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TDA (Tactile Digital Assistant) the new PDA?

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the yeah-i-doubt-that dept.

imashoe writes "BonaFideReviews has just posted an article on the latest thumb-powered up-and-coming mobile device, the TDA (Tactile Digital Assistant), a possible replacement to the PDA."

8 of 188 comments (clear)

  1. And....? by Morphix84 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Big deal. Engadget was Talking about this last year

    1. Re:And....? by sych · · Score: 3, Informative

      I don't see any sign of a review - this seems to just be the marketing information with the word "review" placed above it. Nowhere do they say they have actually even seen a unit, nor do they give any of their own opinions about the device. One thing you have to say about the company is that they sure do seem to succeed (repeatedly) in getting editors into a lather over nothing at all.

  2. RE: I think my bro makes boards for these things. by fshalor · · Score: 4, Informative

    All I can say is, the're good hardware. Considering the're being built with the same machines that were used to make the SINgars for the tanks and helicopters. :)

    I've played with a few finished units, and would buy one over the cheap feeling palms these days any time.

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    -=fshalor ::this post not spellchecked. move along::
  3. This is the Jackito... by david.given · · Score: 2, Informative
    ...which has been covered here before, back in June 2004, in this and this article (both submitted by Roland Piquepaille. YHBW.)

    Hmm. June. I'm surprised this hasn't moved along a bit more since then, it looks like a nice little device. However, it does actually seem possible to order the thing, now, from their rather naff website, although the price ranges from 600 USD for the cheapest version to a staggering 3500 USD if you want all the accessories.

    There's a good collection of add-ons, though --- anybody actually thinking of ordering one?

  4. No Thanks by Sheepdot · · Score: 2, Informative

    From TFA:
    The Jackito doesn't come with character recognition software built-in.

    I'll stick with my Speak-N-Spell, thank-you-very-much.

  5. Extremely Underpowered by cbulock · · Score: 5, Informative
    I'll start by saying that I have never actually seen one of these devices in person since they haven't been released. But I did do some research into the specfics of this machine and posted that info here: http://www.cbulock.com/2004/07/jackito_tactile_dig ital_assistant.html
    Some of the highlights:

    The base unit, $600. Oh, but you wanted color? Not included, an extra $138. And what about the wireless capabilities? Also, not included. Bluetooth, an extra $80, WiFi, another $150 on top of that. Would you like a camera, add on another $100. So, just for a decent PDA, and by that I mean color screen and WiFi, this device is already going to cost $888.


    The main CPU is a Mitsubishi CPU (M30803) and from what I can find, that tops out at 20MHz. The other "CPU" mentioned is the Texas Instruments CPU (MSP 430), a 50 cent processor that, while it has low power consumption, doesn't seem to be all to powerful. Couldn't find any specs other that it's a 16-bit processor. Seems that it's mainly used to perform simple tasks such as controlling an LCD screen. The other "CPU's" mentioned are simply programmable logic chips probably also used to control other simple functions on the device such as sound and video. So, there are just a number of simple microchips all performing basic tasks to power this device. Every PDA or computer has a number of chips that back up the main CPU to perform tasks.
  6. Re:Who uses them? by selfsealingstembolt · · Score: 3, Informative

    If you've got a laptop and you've got a cell phone, is there any need for a PDA?

    Well, if you do not want to drag a laptop around and still have some computing power with you, there is a need. Besides the obvious (calendering, address book, todos, ...) I use my iPAQ as MP3 Player (1 GB SD card), for running emulators (NES, SNES, GameBoy, Atari, ScummVM, ...), as mobile storage device and to check EMails (in combination with my mobile).

    Yes, I could do that with my mobile, a Gameboy, a MP3Player and with a portable HDD, but why not have all in one device?

    And Smartphones are, at least IMHO, the worst of the bunch. Why? I have a phone to make calls and maybe to send/recieve SMS'. If I wanted it to be a PDA, I'd buy one (what I did). Smartphones either have a large display and are too bulky to have them on you all the time OR have display far too small to be useful as PDA-replacement. Also, my mobile (a Siemens M45 - outdoor) is nearly indestructible and has a long battery life. If it had a high-res display and a 200Mhz CPU that would change.

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    Keep open minded - but not that open your brain falls out...
  7. Re:Not exactly novel... by zerkon · · Score: 2, Informative

    The battery life stems in part from the fact that it is a B/W screen. Adding the Color screen option chops that down to "a few hours"

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    The Answer