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Handtop Roundup
captainJam writes "As the OQO is due out soon (interview with OQO CEO), it's important to have a look at all of the options. Most are Linux happy, one isn't. Most have a touch screen, one doesn't. The article has comparisons between all the devices and their size, power, connectivity, interface, resolution and a look at strengths / weaknesses."
The OQO is really cool.
According to http://www.dynamism.com/, the U50/70 comes with it's own folding keyboard.
While the article covers the U50/U70 model, it doesn't talk about the slightly older (and kinda hard to get, but still obtainable) Sony U101. I've had one for a while and really love it -- I'm typing this message on it right now. The above linked site is my detailed page on running Linux on the system (which I haven't updated in a while, but will soon, promise). Anyway, unlike the U50, it's shaped more like a mini laptop -- but it's still smaller than some of the systems on handtops.com.
Bruce
Bruce Perens.
Based on what I have been reading about the increased popularity of laptops, many people are buying them as desktop replacements.
I've always preferred to use laptops as desktop replacements simply because it takes up less space. Desktops, especially if you're using a CRT instead of an LCD display, seem to take up an entire desk, leaving you with less surface area to use the desk for anything else. In fact, I very rarely move my laptop from where it sits.
ThinkGeek has the Roll-Up Keyboard and the TouchStream LP ZeroForce Keyboard. You can check out FingerWorks' product page as well; they make the TouchStream. I read someone's comment on the Roll-Up Keyboard before, saying that the characters on his faded over time after extended use, but he could still type on it without a problem because he got used to it, although other people couldn't.
I plan on having in my hot little hands a U50 in 2 or 3 months. Up until recently, I was using a Sigmarion 3 handheld PC as my primary computer when at home. It was a sweet machine, but I had to sell it to make a school loan payment. Before that, it was a Jornada 720, equipped with a 2 GB PCMCIA hard drive, also great. A lot of people assumed since I was using what most folks consider a PDA as my main computer that I was nuts- after all, don't PDAs have a tiny screen, 160x160 or 240x320? Pfft. The Sig3 has a 800x480 screen- just like the new OQO- and the J720 has a 640x240 screen. Both are great for browsing the web, email, coding and many other types of work.
If you're wanting something like this, be it a Sig3 or a Zaurus, I highly reccomend Conics.net. A big difference between one of these new "handtops" and the Sig3 or the Jornada 72x is price: the Sig3 usually costs around $500, while these new guys all cost around $2000. Especially a consideration when you're not planning on dumping the laptop or desktop at home for one of these handtops.
I've been waiting for the OQO for years now, and I'm sure glad I didn't sell the iBook to generate funds back during the first pre-order.
But the new Sony U50/U70 machines look like to be my dream machine. A nice screen. All the ports.
The only thing that would be more perfect is to have a U70-like device, but with the built-in keyboard. Not in a fixed laptop mode like the Sig3, but with the abiliy to convert- think the Zaurus C7x0 or most of the tablet PCs. That would be the perfect machine for me.
The Tablet PCs out there seem fine, except they're all huge. I want something with a 5" to 6" screen, not 10"-14". Not only can I not fit that in my pocket, it's hard to fit in my hands/arms for more than 10 minutes. Then you need to sit down, get it onto your lap, or put it on a table. I have no idea what those Tablet PCs folks are thinking having huge and heavy devices. Nothing more than laptops with touchscreens.
Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad
Battery life *is* reviewed. They note that it is 2-3 hours depending on usage, and so close to identical for all the handtops (due to the striking hardware similarities) that it isn't worth mentioning again.
IMO, this battery life sucks ass. If they want it to be carried around and used without much thought or trouble, it needs to last through at least one full day of heavy use. For example, in a 16-hour day that includes a morning commute, work, lunch, work, dinner, some evening activity in town, and a commute home, a heavily-used handtop would die before the trip home, if not before dinner. Sure, toss it in a charger after lunch, but then it can't just hang out in your pocket until you need it, can it?
My only experience with Vaio computers has been with the very first PictureBook model which has run Linux from day one and I never had any problems with it (except for the camera, although later models were supported). So I can't say there has been any Linux hostility per se.
:)
Of course I'm not exactly a very representative population on which to base a decision either...
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