Asus PadFone Combines Smartphone, Tablet, Keyboard

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Asus PadFone Combines Smartphone, Tablet, Keyboard

Posted by Soulskill on Monday February 27, 2012 @08:19AM from the modular-computing dept.

crookedvulture writes "Asus is showing off a bunch of new devices at the Mobile World Congress in Spain, including a budget Transformer model and an Infinity Series graced with a 10", 1920x1200 display. In addition to the tablets, there's the novel PadFone hybrid. This Snapdragon-powered smartphone has a 4.3" screen with a generous 960x540 resolution. If you want more screen real estate, the PadFone slides into the back of a tablet docking station that offers a 10", 1280x800 display alongside an auxiliary battery. That combo can in turn be plugged into an external keyboard with a full-sized SD slot, USB port, and other perks. The only problem is those auxiliary components are thicker and heavier than Asus' standalone tablets, which offer the same functionality, sans smartphone."

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slashvertisement.... by kj_kabaje · 2012-02-27 08:25 · Score: 4, Funny

I love how a slashvertisement is brought to you by "Crookedvulture". Too funny.
1. Re:slashvertisement.... by aaaaaaargh! · 2012-02-27 10:19 · Score: 1
  
  Anyway, what's the point of news like that when you cannot buy any of these devices. For anyone not living in Japan or the USA these news are nothing but vaporware; if we're lucky we may get something similar for twice the price two years later.
2. Re:slashvertisement.... by ozmanjusri · 2012-02-27 10:27 · Score: 1
  
  Anyway, what's the point of news like that when you cannot buy any of these devices.
  
  Don't be so sure. Asus have a habit of following through on promises.
  They've even just upgraded the original Tranformer TF101s to Ice Cream Sandwich. Mine quietly upgraded itself on the weekend, and works very nicely with its new OS.
  
  --
  "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
1920x1200 laptop! by AliasMarlowe · 2012-02-27 08:26 · Score: 2

Screw the phone. Tell us more about the laptop...

--
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire
1. Re:1920x1200 laptop! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 08:33 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  It's not a laptop. Well, not really. It's an upgrade of the Transformer Prime with a higher resolution screen. I have the current Prime, and the docking station, and it is pretty damn close to a laptop, but there are limitations, largely because Android just wasn't designed with a touchpad in mind. I also think the higher resolution screen is a waste, there's just no justification for that kind of resolution on a 10" screen.
2. Re:1920x1200 laptop! by treeves · 2012-02-27 08:43 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  ...there's just no justification for that kind of resolution on a 10" screen
  Why not? That's lower pixel density than the 960x540 4.3" screen and you're not complaining about that. (5.4X area, but only 4.4X pixels)
  
  --
  ...the future crusty old bastards are already drinking the Kool-Aid.
3. Re:1920x1200 laptop! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 08:45 · Score: 1
  
  Angry Birds in 3D HD with force feedback.
4. Re:1920x1200 laptop! by Lussarn · 2012-02-27 08:54 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Sure we need higher resolution. I have an iPad 2 and have bought a cople of magazines, but I can't read a page without zooming because of the low resolution. Which is so irritating I no longer by magazines for it.
  And since I'm shopping for an Android tab anyway, this sounds like a good bet.
5. Re:1920x1200 laptop! by M0j0_j0j0 · 2012-02-27 09:03 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  1st world problems!!
6. Re:1920x1200 laptop! by shutdown+-p+now · 2012-02-27 09:05 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  The original Transformer is my primary tablet, and I'd kill for higher resolution. As far as I'm concerned, if I can see individual pixels on the screen, it ain't high enough. And this is even more true of something that's held closer to the eyes than your typical desktop display.
7. Re:1920x1200 laptop! by Lussarn · 2012-02-27 09:15 · Score: 1
  
  Maybe so, but why have a tablet with magazines, and then not make it a "first rate experience". I just buy the magazines at the store instead, and that's fine. I would rather have them on the tablet but not if it's harder to read them. On current tech it is.
8. Re:1920x1200 laptop! by mrops · 2012-02-27 09:51 · Score: 1
  
  you would really like the samsung galaxy III supporting full 1080p on a 4.8" screen
  http://www.bgr.com/2012/02/27/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-full-specs-1-5ghz-quad-core-1080p-display-ceramic-case/
9. Re:1920x1200 laptop! by spire3661 · 2012-02-27 10:10 · Score: 1
  
  Have you noticed all the different places recently that buy up your used smartphones/gadgets? hell in the mall there is an automated kiosk (offered me $12 for it, id rather smash it against a wall for that price) . All those used phones/tablet trickle down to the third world, enabling greater communication for all.
  
