Slashdot Mirror
New Tablet PCs With A Linux Option
Oliver Wendell Jones writes "InfoWorld is running an article about a new kind of inexpensive (starting under $800) tablet PC that runs your choice of Windows 2000, Windows XP or the Lindows distro of Linux. The PC is called the DocuNote and features an 8.4" touch screen with digital camera and microphone. The PCs are being created by a company called StepUp, which is formed of a lot of people from the old eMachines organization. DocuNotes are scheduled to start shipping in mid-December."
The geeks no longer need to use M$!
But how the FUCK are you gonna use the command line with this thing.
I'm very suprised that Lindows would be put on a tablet PC. I would be very suprised if Lindows were supported as well as linux is on it.
Netbooks, they come with Linux or a $3 copy of Windows. Either way, Microsoft loses.
They're shipping in time for Christmas!
"A microprocessor... is a terrible thing to waste." --
GeneralEmergency
I'm glad it runs linux but has a touch screen. That will prevent me from touching 'rm -rf
Seriously, linux w/ a touchscreen?? How useful is that?!
-- People who hate Windows use Linux. People who love UNIX use BSD.
A GROUP OF PC industry veterans Tuesday took the cloak off a new company called StepUp Computing, and revealed its first product -- a low-cost, pen-based tablet computer that can run Windows 2000, Windows XP, and coming soon, a version of the Linux operating system from Lindows.com.
The cofounder of budget PC maker eMachines and several former executives of that company are behind the new venture. It's goal is to offer affordable desktop and mobile computing products that serve small and mid-size business users in targeted specialty and vertical markets, it said.
StepUp Computing's first product to market will be a tablet computer called the DocuNote, which will cost as little as $799 depending on the software it ships with, the company said. While it is being released in concert with a host of tablet devices from vendors such as Acer and Hewlett-Packard, it does not run Microsoft's new Windows XP Professional Tablet PC operating system, and lacks some of the advanced features that are available with those devices, according to Microsoft.
It also doesn't share the same price tag. Tablet devices running Microsoft's new operating system cost as much as $2,500.
The DocuNote weighs 2.5 pounds with its battery pack, and measures about 10 inches by 8 inches by 1-inch thick. It features an 8.4-inch touch-screen display and a built-in color digital camera and microphone that are designed for video conferencing, the company said. It features a 667MHz Crusoe TM5600 processor from Transmeta Corp., 256MB of memory and a 20GB hard drive. It also has a slot for a wireless network card.
Unlike the new class of Tablet PCs, the device from StepUp Computing can be navigated by touching the display with any object, such as a stylus pen or your finger. It does, however, share capabilities, such as inking and handwriting recognition, with the more expensive machines.
Young Song, president and chief executive officer at StepUp Computing, was a co-founder of eMachines. Other executives at the Fullerton, Calif.-based start-up include the former director of finance and senior director of corporate communications at eMachines.
StepUp Computing is practicing a similar philosophy to that of eMachines with its strategy of keeping hardware costs at the low-end of the market. The devices are manufactured in Seoul by Garnet Systems, and will only be available through select VARs (value-added resellers) and systems integrators, who will be responsible for setting up and configuring the devices for customers.
StepUp Computing is now accepting orders for the DocuNote through the channel with plans to begin shipping units in mid-December. In early 2003, the company will begin selling DocuNote devices running LindowsOS 3.0, it said.
I suppose anything that supports linux or any non MS OS is a step in the right direction but, why lindows?
I wonder if Lindows handwriting recognition software will be GPL'ed. Even if it isn't, perhaps it would be usable on other flavors of Linux?
AFAIK there is no high-powered handwriting recognition software readily available for linux. Is that so?
Wah!
I want my Newton back! Waa!
I'm not that familiar with handwriting recognition, but does Lin(dows|ux) even have it?
Will it be possible to install a real version of linux on this, I would love to buy a mandrake tablet.
I hate to reveal my Mac OS affiliation here in Linux heaven -- but does anyone know of any Apple plans on this front? Tablets have interested me for a really long time, so what if laptops are probably better for most things? ;-)
This is a disadvantage of a single-source hardware platform. Or not: oddly enough Apple has been an innovator there many times over -- SCSI, USB, Firewire, flat-panel iMac, dropping-the-floppy, Newton (oops), Superdrive and so on (please don't bother to correct the ones I got wrong) -- not to say these were all earthshaking, but you'd expect the innovation to come from the huge Wintel market (or not I now have learned, given the slender margins, 3rd-party hardware headaches, and pressure for cloning over novelty).
At this stage Linux doesn't have anything even close to that. Of course it would be fun to hack a Tablet PC but not much productivity could be expected.
And here an article about Tablet PC software.
'It's basically a cheap imitation of Windows.' at which point the customer says:
'No thanks, I'll go with the genuine thing.' As I said, Lindows does nothing for Linux and in fact probably strengthens Microsoft's ability to sell its OS.
?-|||-----x<*))))><
Marketing Dept - Fill the hardrive with Bonzi Buddy and other BundleCrap(TM).
Quality Control - Easy to strip screws included at no additional cost!
or Purchasing - "These Fujistu hard drives are a great deal!"
