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.

01/31/08 + mhoepfin

I would not be surprised if FS and Vulcan were not doing well...

Be that as it may, I don't know if thats a big deal for me. I didn't buy this based on their next model.

The FS ain't perfect, but it's as close to it as I've seen in similar form factors for the price. I've been picking it up instead of the 02 since I got it.

And the memory has been a non-issue.

02/01/08 + elsewhere

muntaser7 said: "

elsewhere said: "unconfirmed rumors (but from reliable source)
"

and this "reliable source" is?
if you dont tell us because this and that then your post has 0 credibility even if it is true, because anyone can type what you typed.
I mean no offence to you whats so ever, just a thought.
thanks"

no offense taken.

I usually try not to engage in crass rumormongering, but this one was too tempting to ignore.

By "reliable source" i mean one who I personally give credibility to;
whom I am not sure would wish to be quoted.

Feel free to disregard if you wish

Feel likewise free to assign me ( credibility = 0) if you wish.

*shrug*

There's been a great deal of speculation, and very very little actual information lately
as to what Vulcan may or may not be doing, and I thought forum users would
find this interesting- even if uncredited and labeled as "rumor".

02/01/08 + LMc

I too took the plunge and am extremely pleased. We have enough PC's to go around in the house, with one for everyone. My wife balked about me getting one more, even if it is portable. But my 10 grade daughter and I hatched a plan, which included both of us "volunterring" for future work and us each coming up with some cash. (Down side is that I "own" only 50% of a flipstart and must share with my daughter who takes it to school).

I see this as a extremely portable full computer. No it does not really fit in my pocket, but is easily totable. And with XP and Office 2007, I have access to all my work and tools (just as my daughter, who is a OneNote fanatic has all she needs). The 30 g drive is fine because this is not a primary computer, but one on the go. Other shortcomings can be overcome: 8 gb usb drives are cheap at eBay, so if you do need expanded storage, this is a simple answer; also "tiny" full sized USB keyboards are REALLY cheap on eBay (thanks to/or blame China) so if you plan to hunker down an do some real typing, this is a great solution. I had a underutilized Microsoft bluetooh mouse, so my portable office is very light. Or I can extremely light and just take the FlipStart.

Great uses:

* drop on a good video player (lots of free or shareware) and you now havew a person video player
* get mobireader or Adobe digital reader; visit your local library and you now can download and read books as an ebook reader (this was a mistake for me, becuase my wife saw this and now SHE wants to use it to read her most recently library borrowed murder mystery)
* Seperate computer to monitor email. I often get involved in reports in Word and/or Excel and don't want to waste screen space for email monitoring. Set up the FS next to my mainscreens, set it to IM or mail and I can now with a glance check to see if critical mail has come in.

[Cool addition: check out StarDock's Multiplicity: it lets you load software on two computers and then use a single mouse / keyboard by just draging the pointer from one window to the next. I can now have the FS next to my main computer and use the same keyboard to run them all: link]

I've yet to activate the Sprint; not sure I want the extra monthly cost burden, but it could also be pretty cool.

edited: Feb 01 2008 + muntaser7

elsewhere said: "

muntaser7 said: "

elsewhere said: "unconfirmed rumors (but from reliable source)
"

and this "reliable source" is?
if you dont tell us because this and that then your post has 0 credibility even if it is true, because anyone can type what you typed.
I mean no offense to you whats so ever, just a thought.
thanks"

no offense taken.

I usually try not to engage in crass rumormongering, but this one was too tempting to ignore.

By "reliable source" i mean one who I personally give credibility to;
whom I am not sure would wish to be quoted.

Feel free to disregard if you wish

Feel likewise free to assign me ( credibility = 0) if you wish.

*shrug*

There's been a great deal of speculation, and very very little actual information lately
as to what Vulcan may or may not be doing, and I thought forum users would
find this interesting- even if uncredited and labeled as "rumor"."

well, chances are they are going out of business but when you say you have reliable source it becomes a new ball game.
plus i would never say you have 0 credibility, i said your "post" did.
i wish they would release model 2 before they tank.

02/02/08 + elsewhere

muntaser7 said: "
well, chances are they are going out of business but when you say you have reliable source it becomes a new ball game.
plus i would never say you have 0 credibility, i said your "post" did.
i wish they would release model 2 before they tank."

I don't think I said (and if I did, misspoke- that wasn't what I'd meant) that VULCAN was going out of business
but that they may well be dropping the FlipStart line.

