I don't think this is really a site for people that dig gadgets. It seems to be more of a site for people that like to make snide comments about gadgets.
This is a real slick concept. I'll admit that the industrial design and the form factor (size) aren't quite there yet but they've done what they can with current technology.
The gadget designer wannabes that bitch about every new product that comes out don't seem to quite get it. I crack up when I read comments like "if only it had a bigger screen and was smaller" or "if only it was lighter but had 6 times the battery life." For those of you that don't understand why that cracks me up, please think about it.
This is a great move for microsoft and intel. It's also a great development for consumers because if someone doesn't rip the keys to portable music and video world out of Apple's hands, we're all going to continue to get screwed on content (I love my iPod fanboys so chill).
In my opinion, these devices are a play for the nascent (but burgeoning) portable video market. Instead of comparing this to a small laptop, compare it to a large PMP like an Archos AV700. You get relatively similar size and price, but about a zillion times the functionality with the availability of the XP OS (and soon, Vista).
On form factor, you're about 1.5 to 2 years away from the following: a device like this that is about the size of a checkbook and sports a 5 inch or so OLED widescreen, a keyboard, every type of wireless connection you can think of, NAND Flash for onboard storage AND (the really cool part in my opinion) the ability to link to a wireless USB hardrive that stays in your backpack/briefcase.
So . . . if I was in the market for a PMP and/or a PDA right now, I'd give one of these things serious consideration.
In general, though, I'm holding off on all my computing purchases right now because there's too much change in the works and I'm giving the manufacturers a little time to catch up and stabilize stuff (and it always gets cheaper -- bonus!!!)
This device is a great development. Can't wait to see round 2 or 3. By this time next year with Vista and these new Core Duo chips and shrinking (and wireless) storage and OLED and EVDO and all the new content deals that come out every day. . . this stuff's all going to be real cool!!
And somebody pointed out above that this will push Apple to get its own small tablet out. I agree and competition is really great for us consumers. It would be really bad for us if Apple corners the portable video market the way it has cornered music downloads/mp3 devices.
The whole line-up consists of the $60 Amps in-ears and $100 Tracks on-ear headphones, which both also come in slightly souped-up and pricier HD variations at $100 and $130, respectively.
The most commented posts on Engadget over the past 24 hours.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
I don't think this is really a site for people that dig gadgets. It seems to be more of a site for people that like to make snide comments about gadgets.
This is a real slick concept. I'll admit that the industrial design and the form factor (size) aren't quite there yet but they've done what they can with current technology.
The gadget designer wannabes that bitch about every new product that comes out don't seem to quite get it. I crack up when I read comments like "if only it had a bigger screen and was smaller" or "if only it was lighter but had 6 times the battery life." For those of you that don't understand why that cracks me up, please think about it.
This is a great move for microsoft and intel. It's also a great development for consumers because if someone doesn't rip the keys to portable music and video world out of Apple's hands, we're all going to continue to get screwed on content (I love my iPod fanboys so chill).
In my opinion, these devices are a play for the nascent (but burgeoning) portable video market. Instead of comparing this to a small laptop, compare it to a large PMP like an Archos AV700. You get relatively similar size and price, but about a zillion times the functionality with the availability of the XP OS (and soon, Vista).
On form factor, you're about 1.5 to 2 years away from the following: a device like this that is about the size of a checkbook and sports a 5 inch or so OLED widescreen, a keyboard, every type of wireless connection you can think of, NAND Flash for onboard storage AND (the really cool part in my opinion) the ability to link to a wireless USB hardrive that stays in your backpack/briefcase.
So . . . if I was in the market for a PMP and/or a PDA right now, I'd give one of these things serious consideration.
In general, though, I'm holding off on all my computing purchases right now because there's too much change in the works and I'm giving the manufacturers a little time to catch up and stabilize stuff (and it always gets cheaper -- bonus!!!)
This device is a great development. Can't wait to see round 2 or 3. By this time next year with Vista and these new Core Duo chips and shrinking (and wireless) storage and OLED and EVDO and all the new content deals that come out every day. . . this stuff's all going to be real cool!!
And somebody pointed out above that this will push Apple to get its own small tablet out. I agree and competition is really great for us consumers. It would be really bad for us if Apple corners the portable video market the way it has cornered music downloads/mp3 devices.