steve+Cowan · · Score: 3, Informative

    It took over 10 mins to load, presumably due to /. effect, so here it is:

    ---
    Infomart's Kaii to reach out in Oct
    Chitra Phadnis

    BANGALORE, Aug. 19

    AN Indian kaii (hand) will reach out to touch the global hardware market when Infomart, a Bangalore-based company, releases a PDA (personal digital assistant) to the developer community in October.

    The hand-held device named Kaii will be the first PDA to be designed and developed in the country.

    In an unusual reversal of roles, the hardware design for the product comes from India and the software comes from US-based Lineo. Kaii is based on Lineo's Embedix, an embedded Linux operating system.

    Infomart is in exalted company. Kaii is only the second product of its kind in the world. The first one happens to be the Zaurus PDA from Sharp of Japan, which has recently become commercially available.

    The Kaii is pitted against Palm Inc's Palm Pilot and Microsoft's PocketPC.

    "We are low on prices and high on features," said Mr Devesh Agarwal, Managing Director, Infomart. While the commercial launch of Kaii may only happen sometime in March next year, he estimated that the monochrome version would be available "under Rs 10,000" and the colour version around Rs 15,000. (Sharp's Zaurus retails for $450.)

    The "pocket PC at the price of a Palm" hopes to sell at least 50,000 units next year globally.

    It will be more than a consumer device and is being targeted at the enterprise segment, Mr Matthew Harris, President and CEO, Lineo told Business Line.

    Infomart sees potential customers in vertical markets such as insurance, where agents may need to carry a portable computing device. Compared to notebooks, which are priced upwards of Rs 70,000, the Kaii becomes a significantly low-cost alternative.

    "We have very aggressive power management features," said Mr C.T. Arul, Chief Technology Officer at Infomart and the brain behind Kaii.

    The multimedia Kaii is `double byte enabled', which means that it can support any language in the world. Like a laptop, various devices such as printers, keyboards, external hard disk drives and so on can plug into it.

    The Lineo-Infomart partnership offers another unique feature - that of mass customisation. Users can choose hardware and components according to their requirements, bringing down prices further.

    What's more, the Kaii could become much more than just a PDA. With the same hardware design, the screen can be customised to create wall-mounted information boards at airports and railway stations, according to Mr Agarwal.

    It could turn into an Internet information kiosk or even a digital billboard (though a slightly expensive one, he admitted).

    The original Kaii fits into the hand and is the same size as Sharp's Zaurus.

    Infomart plans to contract-manufacture it through local and global partners. The second version, a wireless-enabled product with GPRS and GSM built into it, is on the cards.

  13. $300? by mao+che+minh · · Score: 1

    300 bucks? Great googaa moongaa. Well, I didn't check the link that was provided, so I don't know the answer to a question that I should have asked before making the following comment, but, if it's interface is in English, I'm buying one.

    1. Re:$300? by clutch110 · · Score: 2, Informative

      A Sharp Zaurus 5500 doesn't sell for much more, being able to find it easily for about $340.

      The Zaurus is also on the market today and has been out for a while, so has had a bit of public exposure.

  14. Re:They left out the most important information... by SomeoneGotMyNick · · Score: 3, Informative

    Looks like Trolltech's Qtopia and Jeode Java

    Just like what is in my Zaurus. The screenshot and specs confirm it.

  15. Minor problem.... by jcrb · · Score: 1

    The shipments from India would come into to west coast ports....... eventually.

    --
    -jon
    1. Re:Minor problem.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >The shipments from India would come into to west coast ports....... eventually.

      Ship it to Europe first. Then across the pond.

      I suspect that it is cheaper to ship it through either the Suez canal, or around the horn of africa, to the East coast, than shipping it to the west coast. [ And that is regardless of the current west coast lockout. ]

  16. second of its kind? by tongue · · Score: 1, Troll

    Infomart is in exalted company. Kaii is only the second product of its kind in the world. The first one happens to be the Zaurus PDA from Sharp of Japan, which has recently become commercially available.

    Only the second linux pda? what about the Yopy? And though it now seems to be defunct, the Agenda pda that was around awhile back?

  17. Lets do some math: by viper21 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    According to the article, the monochrome version will be available for "under Rs 10,000" and the colour version around Rs 15,000. We are given in the Slashdot post the information about the Monochrome Version being $200 us.

    Therefore:

    Monochrome = 10,000
    Color = 15,000

    Or, if:

    Monochrome = 10,000 x Y = $200

    then Y = .02

    And

    Color = 15,000 x .02 = 300

    So the color version of this handheld will be around $300 US. :-)

    -S

    1. Re:Lets do some math: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Right. That's what it says in the article title...

    2. Re:Lets do some math: by KUHurdler · · Score: 1

      Yeah, could somebody please tell me how much this pda costs? I can't find it anywhere.

      I I don't think I would ever pay more than... maybe... $300?

      --
      Fix Your Own TV - RiddledTV.com Avoid the Landfill
    3. Re:Lets do some math: by entrigant · · Score: 1

      Or you could make it really simple and realize 15,000 is 150% more than 10,000. Therefore 300 is 150% more than 200.

    4. Re:Lets do some math: by moonbender · · Score: 1

      LOL! I can't believe this got modded up as insightful. Although I'm sure the author posted with best intentions. :)

      --
      Switch back to Slashdot's D1 system.
    5. Re:Lets do some math: by radish · · Score: 2

      You could always, like, look up the FX rate yourself?

      --

      ---- Den ene knappen er powerknapp, den andre er Bender voice knapp "Bite My Shiny Metal Ass"

    6. Re:Lets do some math: by KUHurdler · · Score: 1

      hey dumbass, its called sarcasm...
      learn it

      --
      Fix Your Own TV - RiddledTV.com Avoid the Landfill
  18. Vendor Program by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny


    Can you buy them at the Quik E Mart?

