Handtops, UMPC - Flipstart Rules!!!! [first impressions]

01/23/08 + rr0123

I just got mine. I've only played with it a little, but I am already impressed. It really is like a smaller U101. Performance is excellent, video playback is awesome. The screen is great. The click-type buttons will make it much more difficult than the U810 to try to touch type, but with the smaller size I can see how why they would have made that decision on the conclusion that it might work better for most situations.

I did not buy I flipstart at its opening or initially reduced price, b/c I thought it was just too expensive, esp. for a mere 30 GB. But at $699 it is a truly amazing deal. It is a better machine than the U810, not even close.

I am thinking of getting another one!! At this price, it is the BEST handtop out there, IMO.

01/24/08 + anthonyb

So I finally went to the Flipstart website after have said bad things about it for so long without even knowing much about it.

Well, after seeing whats available online I agree that at $699, this thing truly rocks big time. Even at 7,8, 999 it would have rocked. I may get one. Then I'll have an 02 and a Flipstart and maybe, eventually, have multiple devices like a lot of you guys have already.

This is a real PC unlike that Eee thing.

Any recent reviews out there.

Recent Blog: Smartercase with ultra clip for OQO

01/24/08 + ArchiMark

rr0123 said: "I just got mine. I've only played with it a little, but I am already impressed. It really is like a smaller U101. Performance is excellent, video playback is awesome. The screen is great. The click-type buttons will make it much more difficult than the U810 to try to touch type, but with the smaller size I can see how why they would have made that decision on the conclusion that it might work better for most situations.

I did not buy I flipstart at its opening or initially reduced price, b/c I thought it was just too expensive, esp. for a mere 30 GB. But at $699 it is a truly amazing deal. It is a better machine than the U810, not even close.

I am thinking of getting another one!! At this price, it is the BEST handtop out there, IMO."

What make s it the best, rr0123???

Why is it better than the U810, which also has touchscreen???

Thanks,

Mark

01/24/08 + anthonyb

Can you give us an idea of how much faster it is over the OQO 02 using some application you deem appropriate ? Maybe just some anecdotal examples.

How does the 1024X600 look versus the interpolated 1000X600 ?

Recent Blog: Smartercase with ultra clip for OQO

01/24/08 + Orgwon

Check these numbers out:

FlipStart w/512Mb Ram:
Over All Passmark Rating = 185.9 Composite Average
CPU Mark = 291.4 Composite Average
2D Graphics Mark = 240.5 Composite Average
Memory Mark = 199.6 Composite Average
Disk Mark = 146.5 Composite Average
3D Grphics Mark = 69.8 Composite Average

OQO M2 w/512Mb Ram:
Over All Passmark Rating = 115.5 Composite Average
CPU Mark = 159.2 Composite Average
2D Graphics Mark = 117.9 Composite Average
Memory Mark = 149.1 Composite Average
Disk Mark = 120.1 Composite Average
3D Grphics Mark = 43.0 Composite Average

OQO M2 w/ 1Gb Ram:

Over All Passmark Rating = 115.4 Composite Average
CPU Mark = 161.8 Composite Average
2D Graphics Mark = 119.9 Composite Average
Memory Mark = 145.8 Composite Average
Disk Mark = 117.4 Composite Average
3D Grphics Mark = 43.8 Composite Average

01/24/08 + Orgwon

Sorry All, you might have already noticed I have the OQO 512Mb and 1GB stats backward.

Should be:

FlipStart w/512Mb Ram:
Over All Passmark Rating = 185.9 Composite Average
CPU Mark = 291.4 Composite Average
2D Graphics Mark = 240.5 Composite Average
Memory Mark = 199.6 Composite Average
Disk Mark = 146.5 Composite Average
3D Grphics Mark = 69.8 Composite Average

OQO M2 w/1GB Ram:
Over All Passmark Rating = 115.5 Composite Average
CPU Mark = 159.2 Composite Average
2D Graphics Mark = 117.9 Composite Average
Memory Mark = 149.1 Composite Average
Disk Mark = 120.1 Composite Average
3D Grphics Mark = 43.0 Composite Average

OQO M2 w/ 512Mb Gb Ram:
Over All Passmark Rating = 115.4 Composite Average
CPU Mark = 161.8 Composite Average
2D Graphics Mark = 119.9 Composite Average
Memory Mark = 145.8 Composite Average
Disk Mark = 117.4 Composite Average
3D Grphics Mark = 43.8 Composite Average

edited: Jan 24 2008 + nguyenallan

IMO, what make flipstart the best handtop is its 1.1 Pentium M processor. I notice the XP flipstart model has slightly better performance than the Vista flipstart model (I sold my Vista model to get the oqo02). I recently bought a 2nd flipstart unit because I was afraid that the company might be out of business in the near future.