  --
  Good-bye
10. Re:1920x1200 laptop! by MobileTatsu-NJG · 2012-02-27 10:49 · Score: 2
  
  Umm... you're on a site that mainly talks about blinkie things that cost money. The 'first world problems' joke isn't very spicy around here.
  
  --
  
  "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
11. Re:1920x1200 laptop! by quantumphaze · 2012-02-27 12:39 · Score: 1
  
  Where can I even get a small 14" or 13" laptop that doesn't come with the next to useless for actual work 1360x768? Do I really need to pay over $3k for the most expensive i7 and other bells and whistles I'll never use to get one?
  Heck, even a sub 24" monitor is near impossible to find with better than 1920x1080.
  
  --
  Unicode in Slashdot
12. Re:1920x1200 laptop! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 15:30 · Score: 0
  
  Can't tell if you're kidding or not... for instance, Brazilian customs tax can nearly double the price of imported gadgets, and then you add the greed tax over that... when the iPhone launched, it cost around $1000 with a contract. It didn't get much cheaper at the local ebay-like website.
13. Re:1920x1200 laptop! by gl4ss · 2012-02-27 22:43 · Score: 1
  
  It's not a laptop. Well, not really. It's an upgrade of the Transformer Prime with a higher resolution screen. I have the current Prime, and the docking station, and it is pretty damn close to a laptop, but there are limitations, largely because Android just wasn't designed with a touchpad in mind. I also think the higher resolution screen is a waste, there's just no justification for that kind of resolution on a 10" screen.
  yes there is. comic book scans.
  
  --
  world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
Same error all over again by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 08:28 · Score: 0

Asus is showing off a bunch of new devices
It doesn't matter what nerds say. A few choices is good, too many choices is bad.
1. Re:Same error all over again by shutdown+-p+now · 2012-02-27 09:09 · Score: 1
  
  Bad for whom?
  Asus sold a decent number of Transformers last year. Nowhere near Apple scale, obviously, but still enough to turn a nice profit. Clearly there's a niche for this kind of thing.
2. Re:Same error all over again by Myopic · 2012-02-28 03:29 · Score: 1
  
  I bought one. It's a fun toy. I also travel with it, instead of my bigass 17-inch laptop. I'm quite satisfied not to have an iPad.
Asus making phones? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 08:29 · Score: 0

Yes please. I've had two K50s for two years and they're far and away the nicest, most well put together laptops I've ever worked with and they were about half the price point of the runner ups (Apple and Lenovo).
1. Re:Asus making phones? by CompMD · 2012-02-27 09:39 · Score: 1
  
  Remember Asus is guilty of having manufactured Garmin's nuvifone line of cell phones. :(
uh oh by forkfail · 2012-02-27 08:30 · Score: 4, Funny

They've got rounded corners.
There will be trouble. And the shame of it is, they could have avoided it if they'd just taken a look at this.

--
Check your premises.
fixed the title by noh8rz2 · 2012-02-27 08:34 · Score: 3, Insightful

Asus PadFone Combines Smartphone, Tablet, Keyboard; compromises on every aspect, does nothing well.
1. Re:fixed the title by Archangel+Michael · 2012-02-27 08:59 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Asus PadFone Combines Smartphone, Tablet, Keyboard; compromises on every aspect, does nothing well. Lame
  FTFY
  
  --
  Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
2. Re:fixed the title by noh8rz2 · 2012-02-27 09:19 · Score: 1
  
  Ouch, a meta-ftfy!
3. Re:fixed the title by Archangel+Michael · 2012-02-27 09:49 · Score: 1
  
  Sorry man, I couldn't help myself ... ;-)
  
  --
  Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
4. Re:fixed the title by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 11:36 · Score: 0
  
  Fill us in on your trip to the MWC.
Dilbert by michaelmalak · 2012-02-27 08:36 · Score: 5, Funny

From just four days ago.
1. Re:Dilbert by nschubach · 2012-02-27 08:58 · Score: 2
  
  True Slashdotters link to the Fast version ;)
  
  --
  Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
2. Re:Dilbert by forkfail · 2012-02-27 09:06 · Score: 1
  
  Not the dreaded No True Slashdotter fallacy....
  
