OQO bringing Atom-powered Model 2+ UMPC to CES

If it feels like forever to you since OQO's Model 02 hit the market, your instincts are pretty darn good. But if you were overly optimistic that the Atom-powered prototype it showed off back in August (pictured) would eventually become a reality, you -- sir or madam -- take today's golden crown. In a recent Digital Experience! email blasted out to media members worldwide (full blurb is after the break), we're very clearly told that OQO will be on hand to demonstrate its new Model 2+. Said UMPC will pack a 1.86GHz Intel Atom CPU, a touchscreen OLED display, 2GB of RAM and global 3G connectivity. OQO even goes so far as to say that it will offer performance "up to twice as fast as its predecessor." Did our heart just skip a beat over a UMPC? Why, yes it did!

[Via GottaBeMobile]

OQO, Inc. announces the new model 2+ with the Intel® Atom™ processor, the world's first PC OLED display, and worldwide 3G capability. Based on the 1.86GHz Intel Atom processor and 2GB RAM, the OQO model 2+ offers performance up to twice as fast as its predecessor and includes an embedded touchscreen for easier input.

[paul eastwood @ Dec 30th 2008 3:36PM]

At first glance I thought the picture was a dude holding a big shield. Maybe it's just me. . . .

[paul eastwood @ Dec 30th 2008 3:37PM]

Oh noes! I posted first and totally wasted it by saying something other than "f1rst p0st!!!1"

[Alexandre Emond @ Dec 30th 2008 3:38PM]

Not so bad, you still managed to put a FIRST in your comment.

[triela @ Dec 30th 2008 3:55PM]

That you felt compelled to remark, as if in accomplishment, having avoided the lameness of "first post" makes it, ironically, much more lame.

[paul eastwood @ Dec 30th 2008 5:10PM]

Actually I was sarcastically bemoaning the fact that I posted first without realizing it.

[triela @ Dec 30th 2008 5:23PM]

I understand exactly what you were trying to do. But there's nothing to "bemoan" about posting first; only the immature even think to assign any connotations to it.

If you hear someone describing unemployment rates as having "grown really large", and you reply with, "Hey, I could've said, 'that's what she said!' but I didn't!", I really don't think you'd be met with a hearty acknowledgement of your sarcastic wit.

[Loonie @ Dec 30th 2008 11:19PM]

That's no dude, it's...

CAPTAIN ATOM!

[prime @ Dec 30th 2008 3:38PM]

Im lucky i did not buy the model 02 when it came out, now to waste money on something i don't need?

[jonaswan1 @ Dec 30th 2008 3:38PM]

Shoot, the OQO was a hot UMPC before being a UMPC was cool. This will probably be a pretty nice little device.

[RB @ Dec 30th 2008 6:21PM]

True that! The OQO still has it over "netbooks". It just needs better (and more) press.

[iofthestorm @ Dec 30th 2008 4:15PM]

Hot in more ways than one... although I think the Model 02 was a lot better in that regard, the 01/01+ would get hot enough to burn you in half an hour of use and the batteries had a defect early on. We used one in our autonomous submarine for this contest: http://www.auvsi.org/competitions/water.cfm and I think we had gone through 6 batteries that had stopped charging, and two OQOs so that we could swap them out between runs. It was ridiculous. I think this would be a lot better though for that purpose, because the Model 01's processor sucked too and would downclock to 300mhz when it overheated, which basically stalled everything. The Atom should be a lot faster than that crappy Transmeta Crusoe, and probably less hot.

[unzarjones @ Dec 30th 2008 8:19PM]

Perfect size for holding while on the toilet! A more important attribute than is usually given credit for.

[Chad @ Dec 31st 2008 1:58AM]

@RB - the OQO sucks compared to netbooks! This model (and what's up with the useless 0 in front of the 2? This will be there 4th model, and they are still over a decade away from needing that ten's spot, if their current trends continue... it's just stupid!) will just be catching up with most current netbooks on the market - and it's still going to cost 4 or 5 times as much. For what? a touchscreen? You can add those to most netbooks for a mere $90. Plus you get a much better keyboard with the netbooks, more screen real estate and connectivity and storage.

