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OQO For Sale
captainJam writes "After many delays, the OQO is available for sale, or pre-order actually. However, they will begin shipping in the middle of next month. Read the scoop for how much it'll set you back. Check this link if you're still not sure what the OQO is." Update: 10/13 13:49 GMT by H : I've got a Model 01 that was sent over for review; I'll be checking it out with both XP & Linux; it's definitely one of the cooler handhelds out there.
Panurgism is the reaction to an ever repeating tired joke :
The fact is that I am not interested anymore, I just do not believe what they kept repeating while postponing their product.
Trolling using another account since 2005.
Yes I'd seen this over in mip's scan that the OQO has finally launched and is taking orders on their website. I'm not sure though - it seems pretty underpowered for the price. The Flipstart seems to be a more promising unit.
I get basically the same thing as a newer, clamshell Zaurus, but without Linux? I get a used Apple iBook, but without OSX or Mac goodness? Where's the compelling reason to buy?
I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
Wow. No description of what the hell this thing is, but he does give links to find out and they're both slashdotted.
Can the editors please institute a policy that they only accept/post stories that are adequately descriptive?
You couldn't find enough room in the cover story to describe what it was, so you linked to a web page that was /.ed when there was a total of 1 comments posted. Great Job!
who | grep -i blond | date cd ~; unzip; touch; strip; finger; mount; gasp; yes; uptime; umount; sleep
Just 4.9 inches long, 3.4 inches wide, .9 inches thin, and weighing only 14 ounces, the model 01 can fit in a pocket or purse and go with you anywhere. For easy typing and cursor control it has a complete thumb keyboard with TrackStik and mouse buttons as well as digital pen and thumbwheel. It is the much anticipated device for people who previously had to choose between the bulk and awkwardness of a laptop and the limited capability of a PDA.
The OQO model 01 is also the most versatile computer to date. With the OQO docking cable, it can easily connect to projectors and Ethernet. Placed in the desktop stand it is a desktop computer, allowing you to connect easily to a variety of peripherals, including full-size keyboards, printers, scanners, and high-resolution monitors. It shifts easily from one mode to the other with no data synchronization required. With an OQO model 01 you can move throughout your day and enjoy constant access to all your information and Windows XP programs. You can use the same computer for high-powered applications at work, sending email at home, listening to music on a train, or watching a movie on an airplane. It is the only computer you need.
Would it really fuck up an editor's day to actually do some, you know, editing? What the hell do these guys do all day, and can I get paid to do the same?
If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
lack of editing mutter mutter not like that in my day mutter mutter youth of today mutter mutter ...
Guess they're using one to run the webserver!
For a few nano seconds it will look cool as you have the latest flashiest toy on the block. If that's worth $2,000 to you then fine but I won't be buying.
init 11 - for when you need that edge.
http://www.oqo.com/hardware/basics/
:)
The official marketing version.
East Coast Brewers
Unfortunately for Linux users, there is no option to not have any OS installed.
The USB is currently 1.1
So you have to pay M$ royalties, regardless of whether you intend to use Windows, and no USB 2.0 support. Lovely.
I've looked at that one, as well as the Sony U series, but basically, I've come to the conclusion that I really want a keyboard as well, not a writable screen. So much of what I do involves writing in one form or another. I've ended up ordering one of these instead. Sure, it won't (quite) fit into a coat pocket - you need to have it in your bag - but it is a lot more computer for about the same price.
Trust the Computer. The Computer is your friend.
You'd think our boy Timothy would at least link to the page of the manufacturer where there are images, and stands a better chance against /.'ing. Here you go guys...it's some sort of portable computer thing.
model 01 ultra personal computer
1 GHz processor, 20GB HD, 256MB RAM, WiFi, Bluetooth, USB, FireWire, audio, thumb keyboard, 800x480 indoor/outdoor readable LCD (ships with: removable lithium polymer battery, docking cable, desktop stand, power supply, carrying sleeve, and digital pen.)
Windows XP Home $1899.00
Windows XP Pro $1999.00
Microsoft Office Small Business Edition Pre-installed $300.00
I believe prices are USD.
I think this fills a need that too many folks don't have.
Also, the article says that many of the specs are out of date, but they're going to launch anyway. That tells me that the second generation OQO is going to have more guts, and be out as soon as enough suckers have bought enough of the wimpy ones to finance further development. I'll wait.
See what I've been reading.
Here are some info links
extremetech
The register
Since this is not the first machine of theses types of machines, nor has it been modded to run Linux how does this rate as News for Nerds?
Of course this is expensive. Ever notice how most things work on an exponential curve? As you get smaller and smaller the price begins to go up disproportionately. Why? Cause its hard to cram a whole computer into something the size of a 1990 cell phone! If you think this device is too expensive you don't understand the market its aimed at. Its not really for Joe Sixpack. Its for Joseph Suit that wants to take his computer with him and not carry a laptop.