The new machine they may be working on, is likely to be radically different,
though probably targeted at the same corporate niche as the FS (where it didn't really catch on)

Vulcan has been around (according to their horrible web site) for more than 20 years....
mostly consulting, and building custom software/hardware for preferred clients.

The FlipStart was their first real push into the "retail" market-
doesn't seem as though they had much enthusiasm, and if they offer the same lukewarm marketing/support
for the "New Thing" as they had for the FS, it too will tank.

If any Vulcan peeps are still reading this, I would advise also that you try to be a *little* more customer-friendly
and a little less customer-hostile. When attacked by trolls in online forums, be polite and don't troll back.
Try not to to act so defensive

I guess in the consulting world, you can choose your clients a little more carefully...

02/02/08 + mhoepfin

Good point, elsewhere.

I think from word go, FS made some mistakes with pricing and evangelism. The sad part is that I love my FS after using it for a week and an 02 for six months. It really is a nice, well thought out design that is comfortable to use. Best of both worlds between a laptop and a UMPC. Well worth $699 or more.

Look at the OQOTalk forum to see how a company should talk to it's customers!

02/02/08 + mhoepfin

Oh, as far as making the trackpoint worthwhile, turn down the speed to 2 clicks below its slowest setting, and turn off the setting to enhance pointer precision.

02/02/08 + kellyfrom702

I just got a Flipstart and I'm new to this forum. I wanted to just say I think these little PC's got a real bad rap! I read some of the reviews and I have to say I almost didnt buy one.
I have been using mine about a week and this little guy rocks! I did have an issue with the sprint card not working and Flipstart handled the issue faster then any pc company I have ever dealt with has and sent me out a new unit and a gift. to me thats great customer service.
I was really not familiar with these little pc's until they lowered their price and I was contacted by a business partner who thought I would really like it at the price. I would have paid 1499.00 for it but probably not the original 1999.00 they had it at. I'm already thinking about getting another one as a back up unit. what a great mobile device, exactly what I was looking for.
The forum here looks great too! this flipstart space will probably grow now that the price is lower and more people are buying!

02/02/08 + 2disbetter

mhoepfin said: "Good point, elsewhere.

I think from word go, FS made some mistakes with pricing and evangelism. The sad part is that I love my FS after using it for a week and an 02 for six months. It really is a nice, well thought out design that is comfortable to use. Best of both worlds between a laptop and a UMPC. Well worth $699 or more.

Look at the OQOTalk forum to see how a company should talk to it's customers!"

You should look around this forum a little more then. Flipstart has talked directly on these forums if not others.

2d

02/03/08 + kamodt

Vulcan is not a consulting company nor is it a public one. It is Paul Allen's private company and it invests in a variety of areas Mr. Allen is interested in. Some are well-known, like the Seahawks, Trailblazers, or SpaceShipOne, and some are less well-known. All of this can be found on their website, link.

Recent Blog: Some choices

02/03/08 + mhoepfin

2d,
I would say they talked "at" this forum rather than "with" this forum. And even that was short lived. Heck, I've gotten a personal PM from Dennis Moore on OQOTalk, and he's involved on most of the threads. That's impressive from the CEO.

Granted, there hasn't been as much posivitve buzz, hence people talking about the FS, which is a shame since it's such a wondeful device....

02/03/08 + juantoad

Well, I do get the impression it is a small company, so maybe they're not out spontaneously generating their own buzz. But Flipstart has been very quick to respond and helpful to me when I have needed, and to everyone else I have heard from on this forum. Perhaps it is just a function of being a smaller company.

edited: Feb 04 2008 + blaznc

I wouldn't write Flipstart off too fast. I think they already have a new Core Solo model out just not under the Flipstart name. Check out this new Itronix laptop. It looks awfully like the Flipstart just beefed up for industrial use. I think Flipstart will release a retail verson soon!

link

02/04/08 + 2disbetter

blaznc said: "I wouldn't write Flipstart off too fast. I think they already have a new Core Solo model out just not under the Flipstart name. Check out this new Itronix laptop. It looks awfully like the Flipstart just beefed up for industrial use. I think Flipstart will release a retail verson soon!

link"

That's hot. Let's hope flipstart pushes something like this out. Even if they did nothing with the design, and just updated the components, that would be a win to me.

2d

02/04/08 + snowviper

I agree but don't use itronix price list =P