My, I've underestimated the Lindows folks! If it were true, I'd have one of these things in a instant, just for the coolness of it, no matter how well it worked! As it is, I'm pretty impressed with those new iBooks that Apple announced the other day.
It does, however, share capabilities, such as inking and handwriting recognition, with the more expensive machines.
There seems to be no information about how these machines support handwriting recognition. The Tablet PCs perform this task using capabilities in Windows XP Tablet PC edition - i.e., the OS itself. Since these products claim to support handwriting recognition over a wide variety of OSs, is there some hardware support for this feature?
Ok, this may be slightly off-topic, and it may be a stupid question, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who is wondering -
What's with Lindows everywhere? First they get distribution with Wal-Mart PCs, and now these tablet PCs which look to me like they could be a serious competitor to the $2500 alternatives. Does anyone know anything about the company? Are they a "good" company as far as their open-source work? Are they looking to make any sort of corporate push? And on the technical side, I've never messed with Lindows myself. Is it similar to RedHat, or Debian, or what? Is it stable? Could anyone with experience with Lindows share their opinions and thoughts?
Thanks
This really is a perfect use for Linux. Personally, I use Linux on a desktop PC, and it's perfect for everything I need to do, not to mention easy on the pocketbook. ;)
However, I've found that a lot of folks need a desktop OS that supports the latest gee-whiz hardware, plays the newest games, or runs the P2P client of the month. For those people, Windows just makes more sense.
But in the world of tablets, high performance and software compatibility just aren't as important. The lower standards create a perfect market for working Linux in. Maybe if we can get people hooked on Linux for tablet PCs, some company will start developing it for profit, and we can make some headway on the desktop market.
Karma: Good (despite my invention of the Karma: sig)
Check the DocuNote picture and then check the picture here, at Lindows news.
Will these tablets be similar to eMachines in quality? In other words, none whatsoever?
$x='S24;r)>63/* h@<5+oZ)32"5cz';$me='phroggy'x$];
$x=~y+ -xz+\0-Tx+;print$_^chop$me for split'',$x;
When I can get a touch computer that looks like the ones used in Star Trek, then I'll be impressed. I'm going back to sleep.
Lindows ne Linux
[ insert your own witty .sig here ]
Here's the site of the company that's making this thing:
http://www.stepupcomputing.com/
Wonder if they'll sell an OS-less version, so we don't have to pay the Windows tax?
---- I made the Kessel Run in under 11 parsecs.
That's like saying my Athlon 2200+ is inferior to my old C64 -- it's powerful enough that I can emulate a C64 and play my old games.
It's all in how you look at it.
I mean really - why does everyone just suddenly believe these things have a future? I don't mean they would not, but why now?
Is at http://www.docunote.com/.
It looks pretty nice, even has a d-pad/mouse, but alas no thumbboard.
Jon Acheson
All opinions expressed herein are my own, and not those of my employers, who are appalled.
And many functions of pen computers don't require handwriting recognition at all (ink notes, browsing, e-books, etc.)--just getting rid of that bulky keyboard alone when it's not needed would be worth the pen computer.
A few things of note:
1. You CAN run Linux on a MS Tablet PC. No one's stopping you. Woo hoo.
2. These have TOUCH SCREENS. MS Tablets have electomagnetic pens, kinda like a Wacom tablet. NOT pressure sensitive like a touch screen.
3. MS Tablets have XP Tablet Edition, with the handwriting recognition/Ink software. Linux doesn't, and seeing the state Linux fonts are currently in ("Linux fonts are fine!! Just copy the TrueType fonts from Windblo... um, nevermind"), I don't think handwriting recognition software is on its way anytime soon (and before anyone brings it up, SourceForge projects below stage 3 or 4 DON'T COUNT).
So what we have here is a glorified Palm running linux or WinXP. Glue a touchscreen LCD onto a brick PC and you're done. Wahoo. I can go back to sleep now, because this in no way offers competition to the MS-based tablets. HAND.
This cheap version doesn't have handwriting recognition, the supposed killer-app of tablet PCs.
FoundNews.com - get paid to blog.,
So its about the same as a laptop, but has less power, is way more expensive than a PDA but doesn't fit in your pocket.
How is this inexpensive ? What next "Inexpensive Ferrari" ?
An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
A keyboardless computer, that is running Lindows, that is designed by the people who brought us the e-machine. There are so many problems with that idea I don't know where to start.
Maybe they're tossing some FUD at M$...with their 1/4 the cost machine.
Give a hand, not a hand-out.
I don't consider Windows to be an option, but more of a constellation prize.
"No sorry, you don't get Linux, you must use Windows, and wear this dumb hat."
"aw not the hat! Anything but the hat!"
[cx]
$500
how long before other distros get the inkpad drivers?
aren't most commercially used touch screen interfaces (such as cash registers, ATMs, etc.) *nix driven?
I don't think a linux tablet product is any more or less odd than a windows one.
"Prediction: within 10 years, Windows will be a Linux distribution." Me, 7-6-2016
I'm amazed. Last week, Microsoft demonstrates a tablet PC running Windows. Slashdot was unimpressed, and the only things that were mentioned were how the demonstration didn't go off without a hitch.
Now, these guys are making a tablet PC which will run with Windows or (of all things) Lindows. And people on Slashdot start doing things like celebrating, and talking about how great tablet PCs are.