    1. Re:Vendor Program by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      dont be a racist :)

  19. This could be the one... by Timmeh · · Score: 3, Interesting
    I've never been much for PDAs, mostly because I don't need one, but I'd spirng for one in a minute if it was cheap. That's why I'm looking into Palm's new Zire... only $100 and it looks decent enough. But this new PDA looks excellent, I code a little Java, so it would be a fun little thing to fool around on. And this is encouraging:
    The state of the Art and very aggressive Power Management system to ensure battery life of at least TWICE that of any PocketPC available today.
    Hell, for $200-B&W or $300-Color and decent battery life I'd jump for that.
  20. The company is a sham by peterdaly · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I wouldn't consider buying a PDA like this from a company who has 75% of the pages on their site "under construction" (animated gif and all) with pictures of their product being computer rendered 3-D models.

    Come on people! Whether this is a real product or not, it doesn't look to me like it has a cold chance in hell of taking off, the company just doesn't look like they have their act together properly. The "Agenda" had their act together a whole lot more than this company and the product went nowhere.

    -Pete

    1. Re:The company is a sham by Dr.+Smooth · · Score: 1

      Not only that, but if you're going to render 3D images of your product, at least use the Perspective filter on your fake-ass button icons! :-)

      --

      ...if you ask no questions, beware of lies...

    2. Re:The company is a sham by ites · · Score: 4, Informative

      Actually, there are enough sham companies with pretty and convincing websites to argue against this reasoning.
      Just because they have not spent time on their marketing does not mean their product is vapourware.
      It would cost you nothing to wait and see whether their product can live up to its specs before accusing them of being a 'sham'.
      Good products do not need fancy marketing (though it helps), and an cheap Indian PDA that actually works well would get enough publicity to compensate for even the poorest web site.

      --
      Sig for sale or rent. One previous user. Inquire within.
    3. Re:The company is a sham by peterdaly · · Score: 2

      No pictures of the real product gives me real cause for concern. You would think at this point in development they would at least have a prototype (working or not) they could get pictures of.

      Even with an otherwise poor website, they could have at least one real product photo.

      -Pete

    4. Re:The company is a sham by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, I'd be worried a lot more about the physical product shipping than it taking off. If it ships with the features mentioned I have a feeling that this might just become the choice PDA of the geek crowd. And if that happens I think the open source crowd will take care of it. Plus it has the advangtage of using the same software environment as the Zaurus, thus putting a smallish barrier to porting programs between it and the Kaii. If this ships, I'll be the first in line to pick one up, but like you I hold some doubts that the vapor will condense and soldify into a product that even remotely approaches the specs.

      -Mr. Lizardo

    5. Re:The company is a sham by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      WHERE might I find a PHOTO of Mr. Daly HISSELF, ho? YE! I cannot see a photographic rendering of your person, so I must thusly conclude that you, good sir, are a sham! Perhaps even a zombie, more probably an irregular droid brain of some sort.

      And Agenda didn't have their shit together at all.

    6. Re:The company is a sham by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How long was the transmeta site not showing anything before they 'went live'?

  21. Looks cool by dmouritsendk · · Score: 1

    But right now, its under-construction like 75% of kalii's website =D

  22. Before it gets slashdotted by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Here's the text of the Linux on the Kaii PDA page:

    Under Construction

  23. Hmm.. by ackthpt · · Score: 1
    Maybe I expect too much, but..

    Power Supply 1200 mAH Li-Polymer or Li-Ion re-chargeable battery. (is this a proprietary batter? I hate those and won't buy anything which requires them.)

    Multimedia: No sign of camera or IR.

    Most of the KAII.info site is still under construction, isn't this rather premature?

    Size, weight and other features look good and at an interesting price. How about a follow-up when their site is actually ready and can give us more information.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  24. Could they make it any harder... by Zakabog · · Score: 4, Funny

    While the commercial launch of Kaii may only happen sometime in March next year, he estimated that the monochrome version would be available "under Rs 10,000" and the colour version around Rs 15,000. (Sharp's Zaurus retails for $450.)

    It's good to know that the color version will be Rs 15,000 which is such a bargain compared to the $450 Sharp Zaurus, the 2,669 DKK (Denmark Kroner) Clie N760C or even the 78,903.50 SDD (Sudan Dinars) Palm m515.

    1. Re:Could they make it any harder... by radish · · Score: 1

      Yeah - comedy moment - others currencies exist beyond USD. Watch me laugh my ass off.

      --

      ---- Den ene knappen er powerknapp, den andre er Bender voice knapp "Bite My Shiny Metal Ass"

    2. Re:Could they make it any harder... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      hey retard
      the article compared the prices of two different PDAs in different currencies, instead of using a single one

      thats the joke

      and how the fuck is that post US centric?

    3. Re:Could they make it any harder... by rsidd · · Score: 2

      Uh, it's an Indian newspaper, with a mostly Indian readership, who'd know what the exchange rate is (roughly, $1 = Rs 48.40 these days). Round that to say $1 = Rs 50. That's well within the quick mental math capabilities of most Indians, since our classrooms haven't yet been taken over by graphing calculators.

  25. hide it under the mattress by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    but the real question is: does Palma Sutra come standard or would I have to download it?

    1. Re:hide it under the mattress by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Get a life moderators, just how is the parent insightful?

  26. Not to discredit the internals... by Shamanin · · Score: 1

    but, from a purely physical perspective, my garage door remote control has a sleeker looking outer shell.

    --
    come on fhqwhgads
  27. Link to $100 Palm by Nintendork · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Yes, I'm a karma whore. :) Link

  28. And it has a hotkey to nuke Pakistan! by SensitiveMale · · Score: 1

    Linux can do everything!

  29. Zaurus is 300 at bestbuy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why would I buy this ?! Next week it's gonna be 250 (rebaits -- midwest). Week ago it was 285 (clearance). It does't sell much in our bestbuy apparently.. But I'm happy to have baught 2.. I'm doing a pretty good biz on ebay with my Zarus's .. Supe them up with mem/update then sell.

