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Model 03: Lower the boom
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With Bob Groppo being named OQO VP of Engineering perhaps it is time to start influencing the feature set for Model 03.

I believe its integrated product development philosophy will still be relevant. Model 03 will have to compete more effectively to stay relevant though. OQO has been laying the foundation over the years to become a household name (worldwide distribution channels, new staff, different product tiers, etc), but when you say "ultraportable" most people do not think "OQO". Don't be surprised if people are generally thinking of sed smartphone in less than 5 years. In my opinion, this is more than a brading issue. It's a maturity thang. A tangible product has only been around a handful of years. So the company is poised to dominate, but does it want to?

When Model 01 hit the streets, I predicted that Model 03 will meet my requirements. I still have my fingers crossed. Here is what it will take:

CPU
Intel Menlow platform for obvious reasons. No one else will have 45nm chips for 12 months after Menlow. It makes sense to go with Intel since they are taking the UMPC market seriously and by storm. Meaning OQO's competitors will develop around Intel. Play defense and do the same thing.

Memory
2GB -Why is this still not the norm today?

Disk
32 & 64 GB flash. W/O "drop detection" tech, isn't the system now simpler?

Network
Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, 802.11n
EVDO, HSDPA -the rest of the world needs WAN. Get Telco's to subsidize the product. Hasn't RIM, HTC, and Apple made it is clear that Telco's crave general computing-like products??? Cut them off at the pass.

OS
Vista SP1

MISC
GPS -save me from the $2500 navigation packages that car dealers are racketeering.
Camera -field engineers, sales agents, doctors, etc will become addicted to this. Product addiction = more revenue.
VOIP -another subsidy opportunity (looking at u Vonage)?

PRICE
With subsidies: $1400

XFACTOR
OQO's secret software sauce that makes the minituration possible. I barely know what this is about, but as cellphones creeps into the UMPC territory, commoditization is inevitable. How will this keep your product from being a commodity? Product dimensions and Vista will not help you that much longer.

Sprinkle in some innovative marketing strategies, and this will go a long way to equating "UMPC" with "OQO". The company popularized the market. It's time to make everyone recognize. Lower the boom (and the price).
 
Replies

Yeah its true but as much as brandname useability and price are very important too, look at the EEE take off due to price when it comes to useability the battery time has to be a workday at least!

As for Vonage I hope they'll be gone by then don't get me wrong I love VOIP and use it but Vonage are the sneakiest company out there, gave us a hassle when we wanted to port out our number (we has it on auto pay so never any unpaid bill!) so first they gave us the excuse twice that our signature wasn't clear enough, then later reassigned our numbers to others 4 times although it is active with another carrier. When we contacted them over this in writing they claimed that our signature hadn't matched (matched what, we never signed any physical papers when signing up with them) so the same da the emailed us that this weird nr called and hung up, we called back then "J" answered and said oh he was trying to call amex's customer service, suprise suprise the Vonage letter was signed Jason (no last name)
 

A lot more thinner, smaller, clamshell
 

My dream: similar to Model 02, but with 2 GB, 64 GB SSD, tri-band HSUPA, webcam, and the same size as the Nokia N810 - basically a Nokia N810 with the power of the Model 02

What's possible:
* At least 800x600 screen (without interpolation), hopefully a little larger (does anyone make 6-inch screens?) without making the unit larger
* Definitely pure Intel (including graphics and chipset), improving compatibility (especially with alternative OSes), and performance
* Modular, optional cellular so you could choose from a set of carriers
* Definitely Solid State drive (32GB and 64GB options) (Especially for drive-intensive Vista.)
* 2GB option. For Linux or OSX, you can do pretty well in 1GB, but Vista definitely likes 2GB better.
* Gigabit wired Ethernet; 802.11n WiFi
* optional GPS. I've already got a Bluetooth GPS unit. Package it with CoPilot or iGuidance
* slide and flip style screen that acts like the 02 screen as well as a clamshell for protection.
* Change the docking cradle to allow self-installed DVD burners (like a Blue-Ray, when those come down a bit more)

"Blue Sky" probably not likely:
* License with Apple to become a "trusted platform" for OSX (Yeah, like that'll happen)
* Release the "laptop" carrier that OQO has a patent on as an option for people who want a more mobile "workspace" than the cradle, monitor and keyboard would provide.

tnkgrl said: "My dream: similar to Model 02, but with 2 GB, 64 GB SSD, tri-band HSUPA, webcam, and the same size as the Nokia N810 - basically a Nokia N810 with the power of the Model 02 "


They certainly have the ability to put out a Linux version that can achieve this, though probably a tad fatter than the N810.
 

Am I really the only one who "requires" the device to be able to run more than 2-3 hours and still fit in my pocket?
 

ecsk2 said: "Am I really the only one who "requires" the device to be able to run more than 2-3 hours and still fit in my pocket? "


The 45nm Menlow chips and SSDs will help here. Backlit LED technology could up the ante for battery life too.

Another feature I forgot to mention relates to security. Ultaportables can store soo much data and are easy to lose. I am not sure where Intel and Microsoft's trusted platform program stands, but I know Vista x64 is inheirently more secure than the 32bit version because of its lineage. Application compatibility has come a long way for Vista x64 since last year. Once SP1 comes out, it will be ready for primetime. Can OQO revamp its secret software sauce to 64bit in time for Model 03?

I'd be willing to pay more for LEDs and security: $2000.

Someone mentioned Gbit ethernet. Maybe if I keep movies on the Model 03 and stream them off using Xbox360 directly connecting the two. Cable modems don't max out 100Mbit. Are there any other reasons Gbit is needed?

Vonage: don't know why I mentioned that. Skype will do.
 

ecsk2: I should have mentioned battery life. What I'd really like to see was something that could go through a normal day without needing a recharge. That would be 4 hours continuous use minimum, preferably 6. Obviously, that'll take some doing.

I'm of mixed minds on pocketability. On the one hand, I'd love to be able to put it in my pocket like I did with the 01+ and with my PDAs. On the other, I don't want to gain pocketability by making the screen small(er). (It's probably my aging eyes.) If I could get a pocketable handtop with a 5 to 6 inch screen, I'd be happy. I think you could even go slightly wider and/or longer than the current 02 if you also went thinner.
ecsk2 said: "Am I really the only one who "requires" the device to be able to run more than 2-3 hours and still fit in my pocket? "


Too long of a wait for that to be a purchase requirement for me.
 

rr0123 said: "
ecsk2 said: "Am I really the only one who "requires" the device to be able to run more than 2-3 hours and still fit in my pocket? "


Too long of a wait for that to be a purchase requirement for me."


I don't know I believe its "just around the corner" but I also think UMPC's as we see them today (meaning majority of the devices we discuss on here) are not going to be around for much longer, I believe that the "smartphone" and "PMP" devices will become enough "computers" soon that the market for the "true UMPC" will get too small to even bother with, perhaps just for professional usage (read: HIGH COST!) like the Intermec devices in the Windows Mobile sector and the type of rugged devices law enforcement uses.

Just to add a little more to this, I believe the real pocketable devices that run all day and fit nicely even into your shirt pocket will become more sophisticated and expensive and the laptop sector will see more super affordable devices like the EEE and thereby the UMPC's as we see them like OQO etc won't have much of a market except perhaps in the medical field etc, but that means they will be VERY expensive
 

From the looks of things Model 03 may be closer than you think!

diJenerate

It's HSDPA.
 

look whats missing, look where the announcement is being made, isnt it obvious?
 

It's HSDPA.
 

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