I still think that tablets are a waste of money. Too big to be a handheld, too underpowered to be a PC, and too expensive for either market.
www.timcoleman.com is a total waste of your time. Never go there.
Tablet PC's: "If a PDA can't cut it, you have enough money for a laptop but can't stand keyboards -- this is the platform for you."
(+1 Funny) only if I laugh out loud.
The real question here is do you want an $800 tablet computer? Forget about the OS.
If enough hobbiests want them, then you know Linux (any flavor) will be available sooner or later.
There is plenty of Linux software designed to run with pen input--after all, Linux has been used on handhelds for a number of years.
Most mouse based applications work naturally with a pen anyway. Web browsing, e-book reading, marking up text, drawing, and things like that work like a charm with standard Linux applications on a Linux-based tablet. And even with no handwriting recognition, an on-screen keyboard makes entering text and data quite easy and quick and, again, requires no application changes (given the modular X11 architecture). And fully integrated handwriting and gesture recognition also already exists for X11.
Maybe it was a lot of work to integrate pen input into Windows, but Linux and X11 are modular and mature enough that this is not an issue.
Did I just miss it in the article? I can't find any link to the company, nor any reference to the company or product anywhere else on the web. Does anybody know more? $800 really is a good deal on a pen-based computer, and this thing should have lots of applications, if not in the consumer area, then in vertical markets.
...Linux runs on YOU!
You just have to love this article. Describes a somewhat-interesting new tech (I'm actually interested in it primarily because of the price - I don't give two shits about "Tablet PC" gimmicks, but having a wireless web browser in this form is a great idea), but THEY DON'T GIVE A BLOODY URL.
The company is actually taking orders - you would guess they just _might_ have a web site, given who they're targetting this at. If they do, then these article writers should be SHOT for not including the URL. God damnit.
Barclay family motto:
Aut agere aut mori.
(Either action or death.)
its calld ech-a-sketch an i draw pikshurs of bunny rabbits and kittys and puppes and things. it only cost 14.99 not 800 bucks so i think that tablut in the storee is to much munee.
haff to go, i pood myself
i ware a diper cuz i poo myself
Pictures and more information is there.
How many ppl "need" more power these days? (to run linux things) How much power do you need to run VIM and a bit of code? A lot of us are still doing great work with 200MHz PPro machines. I got my tablet for $550 with a better screen than my real laptop has, and half the weight. I can use it while standing or walking around, which the laptop can't do. I just wish it had 2 PCMCIA slots instead of 1. Otherwise it's very convenient.
Most OS' that end up on tablet devices have support for Virtual Keyboards that usually can be invoked or dismissed pretty easily. My iPaq has one, although prefer to use their version of Graffitty.
It would be pretty easy to config the distribution to present a Virtual Keyboard whenever a shell was launched, and dismiss (or otherwise hide it) when the shell was no longer needed.
Pure GUI apps wouldn't need the keyboard as frequently, and prolly could be navigated purely by screen buttons except when text entry was required.
A message from our sponsor
I always thought the NotePad was a great machine...
almost as usable as a notebook, and almost as
portable as a PDA.
I can finally upgrade from a 386SL/16!
It's amazing these things aren't more popular...
even IBM had a nice notebook a few years back, with
a display that would spin around so you could fold
it flat and use it as a pen-machine. That one didn't
take off either.
I think the biggest problem with both machines
was the lack of marketing. They didn't market them
heavily because there wasn't a demand for pad
based machines, but there wasn't a market for pad
based machines because the vast majority of the
public didn't know they existed...
perfect example of management/marketing-catch-22.
Now that everyone knows what a PDA is, and that
they want a bigger display and more power, maybe
this company will actually aggressively market
the new toy.
- Preferences: Solaris 10 (servers), Ubuntu (desktops), Solaris 11 (personal servers) -
I wonder if they'll release the handwriting recognition
under the GPL. That would certainly be cool, though
I doubt it'd happen.
I'd still buy one even if that portion of it is
proprietary.
- Preferences: Solaris 10 (servers), Ubuntu (desktops), Solaris 11 (personal servers) -
I've asked this five times so far today. This might actually be the only time it's relevant.
1. It'll run fine until you plug anything into it, then the power supply will burn out because it's spec'ed to the 1/2 watt of the average load on the tablet..
2. The insides will be all held together with bubble gum and twine...
3. It'll randomly turn itself on and off and when youc all tech support they'll tell you "That's a feature, ain't it cool!"
4. You'll be convinced they installed the "Gir" version of windows on the machine... "I like taco's"
Yes Francis, the world has gone crazy.