    1. Re:Zaurus is 300 at bestbuy by moonbender · · Score: 2

      Woah. The Zaurus still goes for 460 Euros around here - for the Euro equivalent of 300 I'd already have bought one. :/

      --
      Switch back to Slashdot's D1 system.
  30. Site looks fine... by jsimon12 · · Score: 2

    The site doesn't really look under construction, and the specs are on the Hardware page.

    My issue is more the lack of a keyboard, I personally prefer to type, I can thumb key way faster then I can do Graffiti or whatever (all those years with my HP 200lx).

    Why don't we see more computers like the 200lx, which was basically a miniature PC (8088 1+ megs RAM) that ran off 2 AA's for a month or more, with PCMCIA exspansion etc etc etc.

    1. Re:Site looks fine... by numatrix · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Which is why you buy the afforementioned Zaurus. And oh yeah, did I mention they're almost as cheap as the Kaii's retail these days?

      In fact, a friend bought his Zaurus for 265USD+tax a week ago due to some price-matching trickery, rebates, and another special at Office Depot or Office Max (I forget which).

  31. Just get a Zaurus... by Whizard · · Score: 1

    This thing looks pretty much like the Sharp Zaurus - even running the same OS and desktop (palmtop?) system, probably with the same office suite and such. A Zaurus can be had for $340 easily, (I got mine for $313 at Wur^H^H^HBest Buy), and has a very handy finger keyboard, that this doesn't appear to have...why not just buy a Zaurus?

  32. Racial slurs on slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Am I alone in thinking that there have been an excessive number of racist and stereotypical views posted on this story? Is it a typical American perception of the indians that they all smell of curry and don't know how to wash? If I made a comment like that in a public setting here in Britain, for example in the workplace, I'm sure I would be subjected to disciplinary action, and if anything like that was published, I'm sure someone would try and have me prosecuted. Ok, I know that immigration from india to america is less than immigration from india to britain, and so there is a larger proportion of indians in our population, but this doesn't make it right, does it?

    1. Re:Racial slurs on slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You just don't get the new order of things. You just don't follow the news anymore or what we are doing back here. We hate anything that is not us. We do not associate with anything that we didn't create. We are self sufficent, we are one and greatest. We are good and everthing we do is for the good of us. We see the rest of the world as cockroaches crawling on maggot soup. We do our best to help these two reach Nirvana.

      In the past, the Germans built showers for the Jews. But here in this land, we build better things. We build massive bombs that would annhilate whole civiliations without need for giving them a courtisy shower. And we feel rightous. For GOD is with us. And always with us.

      Our word is the last word, we create the laws, our laws are the laws all have to follow. For those that do not follow our law, our wrath would come upon them.

      We are at war, our nation is at war, it's a never ending war, it would end when only one race stands proud and it would be an American race.

      God bless America.

      Pretty Satrically.

    2. Re:Racial slurs on slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Good Lord, I just poured hot curry down my pants reading that crap. You sir are truly blessed with words, why don't you run for governer in say... Minnesota?

    3. Re:Racial slurs on slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Imagine... Natlie Portman naked and petrified!! with hot curry all over her!

      OMG.

    4. Re:Racial slurs on slashdot by fault0 · · Score: 2

      > Am I alone in thinking that there have been an excessive number of racist and stereotypical views posted on this story?

      Yeah, that happens with any India-related things on slashdot.

      > but this doesn't make it right, does it?

      Well, I'm of Indian decent, and I live in the United States. In daily life, I've hardly ever gotten any of these kinds of "racist and stereotypical views". This being slashdot, which is pretty much anonymous, I don't really care.

      I think it happens especially in slashdot because people are angry that IT jobs are being shipped to India. As an American developer, I could be angry too, but I'm not. This is how capitalism works. The cycle repeats itself over and over again.

    5. Re:Racial slurs on slashdot by phliar · · Score: 2
      Am I alone in thinking that there have been an excessive number of racist and stereotypical views posted on this story? Is it a typical American perception of the indians that they all smell of curry and don't know how to wash?
      Never having lived in Britain I can't compare directly; but if anyone here in the US said any of those things, they'd (at the very least) be socially ostracised in any of the places I've lived. It's the anonimity of electronic discussions that seems to bring out people's worst tendencies.

      The Indian immigrant community in the US is mostly doctors and software folk -- i.e. rich people. People might even feel they can get away with trash talking about Mexican immigrants or black people, but not the rich. (That's sad when you think about it.)

      --
      Unlimited growth == Cancer.
    6. Re:Racial slurs on slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Indians don't BELONG in Britian period!! Time to learn some lessons from Austria's finest.

    7. Re:Racial slurs on slashdot by Jasn · · Score: 1
      Is it a typical view held by Britons that stereotypical posts on Slashdot are made by Americans?

      Not to answer a question with a question or anything.

    8. Re:Racial slurs on slashdot by shepd · · Score: 1

      >I'm sure someone would try and have me prosecuted.

      And that would be one of the reasons why America separated from you.

      Sorry, but it's true. America values its freedom far more than the hurt someone would receive from reading offensive text.

      --
      If you could be told what you can see or read, then it follows that you could be told what to say or think - BoC
    9. Re:Racial slurs on slashdot by BigBadBri · · Score: 1

      Most Indians living in Britain are far too well integrated, well mannered and sensible to be upset by any supposed racial slurs - certainly the few Indians that I know personally would quietly inform me that those comments ought really to be addressed to Pakistanis, rather than Indians.

      Now if you criticise a Pakistani in any way whatsoever...

      --
      oh brave new world, that has such people in it!
  33. Re:They left out the most important information... by Karamchand · · Score: 3, Informative

    Look at this page, it says there what releases it's using.
    HTH :-)

  34. Not for the Indian Market..... by jsimon12 · · Score: 3, Informative

    It doesn't seem like it is being developed for the Indian Mass market, read the specs. they haven't even developed Indian language support:

    Multi-lingual Standard language is English. German and French can be built-in at no additional cost but will require 32MB flash. Multi-lingual support via optional language packs for Arabic, Chinese (Mainland and Taiwan), German, Greek, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Thai, and Turkish which is available in Open-Source and/or Commercial versions. Indian language support can be developed.