  --
  Check your premises.
3. Re:Dilbert by rinoid · 2012-02-27 10:00 · Score: 1
  
  Great minds ... but you beat me by two minutes. I shouldn't have switched tabs while the dang pre-flight on submission was spinning.
  I concur. Nothing larger than the current iPhone for me thank you.
  6'2" 185lbs.
4. Re:Dilbert by Half-pint+HAL · 2012-02-27 11:03 · Score: 1
  
  No true slashdotter would be so rude.
  
  --
  Got them moderator blues I blieve I walk out the do', With these mod-points I been gettin', I 'most never post no mo'
5. Re:Dilbert by nschubach · 2012-02-27 15:00 · Score: 1
  
  There are a few... we try to keep them locked up. Sometimes they get out.
  
  --
  Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
Is this a pad or a phone? by QuatermassX · 2012-02-27 08:36 · Score: 4, Funny

I wept with laughter at this bonkers trade show intro - really, I actually wept over my grande Americano at the Starbucks near Holborn tube on a sunny Saturday morning this summer.
Padphone, eh? The only thing this chap didn't do is actually jump over a shark. Poor bastard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sqjoRMHyYQc
I can only think of this by rinoid · 2012-02-27 08:38 · Score: 0

http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2012-02-23/
Re:If only it was not running Android by nzac · 2012-02-27 08:40 · Score: 3, Informative

As far as I know ASUS don't use locked boot loaders and most major Linux Distros are wanting to get a ARM build working as soon as possible.
Re:If only it was not running Android by Kenja · 2012-02-27 08:49 · Score: 1

I cannot see myself doing any real work with a half baked solution alla Android.
Well yea, not with that attitude you wont.

--

"Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
Tablets by omganton · 2012-02-27 08:52 · Score: 3, Insightful

I have never understood the tablet crazy. I have never once felt the need for another portable device beyond my phone and laptop. I used to have an MP3 player as well, but my phone does that now too. I can remote into my desktop at home with my phone or laptop, both can check my work and personal email, I can take notes and create presentations with my laptop, I can play games on both devices... My laptop is already portable, and in the few instances where it's inconvenient, I don't see how a tablet would be any less inconvenient. Maybe it's just me, but if you have a decent phone and a decent laptop, a tablet is just a waste of money, especially considering the fact that any tablet you're going to buy has the same operating system as your phone. /opinion
1. Re:Tablets by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 09:04 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  I travel with a Laptop an iPad and a phone. I thought the same as you would. But the iPad has replaced many things I used to travel with such as books and the need for printing things to review as well as entertainment. Waiting at a stopover, bring out tablet. The tablet is more for consuming output than work and play than for creating it. It is also now the primary way I communicate with family when travelling (Skype/Facetime). It weighs the same as the book I would normally carry to reading on a long flight. I would in fact, give up the phone in exchange for a 3G tablet.
2. Re:Tablets by itsme1234 · 2012-02-27 09:22 · Score: 2
  
  Funny thing actually with this ipad craze: I've had during the last week TWICE people telling me ON THE PHONE "you know, I have skype on my ipad let's use that". The call was anyway on company phone and even then probably free/included in the plan/minutes.
  Apart from the fact that they didn't want to actually use the phone (which after all is designed for calls) the funny part is that marketing is sometimes strange: I haven't heard people using skype with iphones (or even with windows mobile 2003, although I did for years, years ago) but somehow the perception is that the ipad just does it much better.
3. Re:Tablets by Rakishi · 2012-02-27 09:30 · Score: 0
  
  ...woosh. That's the sound of the parent's post and what the people you were talking to were saying flying way way over your head.
  When they say Skype, they mean Skype for VIDEO chat. Get it now?
  Then again you're apparently the sort of person who ridicules others instead of wondering why they're saying something so I doubt there's much point in writing this post.
4. Re:Tablets by jacksonyee · 2012-02-27 11:07 · Score: 2
  I own a Nokia N900 3.5" smartphone, a cheap $80 Chinese knockoff 7" tablet that's basically the equivalent of a Nook, and an Asus 12" netbook, and I can tell you that the 7" tablet definitely comes in handy for many situations.
  
