Handtops, UMPC - Here's the Big News about the Next OQO -

Improved OQO handheld PC will have cellular

"Interesting tidbit from someone who would know: The next OQO handheld PC, which could be out as soon as the Consumer Electronics Show in January, will have a brighter screen, improved keyboard, more memory, a bigger hard drive and wide-area wireless capability, all for about the same price as the current model ($1,599 at the OQO store). It already has WiFi and Bluetooth."

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Comments

edited: Oct 22 2006 + fil

The next OQO handheld PC...will have a brighter screen, improved keyboard, more memory, a bigger hard drive and wide-area wireless capability, all for about the same price as the current model ($1,599 at the OQO store).

More memory won't help the outdated processor. I hope OQO has a current processor in it and forgot to mention the upgrade in the 02.

Bigger drive. Ok, fine.
Solid state is the [current expensive] future for the handtop/UMPC market.

Wide-area wireless. I hope OQO is thinking broadband wireless and skipping Edge, it's not worth it. So this would lock us folks in the US into Verizon and Sprint for the meantime.
The service plan wth Verizon is $59/month for a 1-yr contract. Pretty expensive for most people. I'm happy that my company pays for my broadband cellular access.

Same price...
I've recently switched back to a BlackBerry 8700c (for work) and debating the whole $1500+ handtop price.
OQO and Sony need to really get in line with the UMPC companies (<$800 target standalone or <$200 device cost subsidized by the cellular carrier) or else they will not be competitive in this field.

I can see why many folks are sticking with the BB or going the route of the Treo, JasJar, and other recent PocketPC smartphone devices.

Recent Blog: Apple iPhone Switch

10/24/06 + rl

The price cut on the current model is yet another indicator of an impending annoucement.

fil pointed out that a major feature, that of the CPU, is sitll unknown. So is which carrier technology is supported (the GSM/EDGE/HSPDA carriers or the CDMA/1X/EVDO) or whether it will be through an ExpressCard/34* slot in which case you have a choice.

* Forget about PCMCIA from now on.

10/25/06 + primaz

I can not believe OQO is not understanding the core issue; that is their form factor. They should design the next version around a touch type keyboard and thus make the unit longer, say about 7" or so and if possible make it thinner. The real issue is functionality. Nobody wants a thumb input device! Here is a great article that really identifies what is missing in the handheld and mobile computing market,
link
If they modeled their next version based on real input like the many whom commented in the above link, then they would sell millions of devices.

Recent Blog: New Handheld Sharp has just released the D4 -UMPC handheld!

10/25/06 + snowviper

But ppl buy OQO because of the size if you bump it to 7" then it would be the same with UMPC.
But then again people have their own need and want.

I hope that they keep the same size and form factor may be with upgraded Processor (intell based or atleast AMD), but mainthing is it's resolusion, my only problem with my OQO is it's resolusion 800 x 400, and it's active touch screen ( I want passive).

10/26/06 + MeanSquare

primaz: I probably could disagree more, but I don't know how. Virtually everyone I've talked to who owns an OQO lists size as a (sometime major) factor in the decision. If you keep the size, a thumb-board is the only way to do it. If they make the OQO as large as the UMPC, even if they keep the built-in keyboard, it becomes just one more sub-notebook. With a sub-notebook, half the time you wish you didn't have it when you do carry it, because of the bulk. The other half of the time you wish you did have it, but you left it behind (because of the bulk).

To second fil's comments, virtually everyone I've talked to who would like to have a handtop lists price as the reason for not making the decision. So they either buy a PDA, with stripped-down functionality or they buy a laptop and develop tendinitis from carrying it around.

Recent Blog: MeanSquare's Review of the Sony UX (with comparison to OQO)

10/27/06 + wxman

Somebody was right about being pissed. I just spent $2300 for this damn thing about a month ago, and guess what? They dropped the price $500.
I should have expected that. I have sent them a letter and asked them what they can do for me now. I would think....NOTHING.

Good luck. I DO like the device though.

wxman AT NOSPAM flash.net

10/29/06 + snowviper

wxman: there is one thing they can do , refund your 500 back.

