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The Year in Crowdfunded PCs: Who Succeeded? Who Failed? (zdnet.com)
Sean Portnoy, writing for ZDNet: The ever-maturing PC industry hasn't deterred manufacturers large and small from embracing crowdfunding as a method of bringing new systems to market, whether they need the funds to produce their new product, or just want to gain publicity and guarantee some upfront sales. Not every launch on Kickstarter or one of its rivals is a roaring success, but enough are to keep the campaigns coming. It was no different in 2017, as several companies offered new devices for crowdfunding, although some of them were clearly drawing inspiration from the past. That includes the Gemini, which answers the question: What would a PDA look like in a world filled with smartphones that have essentially replaced it? That answer is a clam-shell handheld with a physical keyboard, 5.99-inch screen, and Android and Linux dual-boot capability (along with built-in Wi-Fi and 4G option to keep up with the times).
As unlikely as you might think such a device would be attractive in a world of iPhones, tablets, Chromebooks, and other portables, the company behind the Gemini, UK startup Planet Computers, easily surpassed its campaign target on IndieGogo, raising over $1.1 million. Another tiny computer, the GPD Pocket, doesn't look all that different from the Gemini, though it doesn't try to market itself specifically as a PDA. Instead, parent company GamePad Digital (or GPD) defines it as a 7-inch Windows laptop, complete with 8GB of RAM, 128GB solid-state drive, and full HD touchscreen. The list goes on.
As unlikely as you might think such a device would be attractive in a world of iPhones, tablets, Chromebooks, and other portables, the company behind the Gemini, UK startup Planet Computers, easily surpassed its campaign target on IndieGogo, raising over $1.1 million. Another tiny computer, the GPD Pocket, doesn't look all that different from the Gemini, though it doesn't try to market itself specifically as a PDA. Instead, parent company GamePad Digital (or GPD) defines it as a 7-inch Windows laptop, complete with 8GB of RAM, 128GB solid-state drive, and full HD touchscreen. The list goes on.
GPD pocket is a nice idea, basically tablet designed for use with a keyboard. I find touchscreen typing or voice entry to be onerous, so this is a cool device. Only question is, will it run Ubuntu, or would I be stuck with Win 10 if I buy it? And I'm not in love with the nipple-mouse placement -- should be more central to the keyboard, not the very edge (IMHO).
The year in crowdfunded palmtops.
There are no PCs involved in this article.
Fail, fail.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
While they may had gotten crowd funded, it doesn't guarantee success in the long term.
A lot of these designs seems to bring back a slightly updated version of an old design. Sometimes this works, but often it fails miserably. Because these nostalgic features that were removed, were often removed for a good reason. And the people who want this feature returned are such a small group that they cannot sell enough to keep the business going.
Yes sometimes a winner will come out. But often with the change of technology the way we use it has changed as well. So such a nostalgic feature isn't as needed as we really thought it was.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
One project I've been watching (late as usual) is the Superbook (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/andromium/the-superbook-turn-your-smartphone-into-a-laptop-f)
It looks like a small laptop with a screen and keyboard but it has no brains. It uses your smartphone as the brains and more importantly, storage for all you stuff. It has a battery to charge your phone and run the Superbook.
I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
Damn it all, does the world *really* need more pocket-sized computers? I'm still waiting for modular, user-upgradeable large DTR laptop to appear. I'm so sick of having to upgrade entire machines, or use a desktop if I want to game (since I certainly can't afford a gaming DTR.)
I understand that most people these days desire sleek, disposable ultrabook crap with soldiered CPUs and GPUs and disposable proprietary batteries, but surely I'm not the only one who'd love to seesomething like this? Doesn't anyone do LAN parties any more? It could use miniITX; hell, the thing could be half a foot think and use a standard ATX power supply and weigh 17 pounds for all I care, just as long as it has an integrated screen, cheap commodity battery (for UPS purposes only, not for sustained use) and keyboard (pref with user-swappable mechanical switches) and can be carried in a bag with one hand...
Wish we had some sort of site to vote for crowdfunded things that no one has even proposed yet, just to demonstrate the interest.