(For those of you who think the Eee PC 4GB Surf is still the standard for netbooks... A current gen netbook has a 1.6Ghz Atom CPU, 1GB or 2GB fo RAM, a 160GB HD, WiFi g or n, Windows XP, an 8.9" or 10.2" screen at 1024 x 600 res, a webcam, VGA out, a multi-format card reader (or 2 or 4), 3 USB, some have BT, some have 3G connectivity... And most are $350 - $450.)

Now tell me why a slightly smaller device with an impossible to touch-type thumb keyboard that costs 5 times as much is better. (If previous models are a guide, this thing will cost near two grand.)

[aegzorz @ Dec 30th 2008 3:38PM]

Capacitive touch one wonders and hopes.
Android + XBMC or possibly OS X + Plex would make for a nice MID.

[good grief @ Dec 30th 2008 4:22PM]

You do realize this is not a phone?

[chansthename @ Dec 30th 2008 5:12PM]

bad luck for you the model 2 runs vista this will run vista or 7.

[ILoveApple @ Dec 30th 2008 3:39PM]

Anyone know the battery times on this? With devices like this, I really wonder why Nokia bother with their shitty 400mhz internet tablets...

[rock99rock @ Dec 30th 2008 3:48PM]

Maybe the $400 pricetag is more appealing than the $1k+ for the OQO?

[iofthestorm @ Dec 30th 2008 4:22PM]

Umm... since you're obviously an ignorant douchebag, I'll help you out. The OQO Model 02 currently starts at $1300, and goes up to $3000 if you add SSDs and 3G cards and such. http://www.oqo.com/store/shop.cgi/op/op_itemdetail.html Also, the ARM chip in the Nokia tablets is a different architecture than Atom, so you can't just compare the clock speeds. Hell, you can't even compare clockspeeds between two processors from different generations of the same company directly, and ARM is a RISC design which generally gets more done per clock cycle. The 400mhz chips in the Nokia tablets aren't exactly the fastest, but they aren't that slow either. And Atom on the other hand, is much slower per clock than your normal Intel/AMD x86 chips because it doesn't have out-of-order execution. This Atom is probably still faster than the ARMs in the Nokias, but it's far from the 4.5x faster that the clock speed would make you think. The main draw of Atom is that it's a more power efficient x86, so you can still run Windows and other stuff written for x86, but at the cost of performance. On the other hand, the ARM architecture is a lot faster per clock and consumes 1/10 of the power. Obviously, on a device like this you want to be able to run Windows, but when you just want internet and media an ARM is the obvious choice.

[b-man @ Dec 30th 2008 4:33PM]

How are the Nokia internet tablets shitty?, keep in mind that they are not umpc's, they are basicly Linux-based MID's.

Btw, i use one all the time and i'm more than happy with it's performance. it's one of the most versatile devices i've ever owned. In fact, i'm currently dual-booting Ubuntu and Maemo and (was) using Android and Debian for a short while, and Gentoo is currently being ported to the device.

Also, Nokia is currently working on a OpenGL enabled device witch shuld be available by q3-q4 of 2009.

My advice - do a little more reasherch before you start making blind statements about other devices.

[Jamma @ Dec 30th 2008 3:40PM]

Put the windows 7 beta on this and we have a winner!

[Platinum_Skeet @ Dec 30th 2008 3:47PM]

Finally a UMPC worth buying...

[FRZ @ Dec 30th 2008 8:35PM]

Seriously. Personally, I think this machine is nice. I just couldn't afford it when it first came out.

[Tony C @ Dec 30th 2008 3:48PM]

I seriously doubt these will be priced close to anyone else's mids -- their existing model 02's span the retails from $1300 to $3000.

But since there's feature upgrades all around, it's anybody's guess!

[web2.oh @ Dec 30th 2008 3:50PM]

I've always liked the Oqo's design, but not the price. I wonder if they'll be able to get this one under $1000?

[TJ @ Dec 30th 2008 3:54PM]

I guess you'll just have to sit on it.

[josearoldan @ Dec 30th 2008 4:03PM]

@TJ sir your comment is full of win after seing "web2.oh's" avatar +1 for you!

[iofthestorm @ Dec 30th 2008 4:23PM]

Nah, they seem to be fully loading it with the 3G cards and stuff to keep it expensive. I think OQO tries to serve a high-end niche because the profit margin is higher, but I really do wonder how many people actually buy them.

[mcbr @ Dec 30th 2008 5:28PM]

ok. i have to rank you based on your picture. +!

