Slashdot Mirror
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."
Turns out a banana somehow ended up in their review of handtops.
These just scream please invent me a new interface to me. Maybe we could start learning these babies: http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/08/10/009201 &tid=137&tid=159&tid=1&tid=218
Hasn't this comparison already been on handtops.com for a while now? I've used the Sony Vaio U-50 a bit, and it's really a nice little package. Sexy little touches like LEDs on the buttons that fade off, the general look and feel of the whole unit, and the 802.11g is very nice as well. I'd buy one for my own personal use if I could afford it. They would be awesome for travelling. They say they're not Linux-freindly, which I don't think is that big of a deal anyway for something like this. If it wasn't for the occasional unpredictable reboot, they'd be perfect!
But it was nowhere in the article. Anyone know if there are decent USB *portable* keyboards around?
the real issue is human I/O, that means screeen size and a usable tool for data input (reasonably sized keyboard and or pen + reasonably effective handwriting recognition) in a format small and light enough to be really portable.
these lack in every aspect
palmtop and tablets are much more close to the ideal
The flipstart is very close to a traditional laptop. I may be wrong but its use seems most natural when you put it down on a surface and start typing away. Just like a laptop but a lot smaller. With the advantage that in public transport laptops often don't fit.
The OQO is the only other one with a keyboard but it would seem uncomfortable to use for a lot of typing. If you lay it flat down for easy keyboard access the screen will be at an odd angle. Hold it in your hand and you will have to use the old hunt and peck approach to typing. Although it may be small enough to hold in both hands and type with the thumbs I think it will not equal the Flipstart in typing speeds.
The sony has a lot of controls but no keyboard. Clearly aimed at GUI apps therefore. Touchscreen are not a typist dream. It does however have plenty of controls so controlling media or a game or browsing shouldn't be a problem.
The last one is clearly aimed at special markets likely to run their own software. Not really well suited to a desktop enviroment.
The OQO beats the others on size. Important but the flipstart is very close and has the protected screen and is closest to a laptop. The LID thing seems nice as well.
I think it all depends on how much typing you want to do on the move. Lots then it is the flipstart. None then you can go for the sony. OQO sits neatly in the middle and the antelope is just to big.
The flipstart wins again on screensize compared with total size.
What I find odd is that battery life isn't previewed at all. Traditional laptop life times are very very bad. Especially since these devices seem such natural mobile media players.
Oh well, nice toys but we are soon going to see more and more cheap media players. It will be intrestting if they are going to add "extras" just like the iPod has an adress book. iRiver seems to planning some game support for its upcoming media players.
OQO coming out. Half-life 2 gone gold. The Sims finally getting a new engine. Doom 3 out. Longhorn stripped down and getting a closer release date.
Soon we will have only DNF left over as vaporware.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
Seems like the handtops might be in kind of a clumsy market nitch. For just a little more you can get a full blown laptop with more power and storage. For a lot less you can get a very functional PDA that does most of what you'd want a handtop to do with a longer battery life that's much easier to carry around. I could see uses for these, I'm just not sure it's a big market.
No, my iPAQ isn't Linux friendly. Had there been a Linux option for my iPAQ I'd certainly have opted for it. Hopefully HP will offer a Linux-based PDA to go with their Linux laptops. That would be a killer combination.
It was pretty funny last night. Having dinner at a Thai restaurant and decided just for grins to kick on the Wi-Fi link. To my surprise it found a network right away, an open wireless router at the mortgage company next door. Great thai food and high speed internet. Nice bonus.
That's our life, the big wheel of shit. - The Fat Man, Blue Tango Salvage
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.