  It's just the right size to fit into your pants' pocket (if you prefer pants with large pockets like most geeks that I know tend to).
  The screen size makes reading eBooks much more enjoyable than on a phone, and you can carry it around in your hand without having it being awkward like the 12" netbook.
  It's wonderful for showing off pictures or videos to a group of people who don't have to squint to see the 3.5" screen.
  It's great for watching movies on the bus, the train, or the plane.
  The 7 hour battery life means that I can use it for about a whole day without worrying about draining my smartphone's battery and not being able to receive a call when I need to.
  When you need to pacify your cousin's kids or your own students while waiting, you can just pull it out, let them play games on it for a couple of minutes, and don't have to worry about them breaking it or deleting your important documents.
  There are definitely a lot of things that I find lacking in Android, but for the most part, it does what I want it to do. You may think that a tablet won't do anything for you, but try it out for a month or so. It really is quite convenient for a whole class of situations.
5. Re:Tablets by jones_supa · 2012-02-27 23:31 · Score: 1
  
  and even then probably free/included in the plan/minutes.
  Playing a bit grammar nazi here...but that piece could have benefited of curly brackets, i.e: "and even then probably free/{included in the plan}/minutes." Those make it easier to realize where the slash options begin and end.
6. Re:Tablets by TemporalBeing · 2012-02-28 05:27 · Score: 1
  
  Haven't picked up a tablet yet; but when the time comes, I'll probably replace my N1 with a tablet as opposed to another phone. Why?
  
  Well, I'd really like to be able to type up documents on the N1, only there is no keyboard to do so, and the screen size just doesn't work well for it. A tablet would be just about right to do so; however, a physical keyboard would still be a must as the virtual keyboards simply have no tactile feed back to aid with knowing where you are on the keyboard by simple touch. Tablets are coming along nicely with working with wireless keyboards.
  
  I also watch a lot of movies (Netflix) on my N1 and the slightly larger display would be a bit easier on the eyes.
  
  Yes, its a little more bulky; but I think I can live with that - at least until we get a nice set of cyberware, wet-ware, etc..
  
  --
  Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't goin' away. - Elvis Presley (source: imdb.com)
Netbooks turning into Hybrid tablets by na1led · 2012-02-27 08:55 · Score: 1

I knew it wouldn't take long to make a netbook into a table with detachable keyboard base. Although I'm all for this new technology, so long as it doesn't cost more than a regular laptop which can do more. Personally, I like using my HP Touchpad with dock as my bed side Alarm Clock.

--
-- By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out.
1. Re:Netbooks turning into Hybrid tablets by Lehk228 · 2012-02-27 09:11 · Score: 1
  
  I have one of their eeepad transformers, I got it because my eeePC 701 was getting a little long in the tooth. The hinged dock has an extra battery so combined you can get around 9 hours of life off it, better than any laptop I have ever owned. The only problem I have is some websites see android as the user agent and "helpfully" switch over to mobile view, which is not needed on a 10" screen
  
  --
  Snowden and Manning are heroes.
2. Re:Netbooks turning into Hybrid tablets by Tha_Big_Guy23 · 2012-02-27 09:49 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  In the application settings for the stock Android browser and several other android browsers (firefox and opera come to mind), you can change the user agent string to use a desktop browser string, and all websites then show up in their full "normal desktop" glory. I had this exact same problem on my transformer. Once I changed that setting and I've not had a problem since. Just thought I'd let you know. In the stock browser, its under advanced settings IIRC.
  
  --
  If you're looking here for something insightful or thought provoking, you're probably looking in the wrong place.
The futurez by jones_supa · 2012-02-27 08:55 · Score: 2

Isn't the PadFone a step towards the reality people have been heralding here: tomorrow we will be using just a phone which at home or workplace attachs to a bigger display and peripherals...
1. Re:The futurez by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 10:15 · Score: 0
  
  I sure hope not. My phone is a pretty poor substitute for the processing power of a real computer(TM). Even things like resizing JPEGs take seconds instead of fractions of a second.
2. Re:The futurez by Half-pint+HAL · 2012-02-27 11:14 · Score: 2
  
  My answer to that is fairly simple.
  I installed Linux on a flash drive so that I could use the same uniform environment and files on my home PC and my netbook, and even use my work laptop for personal use when sitting in departures or a hotel room on business. So that's three different computers acting as though they're simply one computer.
  I've always said the ultimate personal computer would be a pocket-sized device that could be used in multiple form-factors with various peripherals, and that anyone who needed extra "oomph" would have a desktop docking station with a faster processor that used the device as a simple disk drive.
  Or perhaps a bit more -- it wouldn't take much USB bandwidth to use the phone as a touchpad and soundcard too, for example.
  
