On the Possible Handtop Paradigm Shift

captainJam writes "Handtops.com has a piece about the effects of handtops (text version) such as the OQO, FlipStart and others on the computing experience. With a physical size that's slightly larger than a PDA, a handtop has the power of a standard ultra-portable laptop - 1GHz, 256-512MB RAM, USB, FireWire, etc. These factors, coupled with a dock (plug in a monitor, keyboard and mouse) allow one to imagine a world where maybe they won't need a desktop, or laptop, or mp3 player, video jukebox, digicam, etc. Maybe one day companies might even be willing to pay for part of your handtop, knowing that they would have to invest less in upgrading? It's not all rosy, the devices are still under $2000 and aren't due out until later this fall (OQO) or Q1-2 2005 (FlipStart), but this is an important shift worth letting the mind ponder." Of course, the OQO has been in development for a while, now.

Comments

We may indeed establish an entirely new paradigm!

[Scoria]

Paradigm Shift

So, who hijacked the time machine and transported us all to 1998?

It won't replace the desktop

[wheany]

It won't replace the desktop at least as long as my fingers are not ultra portable as well.

Re:It won't replace the desktop

[Matrix_X]

How are your fingers not ultra portable?
I can take mine wherever I go, in fact, I have to take them wherever I go.

Still UNDER $2000?

[Elecore]

Shame... I mean, I can't wait until the prices rises. I'm not buying one until they are AT LEAST $5000.

AH!!!

[kinema]

That was way too much hype and marketing speak this early in the morning.

OQO-due1Q2045

[Overzeetop]

OQO has been in "next quarter" status for, what, 3 years now? They get /.'ed about every 6 months with their "any day now" press releases. Don't call me until is ships.

No, I take that back.

Don't call me until version 3 actually arrives. Anything with so many delays (usu the result of design or production difficulties) is going to be crap on its first two releases.

Handjob?

[Anonymous Coward]

Gee, I'd rather stay in the blowjob paradigm, thank you very much.

doom3

[fulana_lover]

This must be the pda the doom3 guy was carrying! They really need to put a flashlight on it though.

Of course

[laserbeak]

The PDA's will be supplied by the UAC- 'brining you a better future!'

Re:Input

[Timesprout]

The solution is easy. If I am going to be away from my keyboard I carry a small philipino child around in my rucksack. When I need to something typed I just dictate to the kid and voila, tiny fingers do the typing.

Note, kids require air food and water (not included with rucksack or handtop)

Re:We may indeed establish an entirely new paradig

[lucabrasi999]

Paradigm Shift

BINGO!!!!

Re:Why companies should pay for a 'handtop'

[Xugumad]

Realising the device you left on the train contained absolutely everything... priceless :)

Re:not really close to desktop computing power

[wed128]

true...but 1Ghz is enough for menial tasks like office and webbrowsing...

i do however think these things should run something like palmos, a tailored linux distro, or winCE to keep the memory/horsepower footprint down.

Re:We may indeed establish an entirely new paradig

[laejoh]

Dilbert

Rosy

[bestguruever]

It's not all rosy, the devices are still under $2000

Yes, things will be much more rosy when they are over $2000.

Cost

[abulafia]

t's not all rosy, the devices are still under $2000

You're right. These things won't take off until they cost about $5000.

paradigms

[Hognoxious]

That's 20 cents, isn't it?