Gear Eye: The OQO hardware
posted October 14th 2004 12:00PM
The end game of some portable computing devices is eventually to become full-fledged versions of their desktop
brethren. The Pocket PC (now called Windows Mobile) is very Windows like, but users still need to learn a new way to do
the same tasks they've learned on the desktop on a phone or PDA; but what if there was a tiny computer which ran a
desktop operating system in a form factor close to a PDA? That's the
OQO (which you should know about long before now, as
we've been hyping this thing since forever ago) and we
have a series of Gear Eye articles about this new type of computing device, which ushers forth a new era in portable
desktop computing.
The first in our OQO series is about the hardware. But actually it's just lots and lots of photos we took playing
around with the thing.
If you want to jump to the photos, scroll on down now—or check out the specs.
Specifications:
1GHz Transmeta processor
20GB hard drive (shock-mounted)
256MB DDR RAM
Dimensions: 4.9 x 3.4 x .9-inches
Weight: 14 ounces
800 x 480 W-VGA 5-inch transflective display (indoor/outdoor readable)
3D-accelerated graphics with 8MB video RAM
QWERTY thumb keyboard with mouse buttons and TrackStik
802.11b wireless
Bluetooth wireless
4-pin FireWire (1394)
USB 1.1
3.5mm stereo headphone jack
Microphone
Digital pen
Removable lithium-polymer battery
Battery life up to three hours, depending on usage
OQO docking cable includes:
3D-accelerated 1280 x 1024 VGA video output
Additional USB
Additional FireWire (1394)
Ethernet
DC power
Audio out
Included accessories:
Power cord & AC adaptor
Docking cable
Desktop stand
Digital pen
Carrying sleeve
Price: $1,899 www.oqo.com
Next time (which might be in a podcast, so stay tuned) we’ll dive in to the use, applications and how we fared using the OQO as our full time device for email, web, blogging, writing, IRC, and instant messaging. If you have any specific questions about the device or what it’s like to use, post them up in the comments and we’ll do our best to address them.
I've used the OQO. It's a fantastic idea that is rendered almost completely useless by its size. You are jabbing at on screen buttons and controls less than a millimeter across. You have to hit them, and then pick the stylus up from them, without dragging, or they aren't activated. It's like a $2000 game of Pocket Whack-A-Mole. Nobody, least of all your average tech geek, has the hand eye coordination necessary to use this device as effectively as a desktop, and unlike a pocket/palm/mobile machine, there isn't a sizable amount of software designed with this machine in mind. What you wind up with is a device that is too big to be a media player, too small to be a laptop, too precise to be a palmtop and too expensive to be so schizophrenic.
Know what could save this toy? What could make it an honest-to-god tool? An OS that was designed to scale on screen controls by dpi, and not rely on absolute pixels. Unfortunately, neither OSX nor Microsoft's upcoming Longhorn do this. We can expect yet another 4 years of programs that force programmers to control their own programs' scaling...and thus, another 4 years of programs that don't scale.
What is this "space between a PDA and a laptop" that so many speak of? Does such a space exist??? Surely it's a small niche.
A Pocket PC (or a strong Palm) can do just plenty when it comes to apps in your pocket. And Pocket PCs, in particular, are very good at doing double duty as Portable Media Centers when paired with high density CF (either solid state or microdrive). With the VGA models (or even with QVGA, to be honest) many light weight desktop tasks can be accomplished on a PDA. I just dont see the "gap" between my thin and light Vaio S360 and my iPaq 4705.
A couple of other comments:
1) "mechanical hard drives" may be "20th century" but contrary to peanut gallery opinion, solid state is NOT cheap. The 8GB CF is $700 and up IF you can get it (they're BARELY out even now, MONTHS after the original posting). A 6GB microdrive is $250 and is very common.
2) Tablet OS does NOT add "$400" to the cost of a unit. Tablet OS is the SAME OEM COST AS XP PRO. Dont believe the BS that the traditional Tablet vendors are shoveling. Averatec has a fine tablet for $1100 brand new.
good info on this thread. twice the speed and storage would be nice. the flipstart looks promising too. i need something like this to store and review photos while travelling. the flashtrax is too slow and the screen is useless.
I really want to see this technology take off, its the perfect solution for my small business. It's easy enough to take with you. and even with the current version you could connect to broadband using its bluetooth to a EvDO phone.
I too have purchased an OQO Model 1, and I would like to just say a few things in it's defense.
#1 - This system was designed with the business traveller/user in mind. Running apps such as MSOffice, Lotus Notes, spreadsheets and such, have absolutely no problem whatsoever, since these are not often resource intensive applications, and do not rely on mind-blowing graphics. If you plan on working on-the-go with all of your files, this is great. It is by no means meant to be a media device, a video device, or a game machine. In may case, on-the-go workflow and communications were my primary concern, so this machine performs as expected. The WinXP front end usability was made to make our jobs easier and more familiar with our work environments, and not to take full advantage of XP's mutlimedia/video/music functions. Keep this in mind, and you don't get disappointed.
#2 - Typing - well, since I am an official graduate of the "Blackberry School of Typing" LOL, I have no problems with the thumb keypad. However, for those times when I need to really type like a fiend, I just pull out my VKB Laser Virtual Keyboard with Bluetooth - this unit is the size of a small pack of cigarettes, and connects to the OQO via Bluetooth flawlessly. I have used this on an airplane tray, on a clipboad on my lap in the terminal, and other places. Again, this unit delivers if your primary goal is to keep your work flow for your business going, and to keep up productivity. It is an excellent business app machine.