For some reasons, I couldn't get the google earth to run on the oqo02 (best w/ Sprint). Google earth runs fine on the flipstart. Video playback is also better on the flipstart.

RR0123, now that you have both the flipstart and Sony u101, which one do you like more?

Recent Blog: Flipstart....so far so good

01/24/08 + anthonyb

I like the Flipstart however looking at these numbers it looks like Flipstart is never 2 times faster however Flipstart is approx. 2 times larger.

Also, Flipstart is only 33% larger however in most of these benchmarks it is more than 33% faster.

Another way, Flipstart is a hell of a lot cheaper.

Am I reading these benchmarks correctly guys ?

Recent Blog: Smartercase with ultra clip for OQO

01/24/08 + anthonyb

I edited LARGER to HEAVIER

I like the Flipstart however looking at these numbers it looks like Flipstart is never 2 times faster however Flipstart is approx. 2 times larger.

Also, Flipstart is only 33% HEAVIER however in most of these benchmarks it is more than 33% faster.

Another way, Flipstart is a hell of a lot cheaper.

Am I reading these benchmarks correctly guys ?

Recent Blog: Smartercase with ultra clip for OQO

01/24/08 + Orgwon

The battery is half the size, if you put a slimeline on a FlipStart it knocks off a lot of the thickness. (battery life too though :-)

The numbers are speed marks and a composite of many tests. For example: HDD speed test consist of *Sequential Read *Sequential Write *Random Seek + RW. So the composite score is the result of all the testing in each area.

Though no one score is double that of OQO put it all together and you do have a much faster unit. Put on a slimline battery and it fits perfect in your pocket, though it still is a little thicker and wider then the OQO 2 in the protective hard case.

Also, the display demension for the FlipStart (1024 x 600) is more concruent with apllications set up for standard graphic overlays. The reason OQO has some graphic issues is interpolation will apply an algorithm (usually Bicubic) that generates extra pixels based upon adjacent pixels. You'll never get that crisp look on an OQO like you will on a FlipStart. I have run HD content on a FlipStart and every person I show it to is jsut amazed at the quality.

I am trying to find a U101 now so I can run Passmark for comparison. I'll post the results if I can find someone with one...

Cheers... great discussion

01/24/08 + anthonyb

Thanks.

Keep in mind though that the slim Flipstart battery results in a volume that is 2 times the size of the OQO 02.

Recent Blog: Smartercase with ultra clip for OQO

01/24/08 + rr0123

The Flipstart is the best handtop right now because of the price. A machine like this for $699 is simply unbelievable. The screen is nicer than the U810, but as someone pointed out the U810 has a touchscreen. But the FP is a lot, a lot faster than the U810. I played a divx video and had Picasa picking importing pics at the same time, with no hiccups in the video.

As far as the U101, the FP is better because it's significantly smaller and lighter. The U101 is a workhorse but it's fairly heavy and big compared to today's handtops.

The FP screen is great and is much cleaner than the U810, brighter than the U101, and doesn't have the issue with blacks that the 02 does.

$699 is just an amazing price for this puppy.

01/24/08 + anthonyb

I agree. $699 is amazing.

Recent Blog: Smartercase with ultra clip for OQO

01/25/08 + jobjob

September 2007 we could read the news, that flipstart is now available in Europe via an UK-dealer.
Yesterday i send a mail to the UK with question about the price and they give me a feedback, that ..."that the current version of FlipStart is no longer available through Blazepoint". Sounds a little bit like there is something in the line.

JJ

01/28/08 + mhoepfin

Ok, I've ordered a FlipStart today! Will compare to my OQO 02 and should the best machine win...

Actually, I'm looking forward to the clamshell design and ergonomics more than anything. It's hard to pass up for the price...