LifeDrive is legit
By Peter Rojas 
posted May 11th 2005 2:09PM
posted May 11th 2005 2:09PM
Not that we aren't already 99% sure that this was for real, but confirmation of the LifeDrive has come courtesy of Laptop Magazine, which accidentally ran a story about palmOne's new multimedia-centric handheld a week before the press embargo is due to break next Wednesday. The integrated 4GB Microdrive is the part to get excited about, but the Laptop mag piece also confirms that the LifeDrive has a 416MHz processor, a 320 x 480 pixel display, and weighs 6.8 ounces (which is almost half an ounce more than the Treo 650).
Can it play DivX? If it can, then it's demand should be higher...
I can't wait... my NX70 has been TRIED and true, but other than the European TH55, I can't say there has been a WORTHY upgrade to my PDA...
Of course it can !
With the assistance of TCPMP, it can play almost *anything*, from Ogg to Divx to mkv.
http://corecodec.org/frs/?group_id=53
Look out Zaurus C3000...
Bah! I'd still rather have the Z, but if I had a C3000 I'd rip it open and replace the HDD with a 1GB or 2GB CF Flash card...
Post #1 is correct though. What video formats does it support ? And why is a 'media centric' device sporting only a 320x240 screen ?
How do you get scooped by Laptop magazine? Sad, really.
Sooo, how long's this battery going to last?
5: 320x480, not 320x240, big difference.
So lets all align ourselves: if its in PRINT, then its legit? OK. Cool, just checking.
I know, I'm a whiny bidge, but can we get something like a iPod-style multi-gig HD?
Sigh.... this is CLOSE the device of my dreams. But it's not recharged by kinetic motion, doesn't have 'tooth, wifi, USB host support, or the ability to summon a giant city-smashing robot.
I guess that's all slated for the next version.
#9 - it actually *does* come with bluetooth and wifi.
May 18th? Let me see... E3... Star Wars III at midnight and now LifeDrive....
I've got a bad feel..... *de la de la de la*
#10 - Yes, it would be nice if some of these posters would actually RTFA or at least do a little homework on it before posting.
They come out with a device with a hard drive and #9 complains about not having multi gig likw an iPod? It has multi gigs like an iPod mini and that is quite large for a PDA. It has WiFi and it has Bluetooth. It seems like an impressive model.
Or you could buy a "LifeDrive" with a VGA screen right now--it's called buy a Dell X50V with a MicroDrive.
#12, Or you could save some money buy getting a LifeDrive. A Dell X50V is ~$450 and a 4gb MicroDrive would be another ~$200. So ~$650 for a comparable Dell vs. $500 for the LifeDrive. Personally I'm not too impressed with either, I'd like to have a thumb-keyboard for text input.
#12, Too bad the Dell comes doesn't run PalmOS.
Thumb based keybaords are overrated. I used to have one when I used to use a Treo a lot. It is great for SMS but really not that great for other Palm apps. It was inconvenient to always be switching between keybard and stylus. Perhaps I'm a purist but Grafitti (1 and 2) has been, and I feel stil is, one of the best interfaces for PDA's.
#15. palmOne has done a lot to make the Treo 650 usable without a stylus. I did some tests and I could perform every common task I could think of with just the D-pad.
palmOne likes to brag that it left the touchscreen on the Treo 650 is just for third-party applications, but that isn't far from the truth.
Microsoft is still playing catch-up in this area. One of the features Bill Gates touted in Windows Mobile 5.0 is greater support for one-handed use. I'm itching to get my hands on one of the new devices so I can find out for myself.
Still, I don't see palmOne ever adding a keyboard to a device with 320 by 480 screen. It would be _huge_. An upcoming Pocket PC with a built-in keyboard doesn't even have a 240 by 320 screen. HP moved down to a 240 by 240 screen, less than a quarter of the resolution of the Treo 650.
If you really want a LifeDrive, do so and get yourself a Think Outside folding keyboard. You'll be very happy.
Actually the Tungsten C2 will have 480x320 and a thumboard. :-D
http://www.churchoflivingfaith.com/images/tc2adhalf.JPG
To:#7, Michael
Thanks for the clarification. Looks like I was sight reading agin :)
Big difference, True. But why not 640x480 ?
"I don't see palmOne ever adding a keyboard to a device with 320 by 480 screen. It would be _huge_."
Yes, unless it was a clamshell. I know...I know...the clamshell form factor has a real love/hate relationship with the marketplace. But perhaps a slightly better designed 'Nexio' style detachable/accessory keyboard would hit the sweet spot. It could probably be made cheaply enough that it wouldn't cost too much for those who REALLY wanted it, and the rest would not have to pay for something they wouldn't use.
But I'm just talking tech. If you are focusing mainly on the company behind it... *palmOne*...yeah I can see that angle. They haven't exactly been eager to EVER integrate a KB at all have they (please, correct me if I'm wrong)...
Just a thought...
#19 - please see #18.
Could you use this device to listen say an mp3 or accPlus stream off the internet via a wifi hotspot?
To number 20:
Palm, included a thumbpad on the Tungsten C, and both Treos have 'em (i realise they did buy this product from handspring, but they didn't change it for the 650)
jaysee
Why can't the keyboard cover the virtual graffiti area. You could then have a sliding mechanism like the T3 has.
Something has just occured to me, micro dirves have moving parts compared to flash memory. This means battery consumption will be more than usual (unless they put in a better battery).
#15, actually the X50v sells for around $350, and the microdrive for $140. Or you could pay $250 for solid-state memory that can't break and is more power efficient. FYI.