I believe the main push behind the OQO was, as was stated, to be the first on the market with this type of device. But, as a business owner, I was constantly carrying around a heavy notebook PC, my BlackBerry for quick emails, and my PocketPC Phone for various functions that I could quickly access. Now, with this device, I only carry the OQO, and a small T-Mobile phone - and that's it. It makes my life so much easier! And, in places where I don't have a Hot Spot, I just link my OQO to my phone's BlueTooth, and I use T-Mobile's data access. Too easy!
I have been able to easily open huge spreadsheets, view and edit PowerPoint presentations, author long Word documents and memos, use Outlook 2003 for email communicatons (both POP and imap), use Instant Messenger without any problems, and I have had no problems with hot spots. I have never had a problem at the airport, or in a Starbucks. In my home, I am able to go about 100-150 feet without signal degridation. The user who stated their signal was poor unless "right on the hotspot" should probably get their unit checked - that would be unacceptable to me, and thank goodness I have not had that problem.
All in all, reading these posts, everyone is expecting this unit to be a complete desktop replacement, with multimedia functions abounding - yet, please realize that this unit was never developed for that purpose, and their target audience is a niche limited to travelling business professionals. I would never recommend this unit to someone looking for a desktop replacement filled with mutlimedia functions, but rather someone who really cannot afford any gaps in their workflow. And in this function, my OQO has not disappointed me.
For all other functions, such as those indicated in previous posts (awesome game play, multimedia, music, graphics), I use my Dell Dimension XPS Gen 2 - a machine which is really made for that purpose.
Thanks
I too have purchased an OQO Model 1, and I would like to just say a few things in it's defense.
#1 - This system was designed with the business traveller/user in mind. Running apps such as MSOffice, Lotus Notes, spreadsheets and such, have absolutely no problem whatsoever, since these are not often resource intensive applications, and do not rely on mind-blowing graphics. If you plan on working on-the-go with all of your files, this is great. It is by no means meant to be a media device, a video device, or a game machine. In may case, on-the-go workflow and communications were my primary concern, so this machine performs as expected. The WinXP front end usability was made to make our jobs easier and more familiar with our work environments, and not to take full advantage of XP's mutlimedia/video/music functions. Keep this in mind, and you don't get disappointed.
#2 - Typing - well, since I am an official graduate of the "Blackberry School of Typing" LOL, I have no problems with the thumb keypad. However, for those times when I need to really type like a fiend, I just pull out my VKB Laser Virtual Keyboard with Bluetooth - this unit is the size of a small pack of cigarettes, and connects to the OQO via Bluetooth flawlessly. I have used this on an airplane tray, on a clipboad on my lap in the terminal, and other places. Again, this unit delivers if your primary goal is to keep your work flow for your business going, and to keep up productivity. It is an excellent business app machine.
I believe the main push behind the OQO was, as was stated, to be the first on the market with this type of device. But, as a business owner, I was constantly carrying around a heavy notebook PC, my BlackBerry for quick emails, and my PocketPC Phone for various functions that I could quickly access. Now, with this device, I only carry the OQO, and a small T-Mobile phone - and that's it. It makes my life so much easier! And, in places where I don't have a Hot Spot, I just link my OQO to my phone's BlueTooth, and I use T-Mobile's data access. Too easy!
I have been able to easily open huge spreadsheets, view and edit PowerPoint presentations, author long Word documents and memos, use Outlook 2003 for email communicatons (both POP and imap), use Instant Messenger without any problems, and I have had no problems with hot spots. I have never had a problem at the airport, or in a Starbucks. In my home, I am able to go about 100-150 feet without signal degridation. The user who stated their signal was poor unless "right on the hotspot" should probably get their unit checked - that would be unacceptable to me, and thank goodness I have not had that problem.
All in all, reading these posts, everyone is expecting this unit to be a complete desktop replacement, with multimedia functions abounding - yet, please realize that this unit was never developed for that purpose, and their target audience is a niche limited to travelling business professionals. I would never recommend this unit to someone looking for a desktop replacement filled with mutlimedia functions, but rather someone who really cannot afford any gaps in their workflow. And in this function, my OQO has not disappointed me.
For all other functions, such as those indicated in previous posts (awesome game play, multimedia, music, graphics), I use my Dell Dimension XPS Gen 2 - a machine which is really made for that purpose.
Thanks
I too am looking at this as a business tool, but more as compact respository of construction blueprints that can be easily accessed in the field, where conditions are often too poor to unfurl large rolls of blueprints. This pocket computer seems to offer a solution, but fromw hat I've read here, it may be too limited for viewing and editing CAD drawings. Small screen--so forth. But what if the small screen was supplanted by one of the new head mounted devices (HMDs) now coming on the market. Some have very large virtual viewing areas such as the Emagin 3d visor which is said to offer a view comparable to a 100" screen viewed from 12 ft away. Also, HMDs use a lot less power, which would extend the computer's battery life and some can be connected with a simple USB. Has anyone tried this approach, or does it make sense? John
I think the design is absoultely great. I feel the oqo model 2 should have minimum 1GB Ram, 40-60gb 7200RPM or SATA HD, Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0, Firewire, possible cell phone sim integration, Biometrics fingerprint reader, INTEL Proccessor M LOW POWER version, DVI, and have Wireless WAN through Verizon Broadband Access. Then I WILL BUY IT.