On mine you can tap on the on-screen keyboard, use the handwriting recognition, or plug in a USB keyboard. On-screen keyboard isn't as fast, but it works fine. bkr
Here're a couple of links which may help with this sort of thing:
c ollaboration w/ PDAs)
t ural UI design)
t ch and ink-based toolkit)
o rmal tools for GUI and web design)
- http://www.linuxslate.org
(drivers &c. for Fujitsu and other pen slates, also XScribble (graffiti-like handwriting recogntion)
Various Berkeley Java based Pen / gestural UI things (w/ source):
starting at:
http://guir.cs.berkeley.edu/projects/
NotePals - http://guir.cs.berkeley.edu/projects/notepals/
(
Quill and GDT - http://guir.cs.berkeley.edu/projects/quill/
(ges
SATIN - http://guir.cs.berkeley.edu/projects/satin/
(ske
DENIM and SILK - http://guir.cs.berkeley.edu/projects/denim/
(inf
Someone else already mentioned Squeak, a SmallTalk implementation suitable for use w/ pens www.squeak.org, as well as www.handhelds.org, (which should be obvious)
www.mira2go.com had Linux pen systems pretty recently (and was even advertising here on Slashdot).
The critical issue to my mind is getting some sort of natural ink handling w/ nicely integrated gesture support as well as document annotation.
William
Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.
The Specs say built in 10/100baseT ethernet...why not wireless built in. Seems pretty useless to have such a portable device that need a wired network connection.
We all know Lindows stinks like dead rotten fish, so how about one running Red Hat or maybe Debian, or another good linux distro... but Lindows?!?
They state in the article that the unit will sell for as little as $799 (depending on software. One has to assume Lindows for that price point) and that it's a bargain compared to a $2500 tablet PC.
Yes, some Tablet PC's run for as much as $2500. Let's compare shall we?
Docunote at $799: (from their site)
Processor: 667 mhz
Ram: 256 MB
HD: 20 gb
OS: Lindows (unknown handwriting support)
Screen. 8.4" TFT (800 x 600) LCD display
Compaq TC1000 at $1699
Transmeta(TM) Crusoe(TM) processor 1.0 GHz
Memory 256MB, 1 DDR SDRAM Module
Hard Drive 30GB
Display 10.4" XGA (1024x768) display
Operating System Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional Tablet PC Edition
Modem 56K V.92 Modem
Network Card 10/100 NIC
Faster processor, bigger / higher resolution screen. I think it's worth the extra $800 bucks.
There are very few real things in this world...this isn't one of them.
Doesn't look like it's out yet, but THIS looks like a pretty cool design as well.
On a different note, I don't think the tablet pc idea is going to go very far. While I do think they will exist for quite some time, and will most likely pick up some initial steam, how useful are they long term compared to laptop computers? We can all think of a few uses where they would be better but overall, which one is going to be more useful? My laptop does everything I want it to do. I can think of a few situations where I would love to have a handheld, but not enough use to warrant actually purchasing one. A tablet pc is somewhere in the middle of the two. Two large to be as portable as I would like, and not as useful as the laptop I already have.
How many people that have laptops now are going to buy one of these? I don't think very many people will convert unless they were ready to buy a new one anyway. How many people are in the market for a laptop right now and will get one of these instead? I think most people that will buy one will get it because it's "cool". That's the main reason I bought a laptop. Sure it makes life easier and more convenient but I got by fine for years without one.
But if I did buy one.. and yo never know, I may get one eventually, I will deffinitely run Mandrake on it as I think Lindows is only good for people who can't decide which one they want, aren't ready to take the plunge, or want to ease into useing Linux.
How is it that one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?
Here's their website: http://www.docunote.com/
Creationists are a lot like zombies. Slow, but powerful and numerous. And they all want to eat our brains.
Jaguar (OS X 10.2) has Inkwell handwriting technology built in (for tablets et. al.). So they have a good foundation.
Because keyboards are by-far the most efficient way to get information into a computer, so who would want a computer that doesn't have one?
This may seem simplistic, but often the smartest people can miss the simplest flaws.
It is always wonderfull when people bitch before they research. On the companies own website is a fact sheet that states there is support for an onscreen keyboard and a leather carrying case with a fold out keyboard. So Linux users and type until your heart is overfilled. Besides, Lindows is not "REALLY" Linux anyhow.
It's ok, CmdrTaco.. we still love you.
My first two homes were built with bubble gum, twine and soft twigs. Until they sank into the swamp. My third home added moss and it's still here tod ... wait, it's sinking into the swamp. Lichens. That's what it needs!
But not in a gay way.
Ricoh G1200-S Tablet. touch-sensitive 16-bit color LCD screen, Does Win98, Linux... Costs less than $100 on Ebay.
So whats the big deal?
Cheers,
Bowie J. Poag
Is that what all those "switch" adds are about?!!
Does Jerry Falwell know?
BR Pity, those chix were kind of hot n' trashy.
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
What the heck is wrong with emachines. First they build a crappyer computer than Compaq and now are trying to kill the idea of a tablet PC. First off they should put real Linux on it or better yet FreeBSD, not some stupid imitation. I have worked with emachines and they can do nothing better than word processing. Tablet PCs are slow enough this will be slower. and what about games! PDAs can play games! these are a waste of money until the technology is refined and that is far off.
I dunno, pr0n on demand in the bathroom sounds like a killer app to me.
I can save time by jerking off while I shit! WOOT! I'm multi-tasking!
Made from the former people of eMachines? If they are trying to scare me from buying a tablet PC they are doing a very good job. I have never had more problems with a single brand of PC and yet now they are going to start producing tablet PCs and expect them to work?
The typing issue is trivial. I'm nearly certain you can plug in a standard keyboard (it's basically still a laptop, after all), and for those occasions when you can't, a simple app could put a keyboard on the screen and you can type on that.
