OQO prototype shown with Intel's Atom inside

Before you get too riled up here, let us point out that this Atom-based OQO is simply a prototype. According to the company's Dennis Moore, the device we're seeing here "is not a product launch or announcement," but simply a demonstration of just how amazing and utterly life-changing the OQO + Atom combo is. Really guys, if there's so much love in the house, why not get this thing on the production line?

[Via jkkmobile]

[Dan Halen @ Aug 20th 2008 11:52AM]

I had to return my OQO SIX TIMES before I got a working one. From screen issues to battery issues (FOUR of those) to hard drive problems, I was 6 deep and nearly a year into ownership before I got a working (and then outdated) model.

Don't go near the OQO unless you have some Tylenol nearby.

[OneLove @ Aug 20th 2008 6:33PM]

As I sit here in the Caribbean, sipping on a "dirty banana", using a Q1 ultra, i hope they put a proper stylus and touchscreen in this one. (Did engadget fix the comment system?)

[Colin @ Aug 20th 2008 11:53AM]

Looks like a Sinclair Spectrum or ZX81

[jerbils @ Aug 20th 2008 11:58AM]

I've always felt that the OQO was the best UMPC out there. I just wish I could afford one.

[j_g_puff @ Aug 20th 2008 1:57PM]

If only they'd used an Athlon 2000+, you probably could afford it...

[spass @ Aug 20th 2008 2:02PM]

I am wondering what their price strategy is.

If the put an atom in it, we almost expect they would drop the price to match otehr Atom products, in the $500 area.

That would be a 75% drop, very unlikely.

[a ham sandwich @ Aug 20th 2008 12:08PM]

man, oqo's are HOT!

[dark star @ Aug 20th 2008 12:55PM]

i love everything about oqo!!!!
everything except the price. :-p

it was sweet with sprint evdo built in too. wow!

[phanbouy @ Aug 20th 2008 1:04PM]

my eye tricked me for a second into reading: "i love everything about poo!!!!"

[meywd @ Aug 20th 2008 12:14PM]

expensive?

[Chad @ Aug 20th 2008 12:25PM]

The OQO was out before the term UMPC had been coined. I got one shortly after they first came out. It worked well but was slow so here's hoping the Atom CPU pumps up the processing power without draining the juice too quickly.

[qrius @ Aug 20th 2008 12:32PM]

too big, but too small at the same time. too big to be carry-able, too small to be useful.

[Jason @ Aug 20th 2008 12:46PM]

Wow, those must be really functional because they're butt ugly.

[phanbouy @ Aug 20th 2008 12:55PM]

MOAR ATOM ADVERTS PLEASE MOMMY

[Crucialitis @ Aug 20th 2008 12:59PM]

"Really guys, if there's so much love in the house, why not get this thing on the production line?"
Because they've already collected enough arms and legs. Now they're focusing on torsos so they can complete the assembly line and bring the price down.

[u07ch @ Aug 20th 2008 1:01PM]

oqo mid ?

[Z3RO @ Aug 20th 2008 1:10PM]

I had an OQO2 and it bricked up on me. After a month of fighting with OQO they finally let me return it, but they did not give me my money big until 2 months later. On top of that the refuse to give me my money back for the accessory pack that I bought even though I sent it back to them. They have $300 of my money right now and the accessory pack. Please don't risk dealing with this company.

[James @ Aug 20th 2008 1:30PM]

Why the Atom? It's slower than a celeron clocked at the same speed. It was recently determined that it has similar power usage figures with the Athlon 64 but much much slower. Don't buy into the Atom hype. It's an old design in a new packaging. OQO should have opted for the Nano instead.

[Dan Bourque @ Aug 20th 2008 1:40PM]

I hope this serves as a warning to others about OQO.

You can see the full transcripts of my conversations with OQO at: http://dan.bourque.googlepages.com/oqotroubles

I'm furious at OQO. I bought my "Model 2" 15 weeks ago, and it has been having lock-up problems since the day I received it. It's still under the 1-year warranty, so I thought I was covered, right? Well, it turns out that their tech supports is very unreliable. In retrospect, I *should* have returned it within the 30-day money back guarantee and suffered the 15% restocking fee, but it's far too late for that now.