    It looks to be marketed to English/French/German speaking countries. And yes I know most people who could afford this in India probably speak/read English, but you would think if you were developing for your own countries market that native language support would at least be considered (then again they speak a whole crapload of languages in India so which one do you do it in?).

    1. Re:Not for the Indian Market..... by pubjames · · Score: 4, Informative

      It doesn't seem like it is being developed for the Indian Mass market

      The level of language speaking in India is very high. Pretty much anyone who can afford one of these things will probably be able to speak English.

    2. Re:Not for the Indian Market..... by jsimon12 · · Score: 0, Troll

      Did you just read the first sentance and smack reply:

      It looks to be marketed to English/French/German speaking countries. And yes I know most people who could afford this in India probably speak/read English, but you would think if you were developing for your own countries market that native language support would at least be considered (then again they speak a whole crapload of languages in India so which one do you do it in?).

    3. Re:Not for the Indian Market..... by girish · · Score: 1

      Also, indian languages (I would expect them to do it in hindi, since that is the most common language next to english that is used through out india) aren't that easy to translate to a keyboard, or a palm. They would have to redesign their character reconization etc, I think that would push the price way above the 200-300 mark.

  35. Is anybody doing anything... by NanoGator · · Score: 2

    ...with a Linux PDA that cannot be done on a PocketPC or Palm?

    Just curious. The main reason that the Palm Pilot kicked the Newton's butt (in the marketplace that is) is because it focused on business uses rather than trying to make it a computer. Linux PDAs could fall into the same trap if they don't focus in a similar way.

    Microsoft realized this, that's why the PocketPC interface no longer acts like a Windows desktop like CE 3.0 did. If there's no compelling reason to use the Linux OS vs. PocketPC or Palm, this type of PDA could suffer a bad fate.

    --
    "Derp de derp."
    1. Re:Is anybody doing anything... by NDPTAL85 · · Score: 1

      Well if you want to be the first "l33t" PDA user on your block or you care a lot about software "Freedom" then yeah you need this PDA.

      If however you just want to get "work done" you're better off sticking to either a PalmOS or PocketPC PDA.

      --
      Mac OS X and Windows XP working side by side to fight back the night.
  36. only 1 feature missing by Lxy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This thing is pretty impressive. Truly, I only see one flaw.

    It's BUTT UGLY.

    The antequated Palm III that /. uses for an icon is trendier than this beige/off-white case that this thing uses.

    I'm still waiting for a PDA that comes in a titanium cae. Yes, I know I can buy one for $100 or so and put my PDA in it, but seriously... why make a geek toy that looks so ugly?

    --

    There is no reasonable defense against an idiot with an agenda
    :wq
    1. Re:only 1 feature missing by truenoir · · Score: 1

      Well, this isn't the first I've read on this. The device is not something that is meant for export, but rather to be an "affordable" computing device for India. I'd imagine that the case is being designed for cost effectiveness and durability over looking spiffy. Also, trendy here is not necessarily trendy in India. Or possibly they want it to appear as a non-luxury item. Somehow I doubt there's advanced marketing going on at this point, but it's hard to dismiss it entirely...

      Of course, there are ones in the States that if they're not titanium, it's close. My m505 is pretty close to the look and feel (of the case material) of my TiBook. Also, I think there was a Visor Edge that was titanium-ish. I think most use Magnesium instead of Titanium though.

    2. Re:only 1 feature missing by OneFix · · Score: 2

      I'm still waiting for a PDA that comes in a titanium cae.

      Oh, great idea...then when you drop it, the circuit board shatters...this would honestly be a step backwards. Modern PDAs are designed like automobiles in the fact that their shell is "soft", meaning that the shell takes the impact when it is dropped. With your PDA, the titanium case has NO "give" and that impact gets focused inside...circuit board, LCD, etc...

      I'm sure you've never known anyone with a titanium case for their palm...they have to be well insulated if you want to keep the PDA "safe"...this would mean signifigantly larger cases...and ppl generally want SMALLER devices...

    3. Re:only 1 feature missing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Sony Clie has a nice case. Nice aluminium. Runs PalmOS.

  37. Launch time-frame by ageitgey · · Score: 2

    The slashdot story cites a launch date of October, but the Business Line article says the real launch date is around May next year. I think that gives them plenty of time to fix the under-construction pages on their website.

    --
    Uninnovate - Only the finest in engineering.
  38. Why MP3? by MWelchUK · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Given that they want to keep costs down I would have thought that choosing ogg vorbis as the sound format rather that mp3 would have been a wise idea, but there goes!

    1. Re:Why MP3? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You'd have to put a faster processor in it to decode OGG, the costs of which would probably negate the MP3 licensing cost.

  39. [Mostly] Repeated Story by randomErr · · Score: 2

    I can't find the story on SlashDot but the same company was suppose to bring on this PDA for Christmas. They has created thier own XML language.

    It looked favorable then, but they still only had about as much info on the old site as they do the new site.

    --
    You say things that offend me and I can deal with it. Can you?
    1. Re:[Mostly] Repeated Story by randomErr · · Score: 2

      Heres the old Linux Devices story from last spring. I knew I saw this before.

      --
      You say things that offend me and I can deal with it. Can you?
  40. PDAs are Becoming More Attractive by RAMMS+EIN · · Score: 2

    This PDA actually seems darn good. It is probably faster than the box I'm currently doing most of my work on, runs a good (both in quality and in alignment) OS, and has a standard USB port. A number of concers though:
    1) Does it exist? Will it exist? Or is this a case of `will be released RSN'?
    2) What do they mean by twice the battery life of current PocketPCs? Twice as long as all that they are aware of? Twice as long as all I am aware of? How long _is_ their battery life is all that concerns me. Well? How long? And is that idle time, normal usage (whatever that is), or 100% load time?

    Then on to practical considerations...Suppose I were to buy it. Then, should I go for flash or SDRAM of both? I would say that flash is more energy-efficient, whereas SDRAM is faster, and doesn't wear (flash has only a limited number of overwrites, right?)
    And finally, imagine a B...

