It's not every day we see an all-new angle on the laptop form factor, much less a netbook with aims at innovation. Perhaps it should come as no surprise that a company dubbed "Always Innovating" is trying to spice things up a bit. The Touch Book is an
ARM-powered netbook that weighs less than two pounds and claims battery life of 10 to 15 hours, but the real magic happens with the removable screen -- it slides right out of its keyboard dock and acts as a fully functional touchscreen tablet. When docked, the screen can lay out flat, and the keyboard can even be folded all the way under into an "inverted V" shape. There are other oddities like internal USB plugs to cut down on dongle mess, and the whole screen is magnetic for mounting on a fridge. The machine is running a Linux OS with a touchable 3D UI. The only press shots right now are these sketchy-looking renders, but Always Innovating is currently previewing the Touch Book at DEMO 09 in California, and plans to ship in Spring of this year with a starting pricetag of $299.
posted Mar 2nd 2009 10:04AM
Oh wow I don't want to be around the first time someone's kid slams the fridge and that sucker falls.
To those who want an x86 processor in this:
An atom processor would cut the battery life down to 3 hours and kill the idle time. This device will run linux and you can probably change it to whatever linux you want or maybe windows CE/android. No you can't run x86 apps on this but why would you need to. This is designed for basic mobile computing mostly consisting of media playback and internet browsing. There are emulators and things you can use on ARM too for gaming. There is even a full office program for ARM.
It's an oversized PDA. It runs PDA OS's.
No it doesn't run a PDA OS.
You can run a full blown Linux desktop there. Heck, even the Nokia N810 can run KDE if you install Debian on it
I wouldnt call this a PDA. Its a lot like the Nokia N-series tablet computers.
Actually, this would rock if it ran Maemo and could run all the maemo apps. I dont know why more mobile computer makers dont exploit Maemo. There's a whole lot you can do with it. I believe its all gplv2 so it can be used without licensing concerns. Just customize it for the device, write the drivers, and off you go.
Specs:
* 9.4" x 7" x 1.4" for 2 lbs (with keyboard)
* ARM Texas Instruments OMAP3 chip
* 1024x600 8.9'' screen
* Storage: 8GB micro SD card
* Wifi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth
* 3-dimensional accelerometer
* Speakers, micro and headphone
* 6 USB 2.0 (3 internal, 2 external, 1 mini)
* 10h to 15 hours of battery life
Put an atom (or any x86 CPU) in there and I'm sold.
Agreed, atom chip and i'm sold for sure
No no, don't put Atom in there! Look at the battery life - this is what a netbook should be!
Donaron... please also consider that the ARM Cpu is NOT x86, so NO WINDOWS , only Linux will run, and nobody compiles software for Arm Cpu's oO so yea good battery life... but no software
@Finnschi:
If what you're doing on the netbook is platform or architecture-dependent, you're using the netbook wrong. Netbooks are supposed to be ultra-lightweight devices for on-the-go web browsing and productivity apps - all of which can be accomplished with a sufficiently powerful web browser.
As long as this thing can run Firefox and OpenOffice, it's more than enough for what the genre is supposed to be about, something a lot of people seem to have forgotten about.
@Libb
Have you heard about a ARM webbrowser that runs Flash?...
Or how about Skype?
Thats what I think a "netbook" needs, for basic web serving you can use a smaller Device like an iPhone!
I want to use this as basically a good way to take notes in class, surf the web on the go, talk to my friends on skype, use the touchscreen for some flash games(hehe) thats what i think a netbook needs... !
@ Libb
You're 100% absolutely correct. Netbooks need to maintain a certain level of specs in order to keep prices differentiated from low-end laptops. Technology and innovation will eventually slide the scale to offer better performance at a better price -- but let's not try to force a very interesting platform into being something else. Economy cars may LOOK sporty -- but sports cars are a wholly different product.
>Have you heard about a ARM webbrowser that runs Flash?...
>Or how about Skype?
umm ever heard of the nokia internet tablets? They have flash AND skype and run on 400mhz ARM processors.
