Slashdot Mirror
Faint Praise From WSJ For a Linux Touchscreen PC For Seniors
quarterbuck writes "The Wall Street Journal has a review of the Telikin, an all-in-one desktop, with a touch screen, that starts at $699 and comes from a small Philadelphia-area start-up called Venture 3 Systems. It is much simplified (e.g., no PowerPoint editing), and the hardware is thought through (two microphones), but the review claims that the software is still buggy." I only wish it was based on a revenue stream derived from a cancellable subscription.
I don't understand why having two microphones means that the hardware is "thought through"? Wouldn't hardware that was really "thought through" have only a single high quality microphone (or maybe an array of noise cancelling mics) instead of "an odd little add-on microphone poking out from the bottom"being necessary because "[the company] wasn't satisfied with the quality of the internal one."
And why does omitting Powerpoint Editing make for a simplified interface? Is the ability to edit Powerpoint presentations what makes other computers so complicated?
Summary of TFA is useless and misleading. More after a word from our sponsors.
This author has promise. He doesn't go the Evangelist route. He starts by praising the system, explains his lengthy experience, and then goes on to explain that it might be good "but for" some plausible reasons that matter to the target audience - but pointing out that improvements are promised before warning that promises are often unfulfilled. The author is biased we know, but this is an awesome hatchet job. I'll give it 8 of 10. Poor placement by the vendor.
Or - which seems more likely - the product is not quite satisfactory, and a software rev would put it in the green.
Help stamp out iliturcy.
I can't understand what makes companies believe that they can offer a device for $699 that offers half the functionality of a (Android|Windows|Linux|Mac|WebOS) box and still have it sell. Why do companies insist on making *everything* from scratch except the kernel (the entire UX looks totally alien to me) and then release it - bugs-n-all - for review?
Get cheap touchscreen ARM hardware, throw Android/MeeGo/whatever on there, make your own look-and-feel changes and RELEASE IT WHEN IT'S READY. PLEASE. Customers DON'T need more market fragmentation in software and customers DON'T need a $700 paper weight running a neutered desktop OS.
"The most dangerous enemy of a better solution is an existing codebase that is just good enough." -- Eric S. Raymond
What more could you want? But seriously, folks...
I'm curious why they don't seem to list the resolution of that 18.6" screen anywhere... And why "photo viewing through Facebook"? That's a rather odd feature to list.
I'm also unclear why the submitter is apparently puzzled that the Mossberg's review says the Telikin is buggy - Mossberg is pretty specific what exact buggy behaviors and odd limitations he ran into (frequent freezes, backups don't work, can't attach photos to emails, can't "reply all" or forward email, no refresh button on the browser).
#DeleteChrome
"I only wish I could get this hardware below cost by exploiting a poorly thought-out business model"?
And who doesn't? We all like cheap hardware, and there's nothing unethical about availing yourself of someone's stupid-but-deliberate offer.
But those mistakes are infrequent to start with, and only become more rare with each new example, as people hear about it and don't repeat that mistake themselves. So why are you blathering about it?
No cancellable subscription?
Has someone built a ninja old folks iPad?
For in politics, as in religion, it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. - Publius
People really want a product that says, "I'm dumb, so I need this limited thing"? iPad is much more powerful and is easy to use, for a similar price. I can't see why a "limited" computer for common tasks can compete in this market. If you buy a Netbook you still can browse, have skype and share some photos, and is cheaper. You don't need a different hardware if you want to do less things in a computer, you just need to install less softwares. Specially if this limited computer is more expensive! Some LOL will lose money with that! Buy a Netbook and remove Office, bingo, you have it. Or buy some Android/iPad tablet if you think that touchscreen is better for you, is cheaper. People that says that computers are complicated, are just people that don't want to learn new things, no matter how easy a OS was made for them.
As a community, we are far too lenient on poorly designed and buggy Linux software. What this guy has done is write a reasonably balanced and fair review of a product that appears to have been rushed out with some very visible shortcomings. That the supplier puts their hand up and acknowledges that a lot of the problems noted "will be fixed" or are known, supports this view.
This is very obviously a "version 1" product. Give it a few years and software revisions and it could be a worthwhile offering. Though personally I doubt that many of my frail, elderly relatives would find using a vertically mounted touchscreen to be in any way practical as the amount of strength needed to hold your hand up to the screen (try it) for extended periods of time is more than most of them can muster.
politicians are like babies' nappies: they should both be changed regularly and for the same reasons
Thank you everyone. It took us a long time to get to this moment.
there are pictures from many angles on the website, and a big "msi" brand is to be seen on the back. specs also tell implicitly it's a dual core 1.8GHz Atom.