    ---
    What is mind? No matter.
    What is matter? Never mind.
    -- Thomas Hewitt Key, 1799-1875

    --
    Please correct me if I got my facts wrong.
  41. Fraud? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Let's see....a crappy website...fake picture of the device...great specs with an unreal price....

    Anyone else picking this up? The only thing that would make it more obvious might be if this was April 1.

  42. quality by tetro · · Score: 1

    Anyone notice that it looks like the picture was made in 3D Studio and Photoshop? Don't trust this, there's better stuff out there considering what their specs are.

    --
    .smell my feet.
  43. Re: Agenda reference by trampel · · Score: 1

    The "Agenda" had their act together a whole lot more than this company and the product went nowhere.

    Actually, you can still buy Agenda VR3's from http://www.softfield.com, even a model with a battery charger. Prices start at US$ 105 ....

    There also is a user community still working on the Agenda - GPL'd software has its advantages here, you can carry on without the original vendor.

  44. Meep meep ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Knowing India as I do, if it ain't got a loud horn, it won't sell well...

  45. Why Ogg? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    People won't convert their music collections just because some random PDA uses it.

    Indeed, they'll just buy a different PDA that can handle mp3.

  46. Too Expensive for Me... by shepd · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It always seems PDA makers are moving towards more expensive items... $300 is still very expensive (at least to me).

    I swore I would never buy a stylus-based input PDA because I know $200-$400 should get me a nice one with a thumboard (which I like).

    Guess what. I gave in when I got a refurbed Palm IIIx for $39 CDN. At $39 I don't worry about it being broken, lost, stolen, whatever. And it has all the features I see me needing, because a thumboard is just a want.

    I wish there were some people making handhelds with the kinds of features old Palms had in the $50-$100 price range. But that's just me... And probably quite a few more consumers.

    --
    If you could be told what you can see or read, then it follows that you could be told what to say or think - BoC
    1. Re:Too Expensive for Me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Actually, there is. Palm announced today a 2MB $100 PDA called 'Zire'.

    2. Re:Too Expensive for Me... by fastdecade · · Score: 1

      At $39 I don't worry about it being broken, lost, stolen, whatever.

      I hope you're backing up and not storing any important or confidential data.

    3. Re:Too Expensive for Me... by jayratch · · Score: 1

      Please, enlighten me. I've looked on Palm's web site, and have yet to find something remotely compelling about this "product". It's priced the same as their own m105, which adds web clipping and email functionality and 4x the ram. When I saw the description of it I said "Wow, Palm finally caught on and made a $50 handheld!" Yeah, they made a $50 handheld and packaged it for $100. Thanks, for $100 I'll stick with a real handheld. Palm lost my business when they stopped marketing innovation and started focusing on brand image only.

      Right now I'm solidly convinced Sony has the best value in PalmOS, my $299 T615 from August is STILL better than Palm's current top model, and $50 less. I will give Palm this, though, they have some pretty neat peripherals if you have a lot of money to shell out for them.

    4. Re:Too Expensive for Me... by swillden · · Score: 2, Funny

      I hope you're backing up and not storing any important or confidential data.

      Duh, think about that a little bit. He thinks $300 is a lot of money and has posted to /. over 1600 times.

      Obviously shepd is a college student. Ergo, he has no important or confidential data.

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    5. Re:Too Expensive for Me... by Tombstone-f · · Score: 1

      The $100 price tag for the Zire makes sense for one reason, it's rechargable. Unlike the M100 series. Swapping batteries is a pain in the ass.

    6. Re:Too Expensive for Me... by shepd · · Score: 2, Informative

      >He thinks $300 is a lot of money

      I think you have too much money if you think throwing about $300 isn't a big deal. That's 4 days of an average Joe's salary -- and that's sticking by numbers in the book (the average salary of an American is $29,900 US).

      >Obviously shepd is a college student.

      True.

      >Ergo, he has no important or confidential data.

      I run a small business and have up to four clients a week. Ergo, I do have important data.

      And the cradle that came with the Palm IIIx lets me save my information. If/when the Palm is destroyed, I'm really not going to sweat it out (except to find another hot deal on a Palm Pilot).

      But, if you aren't backing up your PDA, well, I guess you would worry about it. That's why I'm not interested in those $40 Royal organizers -- they just don't have the backup functionality that makes them a worthwhile investment (that and many other problems -- but they do have a built in keyboard).

      --
      If you could be told what you can see or read, then it follows that you could be told what to say or think - BoC
    7. Re:Too Expensive for Me... by swillden · · Score: 1
      Dude...

      I was making a joke...

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      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    8. Re:Too Expensive for Me... by shepd · · Score: 1

      >I was making a joke...

      With me at the butt of it, it would seem.

      No worries, though. It seems my disarming of it earned me a mod point, for whatever reason that may be.

      HAND!

      --
      If you could be told what you can see or read, then it follows that you could be told what to say or think - BoC
    9. Re:Too Expensive for Me... by swillden · · Score: 1
      Of course with you as the butt, but definitely not at your expense... it's nothing against you personally, so laugh. I highly recommend laughing at yourself at least daily, it's good for you and everyone you come in contact with.

      And the joke earned me a mod point as well (if I cared; my karma would be in the hundreds if it weren't capped and disguised), so it's all good.

      Have a nice day...

      P.S. And your momma dresses you funny!

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  47. Hype over hope by bsdparasite · · Score: 1

    Seems like there are several news articles and no real matter. If it actually comes out March next year, I would be surprised. But, if they manage to pull it off, seems like a good PDA. Given that Palm is going down on it's specs for PDA on the Zire (is it really 16 Mhz? My clock on the wall runs faster), and every other PDA being so high priced, I would go for this one.

  48. Machine size... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    The company offers either a 3.5 inch colour or monochrome display.

    Now if that mockup has a 3.5" screen, that's an awfully big PDA - definitely bigger than an iPaq and almost certainly bigger than even a Casio E115. Reminds me of ST:TNG props for some reason too... I think it's the beige.