Also, there's a neat gadget ( http://www.time.com/time/2002/inventions/rob_keybo ard.html )
that could be incorporated pretty easily, although I'm sure it's not in the machine under discussion. (Sorry if the URL is broken in half -- I couldn't figure out how to fix it.)
That's just one reason I consider a passive touchscreen (anything which can depress it can activate it) to an active one (has a special pen that is the only thing that will activate it.)
Here's a few others:
* Losing your stylus doesn't require a $15-$20 (at least) replacement, and render your machine completely dysfunctional until you get it.
* It allows software to become much more intuitive. The original concept of a mouse was to simulate being able to touch the objects on the "desktop" and move them around. The objects will still be a simulation, but the touching will be reality.
This has one medium serious drawback, of course. It means Apple was right to stick with a one-button mouse all this time...
* It opens up a whole bunch of new interface interaction possibilities. For example, to address the one-button,two-button,three-button issue, you could tap with one, two, or three fingers. (Some of the stuff that's been done with right-clicking I actually like. I'd rather not give it up.)
Even more, it makes possible interactions that could not possibly be done with a mouse, such as moving a window around with one hand and resizing it with the other at the same time (or resizing with two fingers on the same hand); or moving two windows (maybe even three or four if you've got big hands and coordination) at once.
How'd you like to design a web page layout by literal "hands-on" design? Eye-hand coordination is built into the species. Remote control devices like mice, trackballs, graphics tablets, etc all make it more difficult to use your mind for the creative, aesthetic side of the work. (Geeks, who usually don't have any aesthetic sense worth speaking of, and who use mice and keyboards more often than any other object, will not get as big a boost in productivity. Sorry.)
Add to that any other activities that involve multiple fingers (musical keyboards, 10-key pads, phone number pads and so on), and I consider a passive touchscreen a much better option than One Pen to Rul... Sorry, started to get carried away.
I read about this early this morning.. Lindows sent this our this morning to all the Lindows Developers... Imagine an Etch-A-Sketch size computer on the front of your refrigerator or maybe on the coffee table in your living room. Anytime you want movie times, sport scores, news headlines, or need to check your email, you'll have a handy, battery-operated, wirelessly-networked computer ready for your use. This is what the tablet computer is all about. We've been working on a tablet computer running LindowsOS, which should be ready near the first part of the year. (See below for how you can signup to hear about their release first.) I wanted to share with you some of our thoughts to get your feedback on where we're headed in the tablet market. I think you'll see our thinking about these devices may be different from others. Coming soon - LindowsOS Tablet PC 1) Tablet computers will need to be close to $500 to be practical. The LindowsOS Tablet PC will be around this price! Newly announced tablet computers are debuting with big price tags in the $2,000 to $3,000 range. While there will always be some techno-elite who purchase the latest toys no matter what the price, most people can't justify such costs. To reach the masses, tablets need to be substantially below $1,000. Anything priced higher will simply be a novelty and something you won't want to risk spilling coffee on. 2) Tablet computers will not replace desktops or laptops (and no all-in-one type of computers). If you've ever used a laptop's tiny screen or keyboard or fumbled with their abbreviated pointing device, you'll appreciate the old adage that bigger sometimes is better. Cramming everything into a tiny form function (which tablets need in order to be useful) makes general computing more difficult. Furthermore, people like keyboards. In my book, they're essential. Even a poor typist can outpace a fast hand writer. A tablet computer's usefulness will be primarily used as an easily accessible informational display device. Tablets won't be used for any intensive computing work. Instead, it will be used to go places where desktops or expensive laptop can't, due to price or bulkiness. Tablets will supplement desktops and laptops, not replace them, and only that if they are at a low, attractive price. 3) Handwriting recognition won't work reliably enough to be practical. Have you ever gotten a letter from your grandmother? The cursive writing was probably impressively precise. Now, compare that with the last letter from a friend. If you're under 40 you probably can't remember getting one, because written letters have largely been preempted by Email messages. So, think back to the last greeting card. Chances are the writing was fairly poor. That's because there's a lot less emphasis on handwriting in school and in business as much of today's communication is keyboard driven. As a consequence, handwriting has gotten sloppier making even the most accurate software unusable. 4) Even if we could perfect handwriting recognition, people wouldn't use it. Just because a particular technology becomes possible doesn't mean people will flock to use it. Voice navigation is now quite good, but that doesn't mean that people are talking to their computers. In fact, I know of virtually no one who regularly uses voice navigation, despite the fact that many predicted widespread adoption years ago. Sometimes, it's not just because of technical challenges why people don't perform a task a certain way. Even if hand writing on screens performed flawlessly, it doesn't mean that's what people will want to do. People like keyboards. People need keyboards. They are efficient. My kids will always be more proficient typists than writers. Society has made a remarkable transition over the last 20 years as the computer has taken hold (and before that with the typewriter). Younger folks have keyboard mentalities. It's primarily 40-plus-year-olds, who grew up in handwriting eras, who believe that handwriting will play a major role in computing. Active cursive writers are the very same people who are least likely to own computers and will be the last people to plunk down $3,000 for a tablet PC. The LindowsOS tablet will be an affordable device priced close to $500 - which is where it needs to be to gain mass market acceptance. It will supplement the PC and laptop already in use by providing a handy way to get quick access to information in a wireless manner. By using the low-cost solution that LindowsOS provides, we'll be making these devices at a much more affordable price. If you're thinking about how you could use a tablet computer be sure and sign up for our tablet mailing list to be notified first when we ship the LindowsOS tablet. Sincerely, Michael Robertson
Slashdot taught me how to use the preview button!
extra $900, i guess basic arithmetic is hard for someone with so much $ to throw around...
you could buy two of the docunotes for 1 compaq tc1000. you are quite the bargain hunter; would you like to buy some worldcom stock off me?
hey, he's still 0, insightful while you are -1, troll. Keep that in mind.
