04/22/06
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futurehut
Does anyone know how can I order this device?
I am very very interested. Thanks.
edited: Apr 26 2006
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fil
I can understand that logic.
I believe that converging a PocketPC with a cellphone to make a smartphone is a great idea, but I do not see the value with converging a smartphone with a full notebook like the OQO to make a "smarter phone-notebook" device.
PocketPC + cellphone = smartphone
PocketPC + cellphone + notebook = ? I don't get it
So do people see the BlackBerry, cellphone, plus notebook combo going away?
I see a lot of BB users carrying all 3 devices.
I also see BB + notebook users (where the BB is used as a cell).
But I have not seen a BB only user.
The only person I've seen in 4 years carrying only a PocketPC is Gerard over at Brighthand, and he doesn't have a cellphone or a notebook. I think he's way out of the spectrum of the "normal" enterprise and government user.
04/27/06
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MeanSquare
I used to carry only a Pocket PC. It's actually quite good for many things. In fact, if anyone ever comes up with a PIM for desktop Windows that works anywhere near as well as Pocket Informant, I'll buy it. However, after I added TextMaker to do decent word processing (and non-distructive edits of Word files), PlanMaker (for the same with Excel spreadsheets), Pocket Artist for photo editing, Pocket Bible (for the obvious), PocketDVD for video conversion, Pocket Quicken (for finances), NavMan (for GPS), I tried the iGo Pitch Duo to see if I could do presentations without the laptop. It worked, but not well enough. I kept wanting to do things that were easily available for laptops, but either nonexistant or not nearly as functional for the PPC. The OQO was an obvious choice at that point.
05/08/06
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Lightwave
I use my PDA (HP hx4700) daily at work (automotive engineer). I use it for PIM, Word (Textmaker), Excel (Planmaker), unit conversions, 1D & 2D barcode scanning (CF interface) into a database, document archive and for R&R on the road as an MP3 and XVID Video Player (4 & 8 GB CF cards). I use a bluetooth keyboard and mouse when there is excessive text entry that needs to be done, including when I am using the barcode scanner. The one thing I rarely use it for is to browse the internet. I cannot access my corporate web based email systems with any of the available browsers for the Pocket PC. Browsing most "non-mobile" sites has too much excessive lag as well. The Dualcor cPC had me excited that I could actually carry 1 device to access both WM 5 and WinXP. But it seems more and more that this anticipation is being mixed with skepticism. Dualcor updated their website a few days ago and now has several references of a 30GB hard drive after their ex CEO Steve Hanley communicated at CES that it had a 40GB hard drive??? I know some of these references existed before but you would think if they took the time to update the site, they would correct it as well. The most disturbing part of that web site for me is that they still haven't stated whether they are going to integrate bluetooth and wifi. All we get is testimonials from selected users that used dongles and CF cards for this capability. This is all fine and dandy if you are using the device in XP but that is not the intent of this unit per Dualcor. To maximize battery life, we are to use the device as much as possible in WM5. For me, utilizing the CF slot with a barcode scanner or even a GPS in the future, how are we supposed to use bluetooth? Even with the PocketPC side having USB host capabilities, you would still need drivers for many of the "non mass storage devices". How many people have seen PocketPC drivers for bluetooth and wifi USB dongles??? Most people that want this device already use a PocketPC and therefore have an investment in plug-in attachments as well as software that they would want to leverage into this product. I really believe not having bluetooth integrated is detrimental to the success of this device. I will end up buying a used U750P (or wait to review UMPC offerings) if I still have to carry my hx4700 (which gives me 12 hours of continuous runtime with an extended battery) to use a bluetooth keyboard and mouse with CF peripherals.
05/09/06
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MeanSquare
I may have twigged on the reason for leaving Bluetooth out: Which side controls the Bluetooth radio? Theoretically, both should have access to it, but working out the drivers to allow that would be a major task. DualCor dodges the bullet by letting the consumers (gamma testers) do the work.
Lightwave, One of the other reasons I switched from my hx4700 to the OQO was to get access to drivers for all those USB things.
05/10/06
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Lightwave
MeanSquare, thank you for the input. You sound like you have a better understanding of how drivers interface with operating systems than I do. With that said, I cannot see where this would be different from the display or CF slot as to what operating system would control those functions. I am thinking that at worst case switching from one mode to another would require me to re-pair my devices with the Bluetooth radio as those drivers would become active for that mode and the other mode would be dormant. Again, this is speculation.
I am glad you like your OQO. I have heard many positive things about it from people that have the proper expectations of its capabilities. I am leaning towards the U750p because it has a built in CF slot which would still allow me to have one handed barcode scanning capability into a warranty or traceability database while troubleshooting vehicles in the assembly plants. I can also drop up to a 100 GB drive in the thing and get a couple of extended batteries to eliminate both my hx4700 and Fujitsu P5020D Laptop.
I guess right now it comes down to what is available first, the Dualcor with bluetooth integrated or a used U750P in "like new" condition.
