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.

Comments

Thought through?

[hawguy]

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?

Re:Thought through?

[Brett Buck]

No, Powerpoint editing is what makes other computers EVIL!

Subtlest axe job yet

[symbolset]

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.

Re:Subtlest axe job yet

[symbolset]

Walt Mossberg is a relic to a byegone era. He doesn't lie. It's not in him. He doesn't warp the truth the slightest bit. He's quite careful to avoid the lingo of astroturfers and shills, which makes his job considerably harder. He tells the truth as he sees it. I don't always agree with him, but I always respect his opinion even when I disagree with his conclusions. His job is getting easier these days.

In an environment where every press agent, reporter and editor is a wholly owned agent of somebody, a reporter like Walt Mossberg who can't be bought is a precious gem. This environment brings us a whirlwind of ephemeral technologies, just for Walt to say "waitaminit".

Walt's not down here in the trenches with me, defending the choice of this vendor's 10GbE NIC over the other one's two years later, or calling the ball on the exact moment that we move from interested in FCoE to recommending it. But I respect his opinion enough to subscribe to his blog. If he says something's going to happen sometime in the future, I'll look at it as a prospect and investigate and make up my own mind. That's going to happen until he's wronger than he's right, which looks to be quite a while out. I don't give most prophets that much respect.

Price point

[qxcv]

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.

Re:Price point

[Gaygirlie]

Where else do you get a desktop PC with a touch-screen, stylus, and 24/7 support willing to help you with setting up Facebook account or holding your hand through writing an email? What, can you repeat that a bit louder, I can't hear you. Yes, that's right: nowhere!

This device is aimed at people who want/need a VERY simplified computing experience, so just slapping Android/MeeGo/whatever on there is not and will not be enough.

Re:Price point

[qxcv]

Equivalent (if not better) hardware ~US$100 cheaper here, though admittedly I wouldn't expect anything more than palm-off from Lenovo tech support if you asked them how to set up anything more than a dialup modem on M$ Windows. OTOH I've never been a fan of purchasing products on the premise that you will receive support when/if you need it, because you USUALLY (though I could be wrong with this particular company) don't get it.</disgruntled former M$ customer>
Also their website seems to say that $699 is $100 below RRP (inferring that the cost could increase), but that's probably just something a marketoid threw in

This device is aimed at people who want/need a VERY simplified computing experience, so just slapping Android/MeeGo/whatever on there is not and will not be enough.

My point is not that Android/MeeGo/whatever necessarily has a better UX for the elderly, but I just don't see why it was necessary to cause more fragmentation in the desktop Linux marketplace. Is saying "There is a large and able developer/user base for <platform(s)>, but we're going to throw it all out and more-or-less start again from scratch" REALLY sound business practise? Is it that hard to change around the landing screen a little and add some accessibility features? Now they've (presumably) created YET ANOTHER set of widget toolkits/platform integration APIs.

Wow, an endorsement from Rachael Ray!

[93 Escort Wagon]

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).

Re:Wow, an endorsement from Rachael Ray!

[whoever57]

can't "reply all" or forward email

I am willing to bet that most /. readers know someone that they wish did not have access to forward and reply all buttons!

But seriously, it's a review by Walt Mossberg and it's not a Mac or an iPhone/Pod/etc. What did anyone expect?

Re:Wow, an endorsement from Rachael Ray!

[dotancohen]

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.

Because people don't want a computer, or a browser, or Linux or Windows. They want to view photos on Facebook. This gets right to the point.

Linux systems need more reviews like this

[petes_PoV]

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.

Re:Linux systems need more reviews like this

[ColdWetDog]

.. is there such a thing as a computing experience that serves "non-geek needs"? It seems like such a varied thing.

Yes. It's called an iPad. Which is why they're selling like mad and why the general Slashdot HiveMind(TM)(C)(Patent Pending) can't make any sense of it.

it's a MSI computer :)

[Blaskowicz]

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.

Finally, giving people what they want!

[Blaskowicz]

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.

Agreed. They nailed the requirements on this

[presidenteloco]

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.