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

Most Companies Will Not 'Go-Halfsies'

[grunt107]

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?

Most companies want their information/apps locked into their computers - some even to the point of assigning a company laptop to perform off-site work.

For small/medium companies with less sensitive data protection needs, it could help some of their bottom line. But employee expenses will be their major reduction focus.

No, it's not time..

[sporty]

Each of my hands, (I have two), in a relatively relaxed open position, are somewhere between 4 and 5 inches wide, from thumb to pinky (narf). When my eyes are tired, focusing on distant objects becomes "hard".

Tiny screen plus uber small keybaord? No tnx. If i have the realestate, I rather have my 18" or however wide keyboard it is + a 19" monitor. For travelling, I rather have something big enough but not outweigh an every-day text book plus wide enough that I'm not squinting and can see my screen, w/o carrying around a full sized monitor.

Re:Input

[CommanderData]

Both the OQO and Flipstart have keyboards and a pointing device (trackstick and touchscreen on the OQO, touchpad and trackstick on the Flipstart). I know these aren't full size keyboards, but there are tons of people who type on even smaller, less functional ones. Look at the keyboards on Pocket PCs, Palms, and the Blackberry.