  --
  Got them moderator blues I blieve I walk out the do', With these mod-points I been gettin', I 'most never post no mo'
3. Re:The futurez by gl4ss · 2012-02-27 22:46 · Score: 1
  
  it wouldn't be too bad if you could leverage extra gpu's and cpu's from the dock. some laptops do that already.
  
  --
  world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
Congrats ASUS, you just invented... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 08:58 · Score: 0

Congrats ASUS, you just invented the laptop computer!!!!
Copy of Motorola by WindBourne · 2012-02-27 08:59 · Score: 1

THis is nothing more than taking Motorola's idea one step further.

--
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
3.5" tablet by tepples · 2012-02-27 09:00 · Score: 1

Except Archos calls its Archos 43 a '4.3" Internet tablet', and I've read some comments on Slashdot that use the term '3.5" tablet' to describe the iPod touch. Some of this confusion may have begun when Palm stopped making PDAs, which is what pocket-size tablets used to be called.
An extra $28 per month by tepples · 2012-02-27 09:02 · Score: 1

I have never once felt the need for another portable device beyond my phone and laptop.
Not even between when smartphones became available and when data plans became affordable?

I used to have an MP3 player as well, but my phone does that now too.
If I were to consolidate my PDA/MP3 player/4" tablet into my phone, my carrier would charge me an extra $28 per month.
1. Re:An extra $28 per month by lexman098 · 2012-02-27 10:48 · Score: 1
  
  Sounds like you need a new carrier. Either that or you could just buy an unlocked phone and not tell them about it.
Best product unveiling ever by PGGreens · 2012-02-27 09:04 · Score: 1

PadFone had the best product unveling ever. Can't get over it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2ANnpHnUrc
Laptop that lets you take apps and data with you by tepples · 2012-02-27 09:06 · Score: 2

It's not inventing the laptop computer per se as much as inventing the laptop computer that lets you pull a piece out and take your applications, data, and computing hardware to use them with you.
But will they run Linux? by Narcocide · 2012-02-27 09:11 · Score: 0

Seriously, I want to know.
1. Re:But will they run Linux? by Reapman · 2012-02-27 09:29 · Score: 2
  
  It should. I know there's Ubuntu running on the original Transformer (that's what I have) - don't have the dock or I'd have given it a go. Check out the Transformer XDA Forums for more info on it. It'll probably take a bit of work to get it going on this newer hardware, but I'd be suprised if it's not ported fast (Purely my own speculation, however)
  Just remember it's still ARM.. not a full powered Intel/AMD chip running inside.
Re:If only it was not running Android by Abalamahalamatandra · 2012-02-27 09:38 · Score: 1

I'm thinking Ubuntu for Android would be pretty darn perfect for this. Run ICS on it when it's a phone or a tablet, and run full-on Ubuntu, with access to the Android files, when it's a laptop. Geek nirvana, if you ask me!
Can't believe it took them 3 years to clone this by recrudescence · 2012-02-27 09:41 · Score: 2

I can't believe it took them 3 years to copy alwaysinnovating.com 's smartbook technology!
It only took them 2 year to copy the transformer!

Anyway, I hope they rip off their pocket projector next. Alwaysinnovating has stopped selling products independently - I missed my chance to buy :(
I like the idea by RandomAdam · 2012-02-27 09:44 · Score: 1

I do like the idea of having all you computing needs with you at all times.

When on the road (or docked with just the tablet) the interface is "finger friendly" and when docked then it is keyboard + mouse oriented. I don't think the padfone is there yet, but maybe android can be both sometime soon...

