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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?
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
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
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
ipad is more proprietary, less powerful and has no flash plugin. a netbook has small keys and is fragile. this thing has a dual core x86, 2GB ram, and is basically a bigger tablet with a stand built-in, USB ports and keyb/mouse included. what's your point exactly?
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.
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.
It has a vertical touch screen. Grandma's arms will be falling off after ten minutes of use.
... 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 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?