FlipStart to Replace Your Laptop?

WED Fan writes "Paul Allen has a new hardware venture, smaller than a laptop, larger than a blackberry. According to the Seattle P-I, the vision is to replace the laptop for most everyday use, such as office applications, email, and web surfing. 'Really, FlipStart gives you everything that your laptop does [...] We're not promoting the idea that you would do CAD design on it, but for Office applications and most of what people do with their laptops, it's great.' But at a $2000 price tag, this could be a little bit out of the range of many users. The product will launch on FlipStart.com in the not to distant future."

Comments

The Sub-Notebook returns!

[AKAImBatman]

So let me get this straight: They sell you a small brick for more than a notebook computer costs. You get a slow processor, small screen, small hard drive, worse battery life than the average PC or Mac laptop, a keyboard you can't type on, and you're supposed to believe that it's revolutionary? I'm not following.

Sony tried this years ago with their Vaio sub-notebook line of computers. (Here's a picture.) Unlike this... thing... its keyboard was actually fairly decent, the screen was bright, and it was overall fairly useful. It's only problem was that it just wasn't large enough to be practical. You can't really type notes on a keyboard of that size. Nor are you really going to squint at the small screen while typing letters/memos/spreadsheets. That's why the entire market moved more toward the ultra-thin notebooks that were nearly as portable, but offered larger screens and keyboards.

The only advantage I can find with this thing is that it's a sub-notebook with Wifi. (Based on the comments about replacing the BlackBerry.) Possibly even GSM/EDGE support. I don't think that's going to make up for the lousy form factor, especially when you can get a $50 PCMCIA card from your cell provider to do the same thing.

Re:The Sub-Notebook returns!

[CastrTroy]

For that price, you could just get a PDA with keyboard and a laptop. I really don't see what this offers over a good PDA. It seems quite expensive for something that's basically a PDA. One point on the keyboard though. Most people I know, many people who use computers every day, even some developers, can't type properly, and use the hunt and peck method. I don't see this device slowing most people down.

Re:The Sub-Notebook returns!

[Reality Master 101]

They sell you a small brick for more than a notebook computer costs. [etc, etc] I'm not following.

The point of this is SMALL.

Sony tried this years ago with their Vaio sub-notebook line of computers.

They are bigger, and the screen resolution sucked on them. The question is whether this new device has a "real" screen resolution. And you criticize the keyboard of this new device, missing the point of SMALL. Small is not compatible with "good keyboard".

I don't think that's going to make up for the lousy form factor,

If you think the form factor is "lousy", then you're not looking for SMALL. The product is not for you, which is OK, except that you somehow generalize that no one is looking for small.

Re:The Sub-Notebook returns!

[Rob the Bold]

If you think the form factor is "lousy", then you're not looking for SMALL. The product is not for you, which is OK, except that you somehow generalize that no one is looking for small.

There are smaller devices out there for less money. WinCE/PocketPC PDAs, Zauruses (Zaurii?). Those are a lot more transportable than this 1.5" thick brick. You're right that small and good keyboard don't go together, but that's exactly what it looks like they tried to do.

So -- and this is a real question -- what sort of application would this device be suited for? When would this be an ideal device instead of a pocket-sized/palmtop computer or a small notebook?

Re:The Sub-Notebook returns!

[starwed]

All of your arguments apply when comparing laptops to desktops; but people use them anyway because of the enormous convenience of being able to carry around your computer.

The question is whether the convenience of this particular device is enough to get people to buy it; probably not right now. This is exactly what I want from a device, but I wouldn't pay 2k for it.

Re:The Sub-Notebook returns!

[TCaptain]

Do you normally code on a laptop? (Not wanting to be a troll or anything, just curious)

If not, then you aren't the demographic as this thing is being touted as a laptop-killer. Personally, I agree with the parent, it looks like an overpriced, underpowered PDA replacement.

I love how they always end up mentioning "every day" in this stuff. I love laptops, but when I buy a laptop, I don't buy it because I can do my "everyday" things on it (leaving out any gaming, most any damn laptop can run office or even visual studio...factor in linux and most any laptop will satisfy your "everyday" requirements), I buy it because it can do EVERYTHING I want it to do. This little gadget might run office type apps like nobody's business and might be able to surf the net ok, but if I'm dishing out big bucks it had better handle whatever I want to throw at it (and this machine doesn't look like it would cut it).

For many people its an either/or situation. Either you get a desktop or a laptop. I don't know too many people who get both and scrimp on a sub-standard laptop on special because they are satisfied with their desktop.

Re:The Sub-Notebook returns!

[flyingsquid]

Personally, I would never go for something like this. When I'm writing a paper, editing an image, or using a spreadsheet for a significant amount of time, I want a screen that doesn't cause eye damage and a keyboard that won't cause carpal tunnel syndrome.

On the other hand, yes, there are times when I don't need a full screen and keyboard: maybe I just want to look up the showtimes for a movie, find street directions on Google Maps, dash off a quick email to my friend. But here, it's too heavy (1.5 lbs), doesn't have adequate battery life (3.5 hrs), costs too much ($2000) and I wouldn't want the hassle of having a full Windows installation.

This device manages to be too much and too little at the same time. It's too small to do serious work, so it can't replace your laptop. In principle, it could replace your Blackberry, but it's too large, expensive, and crammed with features(take a hint from iPod: less is more!), so it won't. It's a device trying to kill both the laptop and the Blackberry and ultimately doing neither. There might be a niche for something in between the Blackberry and the laptop in terms of size and features, but I can't see this device taking it.

Re:The Sub-Notebook returns!

[Goblez]

Not to disagree, because I code all day and type very quickly, but have you seen most teenagers with a cell phone? I think there is something typing in a way other than with which we are accustom. The key also may be that the trade off in speed is acceptable for the convenience of the size.

The price is a dealbreaker

[drinkypoo]

$2000 is enough to buy a desktop replacement machine with a core duo, two gigs of ram, and a gigantic display. If you're not going to go balls-out, then you probably only need a tiny subset of your computer's power, and a super-cheap device like an OLPC machine would suit your needs. Very very few people need a tiny but complete PC, because almost all of the jobs that require that kind of power require a reasonably-sized display as well. The form factor is nice, but the price is at least twice what it should be for a device sold into this market - which itself is vanishingly small.

PC Mag review here

[writertype]

Sorry for the brief comment... the review is here.

Good idea without Windows

[hirschma]

This thing costs $2k. Why?

Because it needs to be x86, with in turn means that it needs to have a bigger battery, fancier engineering, special cooling. A hard drive because it needs to swap due to Windows memory needs and usage patterns.

Kill off Windows, and then you have a bunch of better processors - PPC, ARM, whatever. Smaller battery. No special cooling. No need for a hard drive. No Windows license. Room for other features - cell phone/modem? Bluetooth hub functionality?

BTW, it has pretty much been done... Too bad it isn't Linux.

Re:Good idea without Windows

[StaticEngine]

So you want a pen, a paper notepad, and a cellphone?