I think (and as a linux user it pains me to say this) windows 8 is the only one on track to offer this experience, with classic desktop running in parallel with the metro interface. Once phones have enough processing power to do most of the things that need to be done by most people then I see the death of the laptop market, we will have phones and dumb docks when we need them. The desktop market will shrink but there will always be a need for high power workstations that phones just will not be able to meet

--
@Random_Adam

Sometimes a sig doesn't have to be funny!!
Sorta reminds me... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 09:46 · Score: 0

.. of these...
7" tablets are mobile by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 09:57 · Score: 1

I think maybe you can't see the value of tablets because you're using the Apple definition of "tablet", ie. 9.7" or greater (Steve Jobs proclaimed to the Apple faithful that the idea of a 7" tablet was stupid). So you're right, a tablet of Apple's "approved size" can be quite superfluous if you have a laptop, because both the iPad and your laptop are merely "transportable", not mobile devices. Your cellphone is a mobile device, the other two are not.
But that size thing was pure Apple marketing BS. A 7" tablet is every bit as mobile as a cellphone, since it can be used on the go, at the supermarket say, or while standing in a queue. Apple's tablets can't be used in this mobile role because they're too big. They're merely transportable, not mobile. You reach your destination, preferably sit down, and only then you pull out your Apple tablet, just like a laptop.
In my case I've found that the mobility of a 7" tablet (the original Galaxy Tab 7" with 3G in Europe) makes a cellphone superfluous, so instead of your cellphone + laptop it's tablet + laptop for me, one for mobile use and one for transportable use.
I find this far superior to using a cellphone for the mobile part, because reading anything significant on a 4" smartphone display is like keyhole surgery, horrible. Once you get used to 7" tablets in a mobile role, you just can't go back to smartphones.
1920x1200 laptop? by __aazsst3756 · 2012-02-27 10:31 · Score: 4, Interesting

Just tell me where I can find a decent 17" laptop with at least 1920x1200 display under $1200? I have been repairing an old Dell for years now with ebay parts because I have not found a suitable replacement. Sad that my phone and tablet may soon pass my laptop in dpi.
1. Re:1920x1200 laptop? by Menkhaf · 2012-02-27 19:27 · Score: 1
  
  You might want to have a look for Compal laptops. I've got a NBLB3, sporting a 15,3" 1920x1080 display. Bought it a year and a half ago. Core i5 2.4 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB HDD, eSata, LED backlight.
  There are a few things that could've been better (weird keyboard mapping -- the Return key sends a KP_Enter), and it's got a bit of a plastic-y feel to it, but it works great, and I bought it for what amounts to less than 1200 USD.
  
  --
  A proud member of the Onion-in-Hand alliance
Maybe I do need a new carrier by tepples · 2012-02-27 11:44 · Score: 1

Sounds like you need a new carrier.
Yeah, Virgin Mobile USA charges $7/mo for its cheapest "payLo" (dumbphone) plan but $35/mo for its cheapest "Beyond Talk" (smartphone) plan, and payLo top-ups don't work on smartphones.

Either that or you could just buy an unlocked phone and not tell them about it.
For one thing, unlocked phones are GSM, meaning they won't work with CDMA2000 MVNOs like Virgin. For another, I've read horror stories on Slashdot about U.S. cell phone carriers slamming customers onto higher-priced plans after discovering that a SIM has been used in a smartphone. Is it true that T-Mobile is the only U.S. prepaid carrier worth a damn?
Reminds me of this by rust627 · 2012-02-27 12:33 · Score: 1

Funny how ASUS "invents" these things a few years after someone else gets them on to the market (but without the big publicity)

--
da da da dum indeed.
1. Re:Reminds me of this by nzac · 2012-02-27 13:02 · Score: 1
  
  How many successful products aren't copied like this?
Re:Can't believe it took them 3 years to clone thi by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 15:55 · Score: 0

Too bad alwaysinnovating makes shit.
Re:Laptop that lets you take apps and data with yo by gmhowell · 2012-02-27 18:25 · Score: 1

It's not inventing the laptop computer per se as much as inventing the laptop computer that lets you pull a piece out and take your applications, data, and computing hardware to use them with you.
So.... they invented a laptop with a thumbdrive?

--
Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
Difference between this and a thumbdrive by tepples · 2012-02-28 03:32 · Score: 1

It's not inventing the laptop computer per se as much as inventing the laptop computer that lets you pull a piece out and take your applications, data, and computing hardware to use them with you.
So.... they invented a laptop with a thumbdrive?
No. See "and computing hardware". Most of the apps can still be used (to an extent) on the piece while the piece is detached, without needing to find someone else's laptop.