* It'll run Lindows.
* Company founded by a co-founder of e-machines.
* Crusoe processor.
Geez, this thing is just FULL of quality, ain't it?
I honestly can't think of any use for a tablet PC, other than warehousing. I'm sure there are some, but I'd still prefer a normal ol' laptop.
I am using a tablet pc in compusa right now. cool wireless internet access not compelling enough to compensate for nightmareish pen input interface. Getting this text entered correctly has taken more than 5 minutes...finally had to swith to soft keyboard.which sux to.
novelty at best
How is this any better then a Palm OS or PocketPC device? One can argue size matters but other than that why should I plunk down hard cash for one when my handspring visor does that allready?
Slashdot, home of supporters of free software, free music, and free speech.Except for Moderators that disagree with you.
Transmeta offers a specialized Linux OS based on Redhat 7.1 that is optimized for it's chips. Here is the link: http://midori.transmeta.com/
I would think this would be the optimal OS to run on this tablet. Not to mention its GPLed and is a Sourceforge project.
Unlike the new class of Tablet PCs, the device from StepUp Computing can be navigated by touching the display with any object, such as a stylus pen or your finger. [emphasis added]
One of the nice things about the new M$ tablets and their fancy wacom-style pen is that, since they only respond to the pen, you can rest your hand on the screen and write naturally. go ahead, try it. grab anything and write on it. notice how your whole hand is laying down? now try to write with nothing except the writing instrument's tip touching. not quite the same, eh? writing complicated shapes like a lowercase 'S' is pretty hard when your hand isn't fixed. start writing the letter S smaller and smaller with and without your hand touching and compare the results as the size decreases.
Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.
I like the features, price, and look of this device. If it can use other flavors of Linux besides Lindows and dual boot Linux and XP this might be a real winner for me. It's larger than a PDA.. which are to small for my tastes but not as bulky or expensive as a laptop.
For everyone whining about it not being either a PDA or a laptop they are missing the point.. some of us want something that is neither a PDA or a laptop and tablet PC's fit that need well. For me at least though I don't want to pay a laptop price for a tablet. $500-$800 hits the sweet spot for me.
At what price learning? At what cost wisdom? The price is a man's peace of mind, and the cost is his life.
...for the 'official record' that is /. , I have gone beyond being deeply troubled by Lindows, to now actively seeking the joy of its eventual demise.
I wonder how they are going to spin it when Lindows does fail....
-- I care not for your foolish signatures.
first post (Score:0, Insightful)
See? SEE? This is what happens when you let just anybody have mod points.
referring to Mandrake as a real version of linux
man
that's terrible
I'm typing this on a computer with a 17" LCD monitor. My monitor is wider than my keyboard, meaning it would be possible to display a picture of a keyboard on my screen at full size. I'd love to be able to touch-type on such a keyboard. It would suck ergonomically, it it'd be a challenge to have a touch-response system that's fast enough to keep up without errors-- you'd also have to have one that could recognize and handle multiple distinct touch-events simultaneously, as in holding down the shift key to type a capital letter. But if there were a way to pull it off, it would be a fantastic feature for quick, short entry. It would make a tablet or slate computer practical for uses like sending short emails or instant messages.
I write in my journal
Seriously - what's the big deal? Simple. Lindows uses a totally new system of installing software that makes it easy to use for people who aren't serious tech-heads. I have used almost every PC & Mac operating system since 1987 and this one finally has what I want - a stable core, a nice looking easy to use interface and the price that I want. THAT is the big deal.
Linux is no longer an exclusive operating system for techno-weenies (which I am). It's for the mainstream population who will drive it to heights even Linus didn't anticipate. Mandrake has nothing on Lindows for the typical desktop. Neither does any other version (at the moment) if we want to expand the use of Linux. Lycoris is nice, so's Debian and Xandros but they don't have the automatic installation of programs available to them like Lindows does. That's the most important difference right now.
As far as the tablets go, I can see a tremendous market in the education environment (where I'm employed) for several reasons. Price is one consideration but usability in the classroom is more important. We are already seeing serious problems with Palms, laptops are too expensive for everyone to have and we can't afford the space required to put a desktop computer in the classrooms for every student.Tablets are harder to steal too. Much more conspicuous sticking out of your pocket than a PDA. Tablet PCs are a possible solution for us in education. At least it's exciting enough to try.You'd be surprised at how much cool stuff kids can come up with when you give them a new piece of technology and cut them loose!
Have you hugged your penguin today?
