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.

02/04/08 + elsewhere

kamodt said: "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."

ok, thanks.

I'd forgotten that all these "client" companies that Vulcan has provided services and funding for,
were already owned by Paul Allen anyway.

I think the recommendation that you guys could brush up on Charm and Poise, and learn a little bit about goodwill
would still help if you want to sell things to people who may not yet eat dogfood.

02/04/08 + mhoepfin

Hey kamodt,
Any chance you could give us some inside scoop as to what's going on with the FS? It's great to see you post here again..

You guys have done a fabulous job... I've not been as excited about a device in a long time. The usability is something special.

Also, I'm wondering if you guys did any drop tests with the FS..?

Thanks!
Mike

02/04/08 + kamodt

Sorry, I'm no longer employed there and can't say anything negative. The QA team did do drop testing up to 16 feet (on carpet). The main LCD cracked after 3 drops at 8 feet and the battery popped off at 16 but it started right up.

As for charm and poise, "elsewhere", we did what we could with what we had. Sorry if we didn't meet your requirements.

Recent Blog: Some choices

02/04/08 + mhoepfin

Sorry to hear about your position at FS...

I guess it's safe to assume operations are winding down there. I am sorry to hear that...

02/04/08 + juantoad

Keith, I am also sorry to hear of this also. You were helpful to me personally, and helped to create an incredible product which remains to me the most useful piece of technology I have used. I use my Flipstart for everything, don't even use a desktop or laptop. Thank you.

02/04/08 + rr0123

Is it me or were there some changes to the Flipstart website today?

02/05/08 + elsewhere

kamodt said: "Sorry, I'm no longer employed there and can't say anything negative. The QA team did do drop testing up to 16 feet (on carpet). The main LCD cracked after 3 drops at 8 feet and the battery popped off at 16 but it started right up.

As for charm and poise, "elsewhere", we did what we could with what we had. Sorry if we didn't meet your requirements."

Thank you (sincerely, this time).

I have posted some very ill-advised comments in this forum,
based from bitterness and frustration- but definitely inappropriate.

Keith- I should value what you've written more than I have,
and shouldn't reflexively attack you (or anyone current or former of FS, or Vulcan, or in any association with Paul Allen).

I'll try to take my own advice, on treating people with respect.

.....

despite all my complaints, the device you helped bring to the world
remains the best of its generation- by leaps and bounds.

*thanks*

02/06/08 + mhoepfin

kamodt,
Just wondering if you could check with some of your engineering buddies at FS and see if -

- There is anyway to make the click on the trackstick register as a left click
- Turn on both wifi and WWAN at the same time

Thanks!
Mike

02/06/08 + kamodt

mhoepfin -

The touchstick "click" was disabled because testing found that it caused the cursor to move away from the target. If you placed the arrow over something and tried to click on it, the arrow would invariably move first. Therefore, to avoid complaints about this, the decision was made to disable it.

There is no way to turn on both WiFi and WAN and this was by design also. There were issues with interference from competing antennas, part was due to how fast the battery was run down with both radios working, and part was due to the FCC testing. The determination was that most users would only be using one radio at a time, so that's how it was made. Some users wanted to use the device as a access point for other devices, but the technical issues could not be overcome before shipping.

I hope that helps.

Recent Blog: Some choices

02/06/08 + mhoepfin

That definitely helps.. I was interested in using the device as an access point, but I figured the issue was battery more than anything.

Too bad about the click, because I've gotten good a clicking the stick.

Only other qurestion would be about wifi reception. The Atheros chipset is a good one, although reception seems worse than some comparable devices. The antenna is in the lid, right? Any tips on boosting wifi reception?

Thanks!
Mike

02/06/08 + kamodt

Mike,

The antenna in the lid is for the WAN module. There are two antennas in the base of the unit for WiFi, which is where the Bluetooth and WiFi modules are. There were some problems with WiFi reception at a certain distance, but it should be fine within 20-30 feet or so. I use mine at about that distance from the AP and I get two bars which suffice. It would have been nice to increase that but that's how it is.

I haven't heard of any method of increasing reception, but someone may know of something I don't.

Recent Blog: Some choices

edited: Feb 06 2008 + diJenerate

After becoming weary of all these UMPC manufacturers going the route of the cellular phone makers and making an 'almost got it' UMPC when they can do so much better...

I've decided that I will shell out the 5-Grand for the first UMPC to fit this description:

Start with a GoBook MR-1/FlipStart On Steriods

and do:

-128GB SSD
-DynaVue Sunlight Readable TouchScreen
-Intel Core 2 Duo Processor Ultra Low Voltage U7600 1.2GHz w/2 MB L2 cache
-2GB DDR II
-4~8Hrs battery with Radios On
-Fingerprint Reader
-SiRF III/SiRF IV GPS Receiver
-HSDPA
-2MP Webcam
-802.11a/b/g (Atheros Chipset)
-Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
-Wireless USB
-LID (with Linux & 400MHz OMAP)
-5.6 inch Display capable of 1280 x 800 rez
-SDHC Card Slot
-Ubuntu Linux
-Two year warranty including accidental damage coverage (a.k.a. - it doesn't live up to the name Ruggedized)

The technology is there, and has been for quite some time and for $5K I know you can do it... so who's up to the challenge... FlipStart? Sony? Fujitsu?... If you have that UMPC, I have the cash!!!

diJenerate

Recent Blog: Raon Digital Gets Serious w/First 64-bit Dual Core Handtop

02/09/08 + snowviper

diJenerate: You can made it your self, P1620 is core 2 duo , you have to cover the screen tho to make it 5.6 LOL (You forgot to mentions what the overall size).

anyway which one should you buy if :

U810 = $740
Flipstart = $699

I am confuse, may be I should just wait for silverthrone

edited: Feb 09 2008 + diJenerate

snowviper said: "diJenerate: (You forgot to mentions what the overall size).

anyway which one should you buy if :

U810 = $740
Flipstart = $699

I am confuse, may be I should just wait for silverthrone"

1. Overall size should be the same as the MR-1 with GPS.

2. Buy Flipstart and upgrade the HDD... even tho' you have 1GB DDR II on the U810, how useful is that for multitasking if the crappy Stealey (they stole your money...) CPU can't keep up?

3. Silverthorne will perform like a Celeron... [Rant=]these are not new CPUs, the Core Solo and Pentium M at the heart of it the same CPU... Intel hasn't made a new innovative CPU in years.... they really are stealing everyone's money... People take sides with the whole Intel vs AMD thing, and yet their shareholders are the same people when all's said and done so they make money either way... AMD innovates then you buy their design under the Intel Sticker... we're all being duped! and they steal(ey) our hard earned cash, Apple, Nokia, Sony, Ati, nVidia, EA.... big biz manipulating us little pawns, I'm weary of it all, yet can't stop buying... puppet on a string.[/Rant].

diJenerate

Recent Blog: Raon Digital Gets Serious w/First 64-bit Dual Core Handtop

02/10/08 + mhoepfin

Flipstart wins, esp. if you don't care about touch screen.