[Nick @ Dec 30th 2008 3:59PM]

So basically a netbook with a practically unusable keyboard for 3-5 times the price? No thanks...

[rock99rock @ Dec 30th 2008 4:01PM]

Have you ever used a keyboard on a cellphone?

[Nick @ Dec 30th 2008 4:14PM]

Yeah, but my phone didn't cost $1000+ and it wasn't intended to be able to perform full computer tasks...

[tom @ Dec 30th 2008 4:14PM]

^ It's a UMPC, i was expecting a keyboard size of AA1 or EEE, not a thumbboard. Plus I doubt the physical size of this thing will fit nicely in your pocket.

[rock99rock @ Dec 30th 2008 5:08PM]

@Nick

You are missing the point entirely. That keyboard is perfectly usable, as long as you know how to use it. Not 40wpm usable, but what the fuck do you want from a device of this size? It is in NO way competing with the EEE or AA1. OQO has been around long before the netbook, and just because they throw an Atom processor in the thing you think its "basically a netbook" ?

http://www.sddt.com/images/news/2007/04/30/OQO.jpg

I love uninformed people. Makes my day.

[Nick @ Dec 30th 2008 5:49PM]

@ rock99rock

"Not 40wpm usable, but what the fuck do you want from a device of this size?"

That would be my question to you. It has the basically the same specs as a good netbook, is slightly smaller (although still won't fit comfortably in your pocket), probably has worse battery life (from what I've read), a crippled 4 row keyboard that's good enough for chatting but not much more, and it costs way, way, waaaayyyyy more than a netbook. I don't care how long its been around, and I don't care who its competing with. You haven't managed to provide me with any insight in to why this would be a better solution than a netbook for 99% of all people. What am I uninformed about again?

[good grief @ Dec 30th 2008 6:33PM]

No Sir, uninformed is far too kind...

Unless by "slightly smaller", you mean the OQO is about 25 to 50% of the size of the smallest netbooks.

OQO = 142 x 84 x 25mm
MSI = 260 x 180 x 31.5mm
EEE = 225 x 170 x 33.8mm

Have you ever even seen an OQO in hand?

Some of the netbooks are downright huge by comparison:

http://www.netbooktaschen.de/en/uebersicht-abmessungen-netbookmodelle/

[Nick @ Dec 30th 2008 6:53PM]

Your good buddy and fellow OQO-lover rock99rock provided me with a stunning photograph of it in hand. Using percentage differences is a good way of obscuring what really amount to small differences on small items. 3/8" of an inch thinner than the eee is not significant IMO, particularly if they're both TOO BIG TO FIT COMFORTABLY IN A POCKET. I used to have an Archos 605, doesn't fit nicely in the pocket, so I traded it for a netbook that does way more for less. I'm still waiting for a hypothetical and reasonable use for it that could not be fulfilled by a netbook AND that justifies spending 5 or more times as much. Maybe you're a midget and typing on the keyboard would be no problem for you, but I'm talking about normal people here.

[Benson @ Dec 31st 2008 12:11AM]

I think the point being made was less about the thickness, and more about the width and height; look over those again, and I think you'll see the percentage claims are much less misleading than you imply.

As for your claim that it's not pocketable, you treat that as a fixed barrier. IRL, pockets are highly variable, and an OQO 2 would fit handily in my (large) jean pockets, or any jacket/vest pocket I know. That, for those with larger pockets, provides the big advantage over netbooks you don't see, and while I don't quite find it worth 2-5x as much, I can certainly see situations where it could be affordable.

The real competition, IMHO, isn't netbooks, but the Fujitsu U2010/U820 and (at the low end) the Nokia N810 and Pandora console.

[superhobo @ Dec 31st 2008 2:39AM]

Seeing it in someone's hand (even if he has big hands) makes me realize the complete awesomeness of this awesome device.
Not that it wouldn't be awesome even if the screen was 12"...

[Mr. Ford @ Dec 31st 2008 11:06PM]

Most people also discount how well the design was thought out. Look at how nice the docking solution is for this item. The fact that you can use this device on the go, then dock it in a very attractive docking solution when you get to the office adds alot to its value. The fact that you can use it in a portfolio type case without using its keyboard (think outlook send/receive), is awesome. You need no desk/lap space in order to do many functions of the device.