I adore you like a human god. Praise your name for putting Propaganda back up, but when will you release the spiffy version of MicroBlogger you use for Propaganda Main?
LindowsOS Tablet PC to launch in early 2003
t ml
http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS8922070746.h
This article and many others convince me that Lindows is just what we need to bring GNU/Linux to the masses.
They're engaging in very aggressive, very smart business.
Firstly, naming it Lindows. Sounds like Windows, but doesn't violate the trademark, as a US Court found; partially because, to the dismay of the fuckwits at MS, they don't have rights over everything that sounds like Windows; partially because, as the court also found, Windows is a generic name. This move makes it more likely that Windows users will convert over.
Secondly, making their website look like Apple's Web site, and making their default desktop setup looking like a mix between WinXP and OSX. This helps to bring over Mac and Windows users.
Thirdly, aggressively pursuing OEMs and third parties to sell PC's with Lindows pre-installed. The partnership with Walmart is particularly brilliant. Millions of people shop at Walmart to get a value, and Lindows can capitalize on that by allowing people to get tons of software and a good OS on a $500 dollar PC with the monitor included. Most people already have printers, so it isn't necessary to include the cost of a printer.
Fourthly, by implying this relationship with AOL. Yes, its sneaky, but the only way a company can beat MS and Apple is to play by their game. It doesn't matter that they use sly tactics; what matters is that they're our natural allies.
Fifthly, by basing their distribution around Debian GNU/Linux. Couldn't have picked a more solid distro to base it off of. Also, being true to the GNU ideal will please the faithful.
Sixthly, for, while obeying the GPL, not offering the source code for download over the web free of charge, nor offering their binaries for download free of charge. The GNU GPL does not require that you give away the source for free, it only requires that you mail people the source if requested at no more than what it costs you to mail it to them. GNU GPL also doesn't require that you offer binaries for download over the web. Lindows is taking advantage of that, and employing a real business model. As dot.bomb taught us, its not a viable business model to plan your business around giving something away for free but hoping people will pay for it anyways.
Yes, Lindows is a serious business. Yes, they're aggressive. Yes, they're SOB's. But because their software is based off of the GPL'ed Debian, they're our SOB's. Lindows is a GNU/Linux distribution that will appeal to the masses by offering easy setup and configuration at a very cheap price. PC's sold with Lindows are definately much cheaper than the equivalent PC's sold with Windows. I see it gaining ground. I'd even suggest investing in Lindows as a stockholder.
social sciences can never use experience to verify their statemen
Is it just me, or does this thing not have a CD ROM drive?
...not to troll or anything, but why would someone need a tablet? Aren't we right back where we started from...?
I try to escape from writing with a (ball) pen as much as I can, just because a) I write solw b) uggly c) i get cramps after awhile d) can't read any good handwriting (compare to computerized-text).
Why do I escape to a keyboard-enviorment (notebook in my case) you may ask?. Well plain simple a) I write faster b) fancier/good-looking- writting c) no more cramps (I don't use One hand, I use 10 fingers, meaning 10 times less strains; And did I mention, I write dvorak; so even less strains).
I understand why artists use (want to use) a Wacom-board; I myself use one in photoshop (and the like...); but other uses in the writting-sector i prefer my keyboard.
So why switch back to a pen-enviorment?
I don't claim I know more than I know, and if you know you know more than I know, then by all means, let me know.
Then I thought of how funny it would be to take out Windows and substitute Linux. Then instead of just talking about the necessity of downloading drivers, but having to basically tell the machine every single detail and variation (that even hard liner hardware freaks rarely know) about their new hardware, then having to tweak it just to work, then the system flaking out, pissing everyone off, so they give up and THEN go buy a Mac.
This might be construed as flamish, but I really wonder about this (and I am dead tired right now) so I hope I will forget about it or find answers.
Anyone else find something about them other than the article???
Keep passing the open windows...
MS Releases the tablet PC and you guys have a field day putting the thing down. "I type faster so why bother?" "it's too big" "i already have a PDA" "What a peice of crap" Now there's a linux version and you have an intelligent conversation about the possibilities. This is why i could care less about Linux. for such an 'open' community, you certainly are closed minded. If you could only stop being so rotten eggs about everything MS. The attitude on Linux champions has no attraction.
Seriously - what's the big deal? Simple. Lindows uses a totally new system of installing software that makes it easy to use for people who aren't serious tech-heads. I have used almost every PC & Mac operating system since 1987 and this one finally has what I want - a stable core, a nice looking easy to use interface and the price that I want. THAT is the big deal.
OK, I'll bite.
Bullshit
It uses apt-get, with the auto-apt package. Not exactly what I'd call new.
Admissably, I don't use this feature, nor do I want to, and I certainly have no interest in a "root by default" distribution.
As for Mandrake having nothing on Lindows, I beg to differ. We put Mandrake systems into some sites, and they reckon it's excellent - and these guys have never used a computer before! I even know a 75 year old who uses Mandrake.
So just to reaffirm - Lindows has nothing new - and I don't know that auto-install is such a great feature anyway...
Thanks.