    1. Re:Machine size... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Arrr! It's just a crap mockup piccie! The dimensions in the specs look a lot more realistic.

  49. enough information by suhit · · Score: 1
    There seems to be a whole bunch of commentary on the lack of information on this site and how the site is basically "Under Construction".

    However, in their defense, the product isn't going to be launched until March next year. This gives them a "little" bit of time to get their website in gear.

    Regarding the hardware specs, it seems to me that the website gives sufficient information about it

    Processor: Hitachi SH7727 @ 160MHz 215 MIPS speed with built-in DSP
    Memory: 64 MB SDRAM, 32 MB Flash or 32MB SDRAM, 16MB Flash
    Display: 3.5" Colour TFT (320x240x64k-16 bit) with circuit for automatic backlight controls.
    Interfaces: Communication ports USB Host Control USB Client Serial (can be built-in) IrDA Expansion Slots SD card expansion slot for RAM expansion Compact Flash (CF2) support for peripherals (Wi-Fi, Modem, Ethernet, Bluetooth, GPS etc.) or Memory
    Input Devices: Touch panel, Handwriting Recognition, Software Keyboard, Unicode Input and External Keyboard (Optional)
    Power Supply: 1200 mAH Li-Polymer or Li-Ion re-chargeable battery. UL/CE certified power adapter 100V - 240V 50/60Hz AC auto switching input and 5V DC output

    So why don't we give these guys a break. Having said this, they did announce this device quite some time ago (read at http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS5126719992.html ) so they had better get their ass in gear quickly if they want to woo consumers.
    1. Re:enough information by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      So why don't we give these guys a break?

      Uhhh, because they've undercut American and European workers?

  50. Very professional by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Site full of "Under Construction" pages with animate gifs sure gives a professional company image.

  51. Don't be fooled by its price. Look... by jsse · · Score: 5, Insightful

    1) The picture is computer generated
    2) Linux on the Kaii is under construction? I could understand that but
    3) Java on the Kaii are under construction? Worse still
    4) Application section is under construction...not to mention
    5) Peripheral Information is also under construction
    6) and most important...Developer program is also under construction....

    3) and 6) is unacceptable for developers. Yopy and Nokia 92x0 release developers programs and emulators/developers model at least half a year before final launch. Unless they are as big as Microsoft which could single-handedly create a market for their products, even big corp like Nokia need a developer community to survive.

    I think common handheld developers will see that this PDA is not even existed! This propaganda could be used to seek VC money and publicity, but it can't fool us geeks....can it?

  52. iPaq - rock solid? by ites · · Score: 1

    Apparently a matter of opinion.
    See: this article on The Register.

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  53. I used to think so to.... by Crocuta · · Score: 2, Interesting

    >I've never been much for PDAs, mostly because I don't need one I never really had a burning desire for a PDA either until one day when I saw this huge pile of articles sitting on my desk that I had printed out to read later. I spent several months watching ebay and finally picked out a Casiopeia BE-300 that came in under my set price ($120 US.) Now I print out almost nothing and instead save copies over to my snyc folder and take them with me. It makes me feel better that my recycle bin isn't as full, I'm not stuck behind my computer for an extra three or four hours everyday, and with the backlit screen I can even read comfortably in bed after my wife has turned out the light. I do use the appointment book to an extent, but not exclusively. My primary tools are the browser and Mobibook. I will admit that for my specific purpose, the PDA is adequate but not ideal. The screen on most PDA's is a little on the small side, but certainly useable. I picked the Casio because I found the screen quality to be the easiest on my eyes (your mileage my vary.) Lately however, I've had my eye on the various Tablet PC's on the market. The wider screen appeals to me, and since 95% of my use is at home, or in a car (not while driving!) the extra size and weight is not an issue for me. If I could find a stripped down model that was wifi enabled and acted more of less as a slave to my desktop PC, with a small amount of storage for traveling out of range, I'd be in heaven. Crocuta

  54. I am Kaii, last of the Indian PDA's. by Ilan+Volow · · Score: 2

    I've always wanted a PDA that's been dead for several thousand years and runs off of protoblood.

    --
    Ergonomica Auctorita Illico!
  55. Yawn. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    These devices are so incredibly stupid. The other day I showed my wife a demo of an amazing .01 gram PDA with a four inch monitor and pen input that accepts both cursive and block letter characters and doesn't even require a battery. To top it off it'spriced so low it's disposable and recyclable.
    Yeah, it was a fucking piece of paper and a pen. I mean what the hell is the point of these things? They're toys. I've played with quite a few including the phone equipped ones and they're just toys that waste more time than they save. Three hundred bucks is not a toy price but that's all they are, toys. Someday powerful PCs will come in that form factor, but not this year and not next year and not for quite awhile.
    The whole curent generation PDA thing is absulotely stupid and mainly pushed by Microsoft and of course a certain blog publishing person who I can't mention by name because I don't want to be rude to my host. The only thing that seems more ridiculous than these toys being revolutionary is this PC relpacement cycle theory where every three years there is some law that all the PCs are going to be replaced simply because the PC industry needs it like a junky needs a fix. Hmm. 2003 will be an interesting year I'm sure.

  56. For $25 more... by paulplee · · Score: 1

    You can get the Sharp Zaurus

    http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_gen.php?form_ ke yword=Zaurus&topcat_id=1&found=2&ut=a5fa5b4e2646b9 42

  57. Too bad... by PARENA · · Score: 1

    Too bad it's butt-ugly. Assuming butts are ugly, of course. But hey, it's cheaper than a YOPY YP3500

    --
    Here's the secret to immortality: ...oh dang, I forgot.
  58. No pictures could mean anything... by ites · · Score: 2

    Like (most likely) no case design yet.
    Presumably they are still working on the innards.
    The significance of this announcement is perhaps not that there is a 'product' ready somewhere.
    Perhaps it is deeper than that... there are teams outside the US thinking seriously about how to design and build world-class systems like this.