Many people have longed forever for a clean, easy, task oriented interface. Either for themselves or for a familiy member. This looks like the best design to date, and is reminiscent of the Amstrad PCW, a successful task oriented all-in-one of the eighties. Or keyboard based monochrome PDAs, or even an Apple II or PC/XT, $favorite_computer where you just insert a floppy disk and run simple, straightforward software.
Notice the lack of translucency, dock, animation and all that crap. Not including these goes toward reducing the cognitive and visual load, I guess.
Missing is a tab for audio/video playback, CD audio ripping and the like. A commenter said, why doesn't it use 32GB flash instead? don't misunderestimate a grandma, they might well fill it up with 12 megapixel photos, CD rips or even record old audio cassettes, you never know. As were speaking, a secretary somewhere that has trouble finding the start menu pwns you at using Word no matter how good your debugging and compiling skills are.
Lastly here's a good showing for Linux, it's refreshing, after the firefox debacle ruling it out in business, on top of the desktops debacle and Open/Libre Office confusion.
1998 called they want their crap back? .... this thing, tablets, internet enabled console... this is all a conspiracy to make computers that are actually owned by the users a minority. Trusted computing didn't work and now they're trying to razzle dazzle the userbase.
how come the elderly couple in the screen shot are pointing Wii-motes at the thing while video chatting?
It's exactly the set of features that my approaching elderly parents use their computer for.
Hope the execution improves slightly, if the WSJ article's criticisms are correct, but overall I give it an A for requirements fit and usability design for the
target actor role.
Where are we going and why are we in a handbasket?
This is another kiosk type appliance based on GNULinux. I'll give them this. Its cool to see they are up front about everything. GNU/FOSS is like a game everyone likes. They start making Mods. Then they graduate to full conversions.
Having to work for a living is the root of all evil.
..on your grandma's desktop?
and will she drop to terminal and h4x0r y0r b0x3n?
... in some probably unnecessarily fancy/expensive hardware?
Eldy, runs on most hardware, it's about a 13MB download free as in Gratis/Freeware and packs a Developers Network for bugs, translations and so forth.
In other words: Go ahead and recycle some hardware! Get a sturdy desktop or better yet, build a frame around it if needed be or hook it to a bigger (flat)TV.
I'm sure there exists some keyboards with bigger keys today if that is a requirement. Anyhow, it would be cool with a free as in Freedom oshw keyboard that was easy to build for the average /.-readers. Molding the keys or heck better yet, printing (im sure someone would help on the forums) a mold and molding with some silicone/rubbery material.
"If terrorists hate us for our freedom, does that mean they're slowly starting to like us?" -- Philosoraptor.
I worked for this startup called ElderVision, and we offered something very much like this back in 2001. It never caught on. Neither will this.
I think Walt did a very through review. Unfortunately he hit a few bugs. I am not happy about this. Most are fixed or in the process of being fixed. We do have a number of users that are very happy with Telikin. We are working hard to make sure all customers have a great experience. 1) We do have a "Forward" button. We will add a "Reply All." Surprisingly I do not think any of our customers missed this or asked for this. 2) The screen resolution is 1366 x 768. I think the reason a number of people prefer Telikin over the iPad is that it is much larger (4X) and easier to read. It is also easier to use. The iPad is a great product. I do not think we will sell as many as Apple :) , but I think we have a market.
3) The Telikin comes with a keyboard and mouse so you do not have to keep your arm raised for an extended period of time. We initially had two versions, one touch one non touch. In focus group testing almost everyone preferred the touch version so we dropped the non touch. We also have folks that like the stylus. There is value in focus group testing.
4) The internal microphone was picking up too much noise from the fan. We added the external microphone to give better quality for integrated Skype Video Chat. We are working with MSI to fix the problem. In the mean time units ship with an external microphone.
5) We are adding Spreadsheets now. Powerpoint editing will be further in the future. Our customers guide our product planning.
6) The Photo app accesses Facebook photos and puts them in a very easy to user Album view. Full Facebook is accessible through the Web Browser with Flash support.
7) We do put a lot of effort into support. Our customers need it. It is part of the value proposition. Try to get that from Microsoft.
Thanks for you comments.
Fred Allegrezza CEO Venture 3 Systems / Telikin.
I watched the video on their site, and afterwards YouTube showed a video for this:
mywowcomputer.com
They look identical except for the logo. Is one of them a clone?