Michael
Help ... am trapped in Chinese fortune cookie company ... rescue me
If you've been following c-span lately, you'll notice that there is a hidden war going on. This war on terrorism is really a spiritual battle of "arthodox catholic views" and the true Gospel of our lord and savior Jesus Christ, which is against the catholic view of "under the law, under the law, SIN, SIN, SIN!" People should know by now that works of the law are fruitless! For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13. (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. What exactely is the law now people, sin unto death or obediance unto righteousness! 10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15. And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 19. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Governments need to be be very careful on how they are to "isolate and torture" those who don't bow down to their ways of SIN AND DEATH and do just as "johnny should do", these people are nothing more than "salt of the earth", to be cast out, and trodden under the foot of men who are in authoritative positions in governments around the world. So take heed those who believe the TRUE OXYMORON of "separation of church in state", if you dare preach a different gospel than the ones the states and catholic churces endorse(hey the people who claim they are Jews like works of the law too)(works unto death), you will be cast out and discriminated against way worst than the blacks had during the sixties.
the device from StepUp Computing can be navigated by touching the display with any object
;)
This is going to revolutionalize porn..
(sorry, had to be said
The picture at Lindows.com looks like its PS doctored from the DocuNote picture. Note: 1) exact same perspective view 2) exact same pen placement & orientation 3) image of Lindows desktop is NOT trapezoidal like the LCD bezel !!! No surprise
...then there has to be a conceiveable way to snake some other Linux OS on there, right? I say get one with a blank drive and go to town. I'd prefer to roll a nice sleek Mdk8.2, or perhaps GenToo...
I could also use it to roll something else, and not have Redmond knocking at my com ports wanting to add their own kabuki-ninja stealthy version of D9-THC. That shit's way too expensive. I like a securely rolled distro, anyway... ^-^
Self Moderation -1(Obvious Marijuana Innuendo)
Blog Prophyts - Right On, Man
they don't offer it for free, and it's based of debian, which is all about being gpl.
-Jon
this is my sig.
and be a slashdot editor as well.
Can you help???
and be a slashdot editor as well.
Can you help???
Young Song should StepDown and let Old News drive and read the writing on the wall (a good use for a pen).
-Keyboards are a good thing
-Lindows blows
-If I had to write this on a tablet you wouldnt be reading this
-They are going toe to toe with a bottomless money pit filled with severed toes
The only one of these things I'd consider using(as opposed to playing) is the Acer. But it has that dreaded keyboard. Wait, update...it does have a keyboard as an accessory. 1) Make it part of the base product - seperable, maybe. 2) Same with the wi/fi card - what's the use of this if you cant get anywhere? 3) Hide in the bushes and hope ms does'nt make them sing a new song
my other sig sucks less
Actually, LindowsOS is a very nice packaging layer built on top of Debian. It is most certainly Linux. It is not closed source, you can download everything after you've purchased it. And it runs installs and extremely well: around 7 minutes for a full format & install, perfect hardware detection, only two questions ('whole disk?' and 'password'), automatic network configuration, automatic OS update after restart.
Highly recommended to those who need a simple install for basic browsing/email workstations.
Bundling LindowsOS is a very smart move for prospective hardware manufacturers. It is not Windows. It is Linux, looking good.
Sig for sale or rent. One previous user. Inquire within.
hehe, I am still giggling.
Here's the link to the Desktop Linux article, and contained in there (deposited here for those too lazy) the link to the company's web site.
http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS8922070746.html
StepUp Computing
There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
Asshole. You can get true-type fonts lots of places, they are supported, and they have nothing to do with the issue at hand. Go sleep in a pile of your own bullshit.
Windows XP doesn't come with gcc. Is that relevant to this discussion? no.
Interestingly, I've found programs with interfaces modeled on the Star Trek: The Next Generation interface by Okuda, ``LCARS'' (Library Computer Access and Retrieval System) fairly useful on my Fujitsu pen slate. They're also called, ``Okudagrams'' (the gel-based mockups from the sets which occasionally become available for sale).
Fun too.
Unfortunately there isn't a real depth to them, and little in the way of productivity apps as-of-yet, but it does show potential, and it'd make an interesting alternative for Linux advocates to just cloning whatever MS is doing.
William
Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.
For a project I once took a device that'd read brain wave patterns (like $20 for the gizmo.. sometimes Radio Shack has them) and display them on screen and wrangled the input into a speech recognition library and was able to train the system to let me control a mouse. It really wasn't all that hard because the speech library took waveforms as input which weren't to unlike the data provided by the device I had.
:)
Am thinking of trying to find such a device again and write a Python program to play with the output. It could be fun to have the only Linux box able to read minds.
At what price learning? At what cost wisdom? The price is a man's peace of mind, and the cost is his life.
Is a ProGear able to play back DVD-quality video? I work for a company that makes custom DVD's (of home movies etc) and would like a tablet that can play mpeg and divx video on the server over the wireless network or from it's own harddrive. I am considering buying a ProGear but am not sure how well one of them would handle video.
At what price learning? At what cost wisdom? The price is a man's peace of mind, and the cost is his life.
Several years ago, some smart businessmen had an idea: Why not build a big
store where a do-it-yourselfer could get everything he needed at reasonable
prices? Then they decided, nah, the hell with that, let's build a home
center. And before long home centers were springing up like crabgrass all
over the United States.
-- Dave Barry, "The Taming of the Screw"
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