Sony breeding an OQO competitor in the U?
By Ryan Block 
posted Jul 20th 2005 1:20PM
posted Jul 20th 2005 1:20PM
They could have made it happen in the PEG-VZ90 (let alone the U series, no doubt), but rumor has it—now don't get too worked up, this is totally unsubstantiated—that Sony's planning a U series update that may well combine the early (like the now discontinued U101, right) with the late (U50, U70, etc.) of the line on something of a keyboard equipped palmtop with a swivel screen—in other words, something to really take on the OQO. We'll file it away as hearsay and wishful thinking for now, but you know we'll keep our ears to the ground.
Looks dumb.
Sounds more like the Sharp Zaurus SL-C series - a palm-sized device with QWERTY keyboard revealed by opening a clamshell, useable in tablet mode via a swivel screen, and running Linux. (The OQO's keyboard is on a slider, so there's no way to close the device and protect the screen.) If they could get a device that would run Windows XP and have decent battery life, I'd be impressed.
Looks dumb, and I am sure it performs as bad as it looks. I have very little respect for Sony nowadays.
design-wise, the oqo is pretty much perfect. it just needs to be able to flip the screen when you arent using it to protect it.
if sony could do that, and keep the oqo's small footprint, we may have a winner.
If i had one of these with a built in LAN or WAn, I could become the world's greatest hacker...
Maybe I could hook up my SAITEK X-45 joystick and hijack USAF Predator UAV's so i could wage my own personal, attricious war against Al queda and the North Koreans.
I wish the OQO would run OSX
I bought the U101 two years ago so I can use the PC Card slot for the wireless 1xRTT. Then I upgraded to the U70 (1.1 Ghz Pentium M) with touch screen and no keyboard. Because the U70 uses Compact Flash II slot and no PC Card slot, I had to switch to a CF II wireless 1xRTT card from Sprint. Three weeks ago I've switch wireless from 1xRTT to EV-DO, but I had to use the PC Card of my old U101. I have to say I don't regret going back to the U101 using the EV-DO card. I've been using the EV-DO wireless internet to watch my cable tv from my Sling Media. The average speed is 500 kbs down and 110 kbs up stream if you're wondering. I'm hoping Sony upgrade the U series and make it into a Tablet with a PC Card slot.
I like the OQO. It's nearly perfect, except its price. I'm guessing the Sony one will come with their shoddy workmanship, proprietary hardware connections, and cost more.
Hey but at least the screen is protected.
I agree that the OQO has a huge design flaw in the fact that it doesn't use the clamshell closing method to protect the screen. Also, another negative, I expect that this new Sony device will be priced as a premium laptop as is the case with the OQO, Sony U series, and Allen's Vulcan mini PC.
A more cost effective alternative is the Zaurus C series, which are really just Linux mini laptops. If you want really cheap then go for the Zipit which will be a great linux text console mini laptop once the SD hack is complete.
No one mentions that you can fry an egg on OQO if it's running any intensive apps. Having XP on it is really an extreme heat and battery problem. It's difficult to juggle the feature mix in such a small device.
The slow, slow evolution of the Zaurus has led to the best tinytops so far, but so slowly. For instance, Sharp has perfected and marketed a terrific 4" VGA transflective (direct sunlight viewable) but they use a 3.7" VGA transmissive (not readable in sunlight) on their new SL-C3100. There's not a good VGA out (there's a third party one with a refresh rate of about 2 frames per year, but none from Sharp).
Given that Sharp has a lot of technology it's not using, I doubt VERY MUCH that someone's going to suddenly make a ginormous breakthrough in these tiny machines. The future holds more feature juggling and devices that are mostly there but with a few bizarre design choices.
I miss the Clie line. As a matter of fact, I'm looking to buy a nice one from EBay.
Is there a middle gap between the 1Gz Pentium M chip and the Xscale chip the Sharp c3100/Treo/PPC is using?
I want to have something at the size of the Sharp c3100, but runs a little faster, for media streaming. I would even consider a pocket PC (!) if it has the folding form factor of the c3100.
As small as the Sony U50 is, I can't put it in my pants pocket. I have to carry a "european"! :(
I am looking forward to Sony's new ultra portable PC... I used a U50 and U3, Picturebook before, I have to say tiny notebook is their specialty... They dominate this nich market. I hate those chunky laptops available in N.america, they look totally stupid and lacking of personal taste. If you don't mind to carry a 10+ pounds laptop bag on a business trip, I guess you'll be fine...
It wouldnt take much to compete with the OQO, a product that is a cute idea in photoshop but dosnt do shit otherwise.
If they put out a second device, I would be really suprised.
It would also be easy for SONY to pretty much put out anything to compete with anything else out there. As they usually do.
Remember the TINY laptops with the tramsmetas in them and the camera? Those were already better than the OQO. several years ago.
hold on the Fujitsu P1510 is coming!
Fujitsu's new P1510 pretty much gets it right. I love my U70 and my JVC Victor MP-XP741. The P1510 looks like a cross between the two.
The original U series (my co-worker has one) is too small to type. The 741 is small, but just fine. Anything smaller, like the Libretto, is just too hard to type.
The only thing that may sway me is an XBRITE. So Sony - do an 8.9" widescreen with a decent keyboard, and I'll be lining up at my nearest importer.
you have to consider the Sharp ultra portable Muramasa:XP,20 GB,880g_1080g with the extended battery(7 hours life time= and i mean working hours;I use it)The best screen on the market(7.2 inches/1280/768 ).Very well made and really smart(german design).1200$ in Tokyo.
It's a harbinger,ahead of its Time.
its complete name:Sharp Muramasa Mebius CV 50.
It's a wide screen 7.2 inch,high-brightness WonderPix TFT LCD(compatible with WXGA),
which offers several resolutions:800x600,1024x600,1024x768+1280x768--you can change instantly = very impressive to see pictures ).
It's amazingly small and delightfully beautiful,and runs Transmeta's second generation processor, the 1GHZ Efficeon.it's really cool
the Mebius can be dockeas a hard drive on Window XP machines(comes with a mini USB outport and a cable__easy to use.
You can have it shipped to the States or to Europe for less than 1400$-with the extended batteries.
If you don't believe it...?1,see the test of Lisa Gade in pdabuyersguide.com.posted August 25 ,2004.
for more technical data,you might read conics.net___it is the only place where it's still available now;but it has been sold all-around the World.
First, I wanted to buy a Zaurus and i finally jumped on this one( the screen works great outdoor).
the design from Tom sch?rr is genuinely elegant,really state of the Art and it works the same way.
of course you can get used to the keyboard,as good or better than the existing one on the Zaurus