Sounded at first like OQO the company was for sale. My fist thought was, "Sheesh...after all this waiting!". Kind of like your woman telling you at the last minute that she's got a headache :-)
-JT
However, the OQO isn't designed to be a desktop replacement, nor intended to be a portable video game machine
So, what exactly is it supposed to be? An overpriced PDA? A toy for high level executives?
Oh, I get it - I'm going to spend twice the money I would on a desktop to get less than half the machine.
I really like the concept of the OQO:
So it has everything I want in a portable, except: price. I can hardly justify spending $2000 for this thing when the Sharp Zaurus has a full keyboard, runs Linux, and costs about 1/2 to 1/4 as much. I don't think I'd have too hard a time finding at least half a dozen other comparable handtops that cost less than half as much.
Overall, I'm really interested. This would be a really cool machine, but at $2000, it will never be accepted by the mainstream. Price it at $500, and two years from now people will be saying, "Palm who?", and "What's an IPAQ?"...
The society for a thought-free internet welcomes you.
You are waaayyyyy too right. This thing is priced at least double what it should be priced. More realistically it should be at the $700 range like you said since the memory is low, the wireless is slow, and the processor is not all that.
Ok here are the specks from the oqo.com site.
.9"
"1GHz Transmeta processor
20GB hard drive (shock-mounted)
256MB DDR RAM
Dimensions: 4.9" x 3.4" x
Weight: 14 ounces
800 x 480 W-VGA 5" transflective display (indoor/outdoor readable)
3D accelerated graphics with 8mb video RAM
QWERTY thumb keyboard with mouse buttons and TrackStik®
802.11b wireless
Bluetooth® wireless
4-pin FireWire® (1394)
USB 1.1
3.5mm stereo headphone jack
Microphone
Digital pen
Removable lithium polymer battery
Battery life up to three hours, depending on usage
OQO docking cable includes:
3D accelerated 1280 x 1024 VGA video output
Additional USB
Additional FireWire (1394)
Ethernet
DC power
Audio out
additional features
Active hard drive protection that safely parks hard drive heads upon detecting freefall
Screen that slides on rack and pinion mechanism to reveal thumb keyboard
Shift, control, function and alt keys that have smart-lock with LED indicators
Thumbwheel allows for traditional scrolling as well as enhanced features
Ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts backlight to appropriate level
External antenna connector for 802.11b (in addition to built-in diversity antennas)
Now the part that stands out to me (besides the USB 1.1, I guess Firewire is the way to go) is the 3 hour battery life, depending on usage.
Ok so we've basically stepped back in time 5 years to ultra crappy laptops that don't last long enough to fly half way across the US.
I'm guessing that if you're using the wifi that battery time is probably less than 2 hours. Reminds me of the Ipaq I used to have that lasted all of an hour without plugging it in. Talk about your useless wireless POC.
Apple free since 1990!
pay half as much and get the smallest USABLE laptop. The fujitsu p1120. 800mhz crusoe, 4.5h battery life (with extended battery) and touchscreen. keyboard i can code on all day. its a beautiful beautiful system. shell out the cash for the extra ram. and laptops inc/portable one should gladly upgrade your hard drive, if you so request, usually at very reasonable prices.
Fujitsu p1120. Purchase here and forums for it here.
This has to be the most un-imaginative approach to mobile, and unbiquitous computing: take the hardware and OS of desktops and small to midrange servers and make it all smaller. Granted there's a nod to the portability issues with the touch screen and built in wireless technolgoies but this is bolt on stuff from a design point of view.
Of course it's a remarkable acheivement in engineering to cram all that in to such a small and light device, but the design demonstrates a really blinkered approach to the requirements.
Think about what you are liekly to do on the move. The input devices fixed to the machine should reflect tese activities: you can't write seriously on a keyboard like that so why bother with the keyboard at all? Voice recognition can handle serious text input with ease these days leaving only the editing to be done when you get back to base and plug it into it's cradle giving you access to a full size keyboard and mouse.
What is the power hungry and delicate hard disk for? This should be in a datacentre somewhere and presented on the device via an intelligent caching back end that makes it look like the stuff is local.
Why is it running an OS that has it's design roots derived from hardware designed for the server and desktop computer ? Do we really need all that baggage in a portable device?
The PDA approach is a much better place to start. With the addition of the right client software it could communicate with larger systems when placed in it's cradle (using protocols like X or framebuffers like VNC), and using a full size monitor/keyboard/mouse. Storage could be central and the device is then also small enough to function a phone.
Condensing Windows, a desktop OS which in turn has it's philosophy derived from other multi-tasking operating systems for small computers like Unix et al into a small package like that is amazing, but ultimately misses the great opportunities that global networks, wireless connectiivty and a tiered approach can give.
Still - I'm sure it'll find many fans due to the familiarity factor - same as your desktop/laptop but smaller..
I've heard things things are real handwarmers.