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    Sig for sale or rent. One previous user. Inquire within.
  59. Only in Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam. by The+Cydonian · · Score: 2, Informative

    Hate to be nitpicking, but "kaii" is "hand" in only the South Indian languages of Kannada, Malayalam and Tamil. It's "cheyyi" in Telugu, the fourth (officially recognised) South Indian language.

  60. BAtteries??? Re:Interesting, but... by BLAG-blast · · Score: 1
    last time I was there, most of my familys electricity was turned off at 9pm.

    Dude, it's a PDA, it has batteries.

    --
    M0571y H@rml355.
  61. other (very different) pics of it by gosand · · Score: 4, Funny
    March 18, 2002 story from linuxdevice.com on the kaii has a very different picture (yet another artist's conception, I am guessing).

    All the articles say essentially the exact same thing, which sounds like a press release that the company created themselves.

    gimme a V
    gimme an A
    gimme a PORWARE

    --

    My beliefs do not require that you agree with them.

  62. Yeah, very sensitive of you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just, blame Kannada!

    1. Re:Yeah, very sensitive of you by The+Cydonian · · Score: 1
      Just, blame Kannada!

      How dare you say that?! *raises kaii threateningly*

  63. Re:Second Indian PDA. by The+Cydonian · · Score: 1

    It's the second Indian PDA, after Simputer.

    Incidentally, the Simputer has also been developed in Bangalore and runs GNU/Linux as its OS, although it's being developed by a non-profit organisation. Interestingly, the Simputer runs a browser for IML (seems to be a language developed by the Trust), while Kaii runs Opera.

  64. mandatory beowulf post by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    you know -!

  65. Re:Different PDA? by The+Cydonian · · Score: 1
    I can't find the story on SlashDot but the same company was suppose to bring on this PDA for Christmas. They has created thier own XML language.

    I posted this earlier, but I think the Simputer is a different baby. Kaii will use Opera and hence presumably feature more mainstream markup languages.

  66. Comparison with Zaurus et al.. by h0tblack · · Score: 2

    While the software side of things seems to be pretty similar to that of the Zaurus (Lineo Embedix, Trolltech QTEmbedded/Qtopia, Insignia Jeaode JVM, Opera, Hancom Office suite) there are some important hardware differences. Rather than any of Intel's StrongARM based chips they're using an Hitatchi SH7727[PDF] and are citing USB Host Control as a capability of the device. I'm an owner and big fan of the Linux-based Zaurus, but the SA-1110 leaves a lot to be desired when USB connectivity is concerned. It can only act as a slave device and the silicon has numerous bugs and conflicts with general USB support and the USB CDC Spec (just check out Intel's own docs on the chip if you want to check up on this). This causes great problems with connectivity. The SA-1111 companion chip adds USB Host capability and some other nifty features, but is not used in any Linux handhelds that I know of. It would also increase size and power consumption if used. It will be interesting to see how the SH7727, with it's similar approach to "handheld on a chip" functionality stands up against Intel's offering. It could end up showing the Pro's and Cons of these chips at the core of the devices more than the handheld as a whole. There's also more info on India's movements into the handheld market here

  67. India by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Now if only India had running water.....

    1. Re:India by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Actually, India had running water several thousand years before it was introduced in Europe.

    2. Re:India by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      India had NOTHING before Europe. Literally. The concept of zero comes from India - brought to the backward Europeans via... you guessed it... Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. Isn't history cool!

      You see, the Europeans' religion at the time said that God created everything *from nothing*, so if "nothing" was a real thing (ie. zero), then that was something that was there before God came along (blasphemy!). Whereas in the India religion of the time, the demand for balance and symmetry made the existence of zero almost a requirement.

      And to make some terrible attempt to get back on topic, imagine a PDA that used 1 and 2 rather than 0 and 1 :-).

    3. Re:India by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Have you been to India? They need roads, electricity, real infrastructure before they worry about PDA's. Plus they need to get the cows off the streets. I know its religion, but common they shit on the streets!

  68. Great, another unsupported paperweight by nurb432 · · Score: 1

    How many other devices have we all bought that were 'cool' or whatever, just to have them become non prodcts almost as fast as they can take our money.

    Then you are stuck with somehting that just doesnt quite work with what you need a year from now...

    ( Newton, Helio, bla bla bla )

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  69. Kaii PDAs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Imagine a Beowolf Cluster of THESE!!!

  70. Indian? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If it is Indian it must run Apache, right?

  71. Re:They left out the most important information... by fault0 · · Score: 2

    Read the article. It says "Operating System Lineo Embedix Plus Linux kernel v 2.4.2"

  72. but, but... by mattbland · · Score: 1

    it's damn ugly.

    at least the ipaq and fujitsu loox are nice looking. the zarus is nice as well... but this is blurgh.

    i don't care what it runs... it's gotta look good too if i'm gonna buy one.

    --
    /usr/bin/awake/too/long
  73. SH instead of ARM by johnjones · · Score: 1

    basically this was Hitachi trying to get into the same market as ARM with the SH7727 they made a decent chip

    but SH can be 64bit and do numbers right ieee754 that would have been nice

    this is a Nice SOC in the way StrongARM was nice so give them a chance

    regards

    John Jones

  74. Does it run debian?? by Falconpro10k · · Score: 1

    Yeah literally, does it run debian, slack, or gentoo? i really dont feel like using RH

  75. Why not a Zaurus? by leeet · · Score: 1

    I bought my Zaurus at BestBuy for 299$ It is backed by a decent company and I know they will be there in 2 years to support me (at leat I hope so!). Not that I want to say bad things about this company but for the same type of product, they should have a bigger discount. Beside, is it me or is it running on the same GUI? (QT). It looks like they OEM'd sharp's w/o a keyboard.

    --
    -- Leeeter than leet
  76. Exactly by theLOUDroom · · Score: 2

    I just bought a DVD player (lasonic band) that is barely even listed on the manufacturer's website (which sucks horribly) but it's still a pretty good dvd player (progressive scan, dolby digital decoder).
    The problem arises when the manufactuer's website is the only place to see the thing, but if that's not the case or if they fix up their site by the time they actually have something to sell, it should be all good.

