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Define and Copyright Handtop?
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The whole UMPC/Handtop/sub-notebook issue, what is what, and what do the terms mean, and all the fights about Trade marks and names led me to run a cursory Trade Mark search on name Handtop, to see if it had been claimed. At first glance, it does not seem to have been.
Before someone jumps on this band wagon and registers the name, would it not be an idea to at least design a broad usage definition, and officially copyright the name Handtop? The domain name is a good starting point.
A general definition would also be useful, and would also help to avoid some of the confusion that has plagued the term UMPC.
The above would help to protect this site from unscrupulous exploitation if some company decides to name a product Handtop and then claims all rights to the name. (An example of this would be iPhone)
I am not the person to draw up a specification or definition of this type, there are many on this forum with greater knowledge and expertise than myself, but I have put together a general guideline below that I think might be helpful in getting things going.
A small, portable, self contained lightweight computer designed to be held in ones hands while in use.
A maximum size not exceeding 7.0" x 5.5" x 2". (178 mm x 140 mm x 50 mm)
A CPU capable of running a modern desktop OS.
A dedicated keyboard input type device.
An integrated HDD or SSD.
The above is just a suggestion, and others will probably have better ideas.
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03/27/07
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alcuin
I don't think a formal "handtop" definition is currently necessary, nor make things easier for the consumer.
Existing definitions for portable computing are already being stretched beyond any formal "definition", that makes it difficult for consumers to recognize what they are, to the point of them abandoning the formal usage to begin with. Laptops became notebooks by manufacturers to denote a particular shape and form-factor, but consumers use the terms interchangably. To many of my non-tech-savy friends, they still refer to my tablet PC as a laptop. Which is completely acceptable, too. Also, quoting from Wikipedia,
As will be clear, these categories are blurry at times. For example, the OQO UPC is a PDA-sized Tablet PC; the Apple eMate had the clamshell form factor of a laptop, but ran PDA software. The HP Omnibook line of laptops included some devices small enough to be called handheld computers. The hardware of the Nokia 770 Internet tablet is essentially the same as that of a PDA such as the Zaurus 6000; the only reason it's not called a PDA is that it doesn't have PIM software. On the other hand, both the 770 and the Zaurus can run some desktop Linux software, usually with modifications.
Any existing technical definition that consumers actually use works because its actual concept or ideology is simple. Laptop is used by many to generically denote a portable computer; it doesn't matter how big or small, or fast or slow it is. (Of course, specific sub-genre's emerged to detail the specifics, such as sub-notebooks, desktop-replacments, tablet PC's, and the ilk, but when someone wants to quickly refer to a device, laptop is a commonly heard term.)
PDA came into common usage because it can be generically applied to nearly all of the portable handheld electronics, with almost nothing in common with each other, other than relative diminuitive size. Pocket PC's, Zaurus's, Treo's, Psion's, Nokia 770's and 800's; Newtons, are all small. They all have different CPU's, different OS's, different form-factors; different options and expansion capabilities. But it is just easier for the public in general to refer to any generic device as either a PDA, or a Palm-Pilot, when they don't know the actual specifics, even though such usage is grossly techncially incorrect. That is what makes such terms useful. There was a time when the DVR wars were in full fledge; the models and makes were vast; there were ShowStoppers, Ultimate TV's, ReplayTV's, home-built DVR's, and of course TiVo's. But now any generic DVR is usually referred to as TiVo; not for its correct usage, but for ease of conveying the idea to a non-technical person. The same goes for Xerox machines and Kleenex; of course it would be more politically correct to use such reference terms as copy machine and tissue paper; but for a new or technical word to become vernacular, it must immediately create the idea the speaker is trying to convey. If I have to formally correct someone and say , "That's not right, it's not a handtop because it's too big or to small", or "That's not right, it's not a TiVo because it's not the right brand", then the ease of use restricts the usage of the word to the point that people simply won't use it. But to just say, "That's a handtop", is easy enough for people to comprehend, without having to define the particular technical aspects of it.
So basically, I don't think a basic technical definition of a "handtop" term will really matter to the basic consumer. It will only make it more difficult to comprehend, making users just ignore it and relegate it to the same status as UMPC and palmtops. Consumers will use the word, however, in a generic capacity if the market for such devices expands considerably; though the usage will probably be in a generic definition to help convey the basic concept they have in mind, not any formal requirements.
edited: Mar 27 2007
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GreatDane
Good point from a general perspective.
I was however, not so much trying to create an inclusive or exclusive definition for Handtops, as attempting to quantify the term, so as to make it possible to obtain some minimal degree of legal protection for it.
A hypothetical case would be that a manufacturer, looking for a catchy name for their product, applied for example for a Trade Mark of Handtop. If such a Trade Mark were to be granted, that manufacturer could then insist on exclusivity for the use of the term. A pre-existing Domain in that name would offer some legal defense, but is unlikely to be sufficient to block such a move. Obtaining a Trade Mark is extremely expensive, and an on going expense at that, so that is not a good option for the site. The only other reliable method that comes to mind for preempting any such future possible skulduggery would be to claim copyright of the name. I thought that a basic, all inclusive definition, whether it is held to or not, would be advantageous in this respect.
04/06/07
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primaz
I agree with alcuin, I think people get too hung up on creating narrow definitions. To me the reality of the mass market just looks at functionality of computers. Other than laptops which to me include subnotebooks, even the HTC, UMPC are all just basically computers that are mobile yet in a size you still need to carry via a bag, etc. I then see the next type of devices designed around being small enough to be carried on a person with no bag required. Those devices often blur as the differences as technology advances become harder to define. I see even the word handtop maybe changing over time. Based on your definition a modern Psion would be within the definiiton as it would be 7 to 7.5" by 3.5 to 4" by .75 to 1".
Personally I see the moble market being more divided by the ultra small preference of say shirt pocket devices for people whom only look at data and do limited inputing. The other category would be more mobile business users whom do more data input. Those users generally want a true touch type keyboard if they had their wish. Right now some are satisfied with OQO, and similar PDA's but a good majority still use a laptop as those devices can not satisfy their needs all of the time and another larger group not owning any thumb based mobile device due to the form factor. I think a good majority of handtop users are business users so they probably prefer the OQO type devices due to the OS over say a Pocket pc pda.
I think there is still a niche that OQO type devices can fill but also believe that once companies integrate a true touch type keyboard into that modern Psion type footprint the lines again blur. When that occurs the people whom will sacrafice size over the touch type keyboard will be served with some type of smaller device designed to be ultra small. Besides form factor the always connected convergence devices that are cell phone / computers blur the lines even further. What is the new Samsung SPH P9000? is it a cell phone? it runs desktop OS like a handtop yet has a touch type keyboard? it folds out in three segments so is it a UMPC? or is just PDA? I think the larger population will not care about the labels the tech geeks will try to create; consumers just focus on functionality. If it is highly adopted it will create a name on its own. I think it is hard to lable mobile devices into set categories as technology advances.
04/07/07
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GreatDane
Hi guy's,
I was suggesting a simple manner to protect the name of the site, and the general term Handtop that we all use from being exploited by an unscrupulous operator and excluding us from using said term in the manner we now do, thats all. Once the term is legally defined and registered (and I really don't care what the exact details of the definition are), it would be a lot more difficult for someone to hijack it.
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