Modular PC Handtop Review

captainJam writes "The Modular PC (MPC) is a device with a simple concept centering around one 'core' that can be used in a variety of 'shells'. While the use of any laptop, tablet or desktop is immediately limited by the design of its components, the MPC can expand on its functionality with the introduction of new shells to house the core which contains the CPU, GPU, etc. Handtops.com has a review of the device and touches on its strengths and weaknesses. Overall, it is a great concept and decently executed, but the price will be prohibitive for most."

Comments

Not Just Prohibitive - Foolish

[stoolpigeon]

The cost is not prohibitive in that many wont be able to afford it but prohibitive in that it just does not make sense. You don't gain anything but you pay a lot more. The core is around $2000. Then the docking station is another $200. The laptop shell is $800. The tablet shell is another grand. So you are paying 3 grand for a laptop, tablet and a docking station. (and you've still got to pay for a monitor and input devices for the desktop part) For that I can buy a laptop, a tablet and probably a touch more for a desktop.

Portable storage is dirt cheap and convenient. So I'm not sure what I would gain. If it were difficult to move data between those types of devices I could really see the appeal. But it's not hard to do anymore. I'd rather just buy the full blown version of each component for quite a bit less (if you got the same processor, etc.).

High Priced Because of Demand

[maxzilla]

I saw the $1990 pricetag, and I'm not suprized, most of these types of PCs are not attempting to get a deep market saturization, so the price reflects the lack of demand. they need to recoup the initial development costs, and thus it seems pricy. there are some critical applications I could see it used for, such as occupations with a high amount of movement between desktops (IE a person who travels alot for the company) they could have the desktop at the office, and also have a laptop so their workstation goes where they go. also I can see it in the medical field where doctors can walk around and access charts digitally, then dock at a PC to do research. it certainly is not designed with common AOLer use in mind, though I could even see it being really useful on a college campus...

With that price, why even post?

[extra88]

I can understand why a gadget site might want to post about this device, they have articles on all kinds of crazy, overpriced stuff. Why give something with such a ridiculous price valuable attention on Slashdot?

Better to accept an Ask Slashdot question such as "The MPC is an interesting idea with a stupid pricing scheme. How might one construct something like this on their own?"

Re:Not Just Prohibitive - Foolish

[stoolpigeon]

I'm trying too-- but the only way I can see it making a lot of sense is if the shells get to be a lot cheaper than what they replace. If the PDA shell costs more than a full-on PDA it just doesn't make sense. If the laptop shell costs more than a laptop.... you get the idea.

A laptop with a docking station covers 90% of what this would do without all that cost. In fact you can get a more powerful laptop for less than the core alone.

The idea seems to have grown from a need that just doesn't exist anymore. Especially as wireless becomes more and more common. Why carry around a 'core' when I can sync by walking in the room where my base station lives? Oh and I mixed words with numbers in my orginal post and it is 4,000 for all the parts, not 3. So it's just crazy.

The perfect concept, but backwards

[hirschma]

I think that this product strategy could be work, but only if it was turned inside-out, essentially, and stripped to the basics. In other words, ONE form factor, but widely figurable - even in ways that may not be initially predicted.

How about this:

• Start with a form factor that will hit a sweet spot. Perhaps a clamshell? The digitizer that would make it a tablet is probably not all that valuable to most folks - witness the poor sales of Tablet PCs.
  
• Pretty much include only the very basics in the package - processor (how about ARM? - cheap and fast, good power consumption), keyboard, battery, display stuff, perhaps a pointing thingy. No memory. No storage. Battery optional - and use an existing battery form factor, if possible. Oh, and some kind of firmware that can boot anything. Maybe Mini-PCI and Ethernet, if it doesn't add too much to the bottom line.
  
• Build in STANDARD interfaces. USB. PCMCIA. SO-DIMM memory expansion. CF slot.
  
• Let people pick and choose what they want next. Notebook replacement? OK, put in a CF microdrive, lots of RAM, Linux OS, done. Pocket PC on steroids? OK, CompactFlash memory, Windows CE, less memory, wireless card. You get the idea - make it so that there are many, many permutations possible.
  
• Lastly: Support one or two STANDARD configs. Let the community support the rest. Give a few away - what would the OpenZaurus folks do with this beasty? The NetBSD folks? Perhaps someone wants to hack around with WinCE... give a few away and let them.
  

And then - price the basic box at under $500. Make it the Soekris of portable and desktop computing.