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Dark Helmet · May 3, 2006, 11:19 AM

Gee, who would have thought. I mean you can get a iBook for less than this monstrosity.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1955884,00.asp

olePigeon · May 3, 2006, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

Gee, who would have thought. I mean you can get a iBook for less than this monstrosity.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1955884,00.asp

Hey, just in time to not run Windows Vista.

powerbook867 · May 3, 2006, 01:11 PM

I think the idea is a good one, but I don't like the Samsung at all. This one from tablet kiosk is rather nice...but still way too expensive for what you are getting....

http://www.tabletkiosk.com/config/pc...?idCategory=35

I'd buy an Apple UMPC in a heartbeat for about 8-900 dollars..

Dark Helmet · May 3, 2006, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by powerbook867

I think the idea is a good one, but I don't like the Samsung at all. This one from tablet kiosk is rather nice...but still way too expensive for what you are getting....

http://www.tabletkiosk.com/config/pc...?idCategory=35

I'd buy an Apple UMPC in a heartbeat for about 8-900 dollars..

You'd really want one over an iBook for the same cost? I mean it doesn't even have an optical drive or keyboard.

powerbook867 · May 3, 2006, 01:28 PM

I like the form factor (as long as it stays very slim). I could never see me using it as a desktop replacement, but something that has iphoto/itunes/vlc type media player...plus add some kind of integrated remote for all my home theater stuff...

I'd buy it, but it would be a toy purchase more than a computer purchase.

Salty · May 3, 2006, 07:48 PM

But at that price it's not a toy purchase. That thing is way way way too expensive! Not to mention way too under powered. There are all kinds of things these things COULD do... but they won't be doing them any time soon because it's just not there yet.

Paco500 · May 4, 2006, 12:20 AM

I have to echo that I love the form factor, and if someone did it right, I'd buy it for ~$1000.

The optical drive is not a concern- I use CD's in my MacBook pretty much never, and could find ways around the limitation. As for the KB, done right to me means a decent KB implementation, either a damn good on-screen or better, a slide down from behind.

And as far as $1000 being to much for a "toy" purchase? Not really. Lots of toys cost that much. They just don't sell in great numbers.

Salty · May 4, 2006, 12:45 AM

The slide down keyboard is a great idea, actually though that would make it feel more like a tablet. The problem with using a keyboard is you then need something to put it down on. Either that or they need to adapt a new non QWERTY keyboard that could be used with one hand... though if they could do that... the keyboards would be sold in droves... primarily marketed to males under 30

.

TailsToo · May 4, 2006, 04:01 PM

Tablet PCs will not sell until they cost less than full blown laptops... might not happen.

production_coordinator · May 4, 2006, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

You'd really want one over an iBook for the same cost? I mean it doesn't even have an optical drive or keyboard.

I actually would be fine without an optical drive. The keyboard... I don't think so.

Paco500 · May 4, 2006, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by Salty

The slide down keyboard is a great idea, actually though that would make it feel more like a tablet. The problem with using a keyboard is you then need something to put it down on. Either that or they need to adapt a new non QWERTY keyboard that could be used with one hand... though if they could do that... the keyboards would be sold in droves... primarily marketed to males under 30

.

No you don't necessarily need to put it down. Properly implemented, you could type on it blackberry style.

slugslugslug · May 4, 2006, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

I actually would be fine without an optical drive. The keyboard... I don't think so.

If they could do some kind of protective-case/keyboard combo, like somebody had in that Origami teaser video, for, say <$80, I could go for that. But I could give a crap about no built-in optical drive, especially if there was a SuperDrive-equipped docking station sitting at home. But I could also use FireWire or install stuff over the LAN if necessary.

P.S. I am of course talking about something that runs OS X.

xi_hyperon · May 5, 2006, 04:38 PM

Another not-so-good review, echoing some of the points made in the PC Mag review.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/05/.../ptpogue04.php

King Bob On The Cob · May 5, 2006, 09:50 PM

So... Microsoft managed to recreate the OQO... badly...

Way to go!

production_coordinator · May 5, 2006, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by slugslugslug

If they could do some kind of protective-case/keyboard combo, like somebody had in that Origami teaser video, for, say <$80, I could go for that. But I could give a crap about no built-in optical drive, especially if there was a SuperDrive-equipped docking station sitting at home. But I could also use FireWire or install stuff over the LAN if necessary.

P.S. I am of course talking about something that runs OS X.

I guess I see something that has a nice little screen (think PSP, but a little bit bigger), an area where you can write hand written notes, and a nice little keyboard (thin and elegant), no optical, one USB, no firewire, wireless, 512 of ram, expandable to 1GB, 40GB HD...

...price... $499

I would also be very happy if they could offer a BlackBerry like device running OS X... same size...

JoshuaZ · May 6, 2006, 10:26 AM

If only the Newton would come back from the grave like some bad zombie film....

The Newton that wouldn't die! It may have been discontinued, but its back for blooooood!!!

Salty · May 6, 2006, 03:11 PM

I recently realized if I had a dog there's a good job I might name it Newton...

Dark Helmet · May 8, 2006, 11:46 AM

This review tears it a new one.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...050600165.html

2.5 hour battery playing MP3's

Maflynn · May 8, 2006, 12:00 PM

The issues that I see are the price and the battery.
The price is ridiculous, I can get an el cheap windows laptop for less and that includes a keyboad.

The other issue is battery life. I think of these things an ultra pda, and for that purpose I'd want the battery to last all day and from what I've seen that's not happending.

Finally - knowing your customer. What makes these UMPCs any different then other tablet pcs, or even PDAs. Take a look at the world of PDAs and you see a market shrinking, Dell is rumored not to be developing any more Axims, HP has dropped models from their line up, Sony has left the market.

I don't see an a need or desire to have these UMPCs.

Dark Helmet · May 8, 2006, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by Maflynn

The issues that I see are the price and the battery.
The price is ridiculous, I can get an el cheap windows laptop for less and that includes a keyboad.

You can get an iBook for less.

olePigeon · May 8, 2006, 12:21 PM

Reading the horrors they have with the thing trying to recognize their handwriting makes me appreciate how awesome the later model Newtons were. That was on a handheld, not even a computer.

Anyone know if Inkwell has anything to do with the original Newton recognition?

Dark Helmet · May 8, 2006, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Anyone know if Inkwell has anything to do with the original Newton recognition?

It does. Pretty much just a port.

xi_hyperon · May 8, 2006, 02:25 PM

My favorite from that review:

The copy of Windows Media Player included an extra "skin" for that program, with large buttons meant to be selected with a thumb (should you want to employ something the size of two Walkmen duct-taped together as an MP3 player).

All the reviews out there are pretty consistent about what's wrong with this product. Wonder if Microsoft is starting to get the feeling that this was a mistake?

Dark Helmet · May 8, 2006, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by xi_hyperon

My favorite from that review:

All the reviews out there are pretty consistent about what's wrong with this product. Wonder if Microsoft is starting to get the feeling that this was a mistake?

Microsofts new ventures are almost always 100% bad. Take Windows CE devices when they first came out (they were clamshell organizers). Years and years later they turn into OK products.

Microsoft is one of the few companies that have enough money to keep trying and trying.