I think the benefits to this form factor for PMP use adds value as well.

If they add a splash top environment for basic functions, it will become more attractive.

[Mr. Ford @ Dec 31st 2008 11:14PM]

Most people also discount how well the design was thought out. Look at how nice the docking solution is for this item. The fact that you can use this device on the go, then dock it in a very attractive docking solution when you get to the office adds alot to its value. The fact that you can use it in a portfolio type case without using its keyboard (think outlook send/receive), is awesome. You need no desk/lap space in order to do many functions of the device.

I think the benefits to this form factor for PMP use adds value as well.

If they add a splash top environment for basic functions, it will become more attractive.

[Brian @ Dec 30th 2008 4:14PM]

Hopeful they will also bring down the price with the 2+ because Ive been eyeing one of these bad boys.

[Alex @ Dec 30th 2008 4:21PM]

Why is OQO even bothering when netbooks have been out? Who would buy this fugly thing over any netbook?!

[iofthestorm @ Dec 30th 2008 4:25PM]

This is aimed at a different market segment. If you had looked at the price, you would know that. I'm not quite sure what that market segment is, but they aren't going for the low-margin netbook market, that's for sure. UMPCs in general are a bit more portable than netbooks, although I think for 99.9% of people that really won't matter too much since neither will fit in your pocket.

[Ken J @ Dec 30th 2008 5:45PM]

Does your netbook have HDMI out?
Does your netbook have a digitizer tablet built in?
Does your netbook have a backlit keyboard?
Does your netbook have a sick ass docking station?

If OQO can get the price down to anywhere near 150% of netbooks then the UMPC craze will finally begin.

[E. Douglas Jensen @ Dec 31st 2008 5:15PM]

Have you ever seen (much less used) a Sony U101? It is in the same size class as the OQO, small screen, tiny keyboard. Runs XP. I love it. The U101 and OQO work great for two-handed thumb typing like a Blackberry. I wouldn't put anything like these in a pocket, I put stuff like these and my Archos 7 and Kindle in an appropriate carry-on bag (I see lots of women carrying purses lots bigger than my bag). There are lots of different user demographics, not just yours.

[Zo @ Dec 30th 2008 4:24PM]

Ok, I will not believe anything until I see some reviews.

- Performance has been an issue
- Battery life has been an issue
- Reliability has been an issue
- Heat to the point of burning your hands has been an issue
- Cost, relative to the other netbooks on the market -- I will wait and see.

And while no other netbook type of appliance will allow thumb typing and computing as you walk down the street, how much of premium are you willing to pay now that so much competition is available?

This is still a great!!! device, provided that your company (or someone else) is footing the bill for the device ($2500) and the monthly ($60/month) data plan.

[iofthestorm @ Dec 30th 2008 4:27PM]

I've heard that those issues were somewhat mitigated by the Model 02, and I've used an 01+ which definitely had those problems. Just curious, are you basing that off a Model 01 or 02?

[Zo @ Dec 30th 2008 11:40PM]

My comments are regarding the OQO 02 which I owned for about a year and then sold. I had 3 RMAs and the system had a bunch of problems/issues when I owned it. Add to this that turn around time was for repairs was a joke and required several calls. If it was a car, it would have fallen under Lemon Laws and would have been replaced. For what it cost me, it was not worth the experience. If the price is in nose bleed range given all the current available options, I say unless you have a very, very specific need, the OQO is too expensive -- towards the end before I sold my OQO, the company was pushing corporate users with big pockets -- I really hope they had big pockets because the units where NOT rugged at all and simple fall from your desk would often break the unit. Unless your company had a field replace plan with OQO, I am sure it got really expensive -- even a Blackberry can take several hits vs this unit.

I still hold hope, but I suspect that OQO will OVER PRICE this unit as before and thus will remain a niche -- perhaps the niche makes them enough money so they don't care -- many of the people who run the company are ex-Apple so maybe they are happy to be obscure and expensive -- I don't know. IMHO, there are a lot less more capable alternatives either available or in the pipeline -- tjhe only thing the OQO has going for it is the form factor but given the economy, how much is that worth as a premium?

[MICHAELSD @ Dec 30th 2008 5:11PM]

As soon as an UMPC is fast enough to run games decently and costs under $1k, that's when people will srart buying them. Hopefully this or the Sony P can do that...