I've re-imaged it twice myself, and for the past 15 weeks, have been following OQO tech support's instructions in trying to figure out the issue. I've even sent it in for repair, and all they did was add scratches to it, and send it back to me still broken! I've been paying $60/month on top of that to Sprint, for a device that I cannot use for more than 15 minutes before it locks up!

Because of all of this, I recently asked for a return-for-credit, or at least allow me to upgrade to the newer model (I offered to pay the difference), but after 20 days, I got denied. They're saying that I'm effectively stuck with this broken unit, but that they're willing to re-image it themselves (never mind that they've already scratched it up)!

I'm fed up with this. 15 weeks of this is enough. I urge you to heed this warning and STAY AWAY from OQO! Even if you get a unit that works properly right out of the box, if anything goes wrong with it, you're likely to get tremendous headaches dealing with their tech support/customer support.

Furiously,
-Dan.

PS: The HDMI has never worked on mine, and I've tried it on many TVs using many cables, latest standards, etc.
PPS: If anyone wants a used OQO cheap, let me know.

[Javaflash @ Aug 20th 2008 2:31PM]

Companies like OQO are basically dead man walking. The management is a joke, who missed the window entirely. If they can't make money now at ridiculous markup, there is zero chance of seeing black in the future. Big time ODMs are rushing the field with stronger models, lower price. The space is getting crowded, and they are glorifying a concept prototype.

[OneLove @ Aug 20th 2008 6:39PM]

ok looks like oqo is dying

[linuxamp @ Aug 20th 2008 9:47PM]

Wow, until now price was the only thing keeping me from buying OQO but after listening to the engadget-army complain about their product quality and customer service I'm glad it was too expensive.

[Jope @ Aug 21st 2008 6:50AM]

Long time OQO user here..

My only complaint is the wifi antenna covers that cracked on mine.. Other than that, no problems.

My 01+ died and I sent it back to be repaired (still within warranty) and I got it back just fine.

Now I'm not sure if I want to send the 02 back for an antenna cover replacement, since the vocal minority is so sure that OQO's customer service no longer answers. I guess I'll bite the bullet anyway, I'll just use a bigger laptop during that time.

I have to say that the OQO's form factor is just perfect for me, though.. Fits well in my crumpler manbag and isn't too obstructive if I need to quickly check something. An Eee PC sticks out like a sore thumb if you pull it out of your bag, an OQO looks more like something someone might carry with them all the time (as I do). I do 45wpm on the thumb keyboard.. My only complaints really are that the screen res is too small for all the things I'd like to use it for and I'd like a passive touchscreen instead of the wacom jobbie. The CPU power is quite sufficient if you don't want to play 3d games.

I do agree that it's very expensive. Had to save up for quite some time to afford mine.. Thankfully I managed to get a good price for the 01+ when I sold it to pave way for the 02.

[PEZ @ Aug 21st 2008 8:07AM]

since the AMD 64 chips runs less wattage and is faster, why not just use that? GEEY!@dfsfsfb

[Al @ Sep 23rd 2008 7:00PM]

After 8 years and they still can not understand that their thumb input is why very few people want to buy an OQO. Now they add an Atom processor, wow, that is going to change my desire to thumb input, NOT!

I predict OQO will fail if they keep this kind of weak innovation. They need to turn their technology into a true pocket laptop. Make it a little longer so that it can have space for a true touch type keyboard. Get with the times and use a touch screen which will eliminate the scroller space and give more room for the keyboard. Use flash memory since their hard drive is so noisey and runs so hot. Then the thing might start generating some real sales. A thumb input is fine for a phone but is just plain lame for a full blown PC; it makes it a toy not a tool.

[wyszkow @ Sep 25th 2008 4:59PM]

better keyboard
http://digg.com/design/Any_languages_keyboard