    --
    Life is too short to proofread.
  77. Is this the 'simputer'? by Erpo · · Score: 2

    It seems like it might be. It's (relatively) cheap, handheld, uses flash for storage, has usb ports, and runs linux.

  78. Everyone stinks in Britain so its harder to notice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    PU!

    Also, over here we really don't go for passive mind control measures. More people, less sheeple.

  79. This guy is Bin Laden on LSD! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hilarious!

  80. wow, Indians by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Indians are the only Asian people who would think a Ford Thunderbird is a beautiful car.

    Indians are also the only Asian people who would save money to buy a monster-looking American sports car rather than a Japanese one.

    Just a few of my daily thoughts...

  81. Actually much different from Simputer by billstewart · · Score: 2
    I checked out www.simputer.org, which says that the simputer organization has become dormant but has licensed its goodies to Picopeta and Encore, both of whom have vaporous forward-looking statements. While the hardware looks similar, building something in this form factor with StrongArm is a relatively obvious design pattern, and the interfaces built in are randomly a bit different. Kaii is designed to be a PDA for high-tech folk, while Simputer is targeted toward being a village computer/communications system.


    The real important design differences are in software. Simputer FAQ. One of the big focuses of the Simputer was the IML information markup language, which is an XMLish application designed to be really convenient for multilingual applications, which in India means multiple alphabetic systems as well (so there's an input system), people with limited literacy, support smartcard media well, etc., and they've got some multilingual text-to-speech Kaii doesn't seem to have anything like that - their language support is English, with optional European , Arabic, and East Asian language support, and the possibility of developing something for Indian languages, and they're running a bunch of non-Indian-developed application suites. (There is Unicode support, at least.) The Simputer also has a built-in softmodem capability, which makes sense for something targeted toward the village computer market, while the Kaii lets you plug in standard cards, which could be modem, memory, ether, wireless, etc.

    --

    Bill Stewart
    New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
  82. $200 Toshiba E310 32MB by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So I hate to sound like an advertising piece, but I just got one of these from TigerDirect.com 32MB RAM, SD card slot, 206Mhz processor, and thin as my Palm m505. Plus a color 320x240 screen. It doesn't run Linux, but I don't see why I'd buy this Indian vaporware instead.

  83. Indian Immigration to US vs. Britain by billstewart · · Score: 1
    There may be less Indian immigration to the US as a whole than to Britain, but there's immense regional variation. In particular, high-tech areas like Silicon Valley and computer-related businesses have a lot of Indians, so Slashdotters are more likely to live and work around Indians than the average American. I didn't see an excessive number of racist loser commentary here, but perhaps the moderation system has hidden most of that. What I did see that might be perceived as anti-Indian was the issue about price - why is a $300 machine from India that doesn't appear to have any Indian design localization any more interesting than a $300 machine from Taiwan or wherever, and why isn't it priced closer to the Indian economy.

    I did see some stereotypes about the electrical systems in India - much more relevant for the Simputer, which was village oriented, than for this computer, but both silly for something meant to run on batteries (like duuhhh! I had been wondering if it had Palm-like month-long battery life or Wince-like day-short battery life, probably the latter.) There were also some questions about language - while most educated Indians speak English, that's not necessarily the language they want to take notes in or keep their address book in.

    --

    Bill Stewart
    New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
  84. This is a different PDA by billstewart · · Score: 2

    See
    my other Slashdot posting for discussion and/or speculation on differences.

    --

    Bill Stewart
    New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
  85. Easy to add a keyboard and use as real computer. by billstewart · · Score: 2
    One of the frustrating things about PDAs is the lack of full-sized keyboards - you can get various foldy things or thumb-typing things, but having USB controller means that you can add a real keyboard and mouse to this, which is nice. (Has anybody even *done* a Graffiti-X?)


    Also, while the screen is still small, being able to add a USB disk drive and printer lets you make this into a real computer, not just an accessory device. Somebody else complained that it was only USB1, not USB2, and while it's not blazingly fast, it's more than enough to do real work. On the othe r hand, $300 (plus $200-300 for a USB disk) can get you a much more powerful desktop computer, if you don't care about portability.

    --

    Bill Stewart
    New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
  86. Info on it... by Alpha_Nerd · · Score: 2, Informative

    I'm not sure, but this looks to be the same one that was featured in Scientific America... If not, please flame the hell out of me =D According to the article, it is targeted for 3rd world countries. It could be used for a variety of things, including education... It even works for the illiterate! It has a small speaker and will talk to you. Unfortunatly, it runs on AAA batteries, and only lasts a few hours... It is slow, applications are slow, and it takes about 15 seconds to boot. And if it runs idle too long, it is prone to crashing. It's not really targeted for the US tech junkie I guess, but it's still a pretty cool idea. Personally, I'm going to be bugging the hell out of my parents for a Zaurus =D

  87. OMG, they changed it! by gosand · · Score: 2
    WTF is going on? The original picture I linked to has been changed to the one that is on the kaii website! The one I had originally linked to looked totally different, and even had the company's logo on it. It looked a lot more like a palm with a rounded bottom.

    So linuxdevices will change an archived story? I can only guess that the company who makes it contacted them. WTF is going on?!

    --

    My beliefs do not require that you agree with them.

  88. You are right / pronunciation by Compact+Dick · · Score: 2


    Kaii does mean 'hand' in Malayalam [which is the only language with a palindrome for a name, btw].

    As for the pronunciation, just say "Ky" from "Kylie" [or "ki" from "Kinetic"].

  89. KAII [for HAND] by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    to be said when an Indian trolls /. - Kill All Indians Instantly!

  90. Last Post! by alpg · · Score: 1

    In the middle of a wide field is a pot of gold. 100 feet to the north stands
    a smart manager. 100 feet to the south stands a dumb manager. 100 feet to
    the east is the Easter Bunny, and 100 feet to the west is Santa Claus.

    Q: Who gets to the pot of gold first?
    A: The dumb manager. All the rest are myths.

    - this post brought to you by the Automated Last Post Generator...