I got mine used with waranty for 1300 shiped, if the new one has bigger resolution ill switch for sure (if msrp 1500)

10/31/06 + primaz

Snowviper & Meansquare you do not understand my thought, what I mean is the unit should be long and narrow like the old Psion or HP Jornadas (about 7 inches long by 3.5 inches wide and less than one inch thick). That would enable a functional touch type keyboard yet still fit in a jacket pocket. OQO also wasted a large portion of their current design on a keypad; the real estate should be soley for a touch type keyboard. I agree I hate all of the UMPC's for the same reason they are big clunky devices and since you must carry one via a bag you might as well buy a more powerful tablet or laptop.

If the OQO was about 7" x 3.5" x 1" it could be large enough to have a touch type keyboard like the great Psion mx5, it would be able to display in 1/2 vga, it would still fit in your pocket, and if it could do that along with what the OQO already can than it would be worth the price. To me the real issue I hear from people whom first say price is that after asking more questions it is really they hate the thumb input and form factor and thus find it less useful and then price becomes an issue. It is just like the UMPC's the UMPC lovers say if they were cheaper it would be great; but the reason why price is an issue there is the devices are big and compete against other more powerful devices similar in size.

Everyone I know whom owns a PDA, smart phone, Blackberry, Treo, etc. all have similar comments they hate the thumb input and all I talked to would buy a laptop in your pocket device with a touch type keyboard but there is none to buy. A great article about this topic is, link

The reality is there never has been a pocket size laptop. We came close with Psion and the Joranda 728 but the Psion had a proprietary OS non MS and the 728 had MS stop supporting the OS. If OQO designed their device with that form factor they would sell the devices at the current price of $1500 with no problems. The technology is there to build such a device; the problem is computer companies have forgotton functionality.

Recent Blog: New Handheld Sharp has just released the D4 -UMPC handheld!

edited: Oct 31 2006 + jlp

Primaz,

you should remember what Psion did pack in their device: 2x AA battery, a B/W screen capable of 640 x200 pixels and without backlight if I remember right. Plus a slow CPU that had nothing to do with x86, and NO HDD, a tiny amount of RAM, a tiny & fast but not much capable OS, probably NO GPU, etc.

I'm definitely sure these guys, or even equally skilled engineers with knowledge of modern electronics could NOT repeat that prowess using XP capable electronics: lots of RAM, an HDD, a large and much higher capacity battery, a much bigger CPU, lots of standard connectors, a large display with at least 800x480 pixels, etc. The resulting device would be so much bigger than the original S5, you can bet on it!!!

Everybody is doing their best to fit what they think is important to have in a device people would want to buy.

2 years after its first commercial release the OQO Model 01/01+ is STILL the smallest Win XP computer, tho the recent startup doesn't have the cash, engineers and expertise and previous devices to work upon, like Sony; but still beat them flat in the size department (their main objective I gather).

I'm utmostly positive they couldn't have done it better then and I expect what they are working on since probably 2 years now is equally ground breaking.

11/01/06 + primaz

JLP,

I am a bit confused? The OQO is 4.9" x 3.4" x .9" right? That means that OQO has already been able to build an XP smaller than the size of the Psion. Thus there should be no reason why they or someone could build the same device but enable it to be longer and use a touch type keyboard. The unit could be the exact same width and height but just be about 7" and that would be the basic dimensions of the old Psion. I do agree that what they have been able to do is ground breaking but the only issue is that the form factor is not ideal for an XP computer. The reason to have an XP computer is to do more laptop functions and thus a touch type keyboard is what people want. OQO would have an extra 2" x 3.4" x .9" of space and the only change would be the keyboard. If they built that form factor I and many others would have no issue throwing down $1500 as it would the perfect laptop in my jacket pocket, which is a form factor with the price of admission.

Recent Blog: New Handheld Sharp has just released the D4 -UMPC handheld!

11/01/06 + 2disbetter

First off, screw any size changes. I love the thumb keypad, if you don't like it, get a bluetooth keyboard and mouse and you have th ebest portable computer anywhere. Those complaining about the current thumb board have probably never had or owned an oqo. Size is the important thing here, processor next, video card next, etc. I think they might have just not mentioned the cpu for marketing reasons. Maybe they are waiting to blow the load.

2d

edited: Nov 04 2006 + 2disbetter

All I know is that formfactor will not change however the design has. It could be in such a way as to permit a Solo. Now if they can't swing that, then their only real solution is to go even smaller, but since they aren't changing formfactor I don't believe this to be the case.

I would still buy an oqo over a UX anyday. If the UX didn't look like a frisby I would def reconsider. If I have buy to such an ugly device I might as well have a lifebook.(which is not ugly)

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