Dont spew bullshit unless you know what you are talking about
@Finnschi: Congratulations, you hit almost the _only_ proprietary apps people want where there's no good-enough OSS replacement. (BTW, Debian has a _huge_ collection of OSS built for ARM; GNOME, KDE, OOo, Firefox (rebadged), it's all there.)
Unfortunately for your argument, I have both a Flash plugin (usual netscape interface, so it works with other browsers) and Skype (somewhat stripped down version, but no video is the only big issue) running on all my Nokia tablets (N800s and an N810). While it would be a violation of licensing to use these binaries on another device, their existence means two things: that it would be easy enough to get them running illegally (Pirates ahoy!), and that there's no technical obstacle to getting them licensed to run on another ARM Linux platform, just a bunch of suits writing and agreeing to licenses, and _maybe_ money changing hands.
Since both Skype and Adobe _want_ to push their software out there -- they don't make money off the clients, but off the service (Skype) or development (Adobe) -- and since it's already ported to this architecture, I'd expect the licensing to be free or at most a low up-front cost to cover one-time porting costs (tweaking graphics and layouts for a new resolution, retesting everything, packaging, etc.), but no per-device charges. The main requirements from the ARM netbook manufacturer(s) will be about branding, i.e. sticking Skype logo minimum xx mm high on the box, and such.
so in other words - still too slow? (also, 600 MHz, according to later post).
I dunno, I just get the general impression that Cortex A9 is probably the point where it's suitable for general-purpose lightweight computing - ie Atom territory - rather than running phones. (OMAP3 is A8.)
And it's very cool, especially at the price. No use for it personally though so I'll wait for an A9-based netbook that doesn't break in half...
Well, the 400 MHz OMAP2420 in the Nokia N810 uses an ARM1136 core.
This has a 600 MHz OMAP3530. The ARM Cortex-A8 core in this chip is roughly as fast as a 1 GHz ARM11.
God Damn! I wish there were more specs, this thing is sexy as hell!
It's good to see somebody bringing some more innovation in the low power computing sector- because realistically, most netbooks have power comparable to average consumer towers of 5-7 years ago.
I would love a slightly larger iPhone-style tablet with hybrid osx/iphone osx that switched back and forth depending on docking/status. Sadly, apple is SUPER lacking in this department, but I'm banking on the end of this year finally proving that netbooks are not only here to stay, but they're more than what the average person needs, and with integrated graphics like the 9400m (albeit not the greatest, but absolutely incredible for integrated mobo gfx) they'll be the best selling computers hands down.
The serious folks either build there own, or can't stand the low resolution of the average netbook.. but I would but one of these.
ironically, fasteddy answers my plea for specs... as I post.
You, sir, are truly FAST.
nobody builds laptops. and the few shitty kits out there to make one SUCK.
I tried using my tc1000 as a netbook before the Asus, but it was just too slow. I am beyond surprised that HP hasn't resurrected the device in netbook form. Maybe this will give them a kick in the pants.
As far as similarities. The Tc1100/1000 act like a tablet when open, but basically can't fold close like a normal laptop. I was wrong about the 180 turn and close. My bad.
Never say nobody. I do build laptops.
and still they put a trackpad on it
Because it's basically a convertable tablet.
If they make it happen than I'll be buying one.
agreed this thing is sick. exactly what I have been waiting for.
For those wondering about video, you may or may not be disappointed by:
Q. Which video can I play on the system?
A. Up to HD video 720p in full screen.
Why would anybody be disappointed that this thing can play 720p? Are you expecting to use this for a media center? No.
Are you expecting a 1080p screen? (hint: you're crazy)
I'm pretty pumped that this teeny thing can play 720p, but I'll believe this when I see it in the store playing it.
Maybe I'm missing something here, but how does a screen that is 1024x600 output a 720p video? Wouldn't you need something like a 1280x800 screen to output 720p?
720p is actually 1280x720, hence the 720.
Anthony:
Thanks for your response, that was quite helpful.
eric:
You are correct. I believe they are referring to the fact that the hardware is capable of decoding the HD and playing back on a smaller resolution screen. Even though it is playing back on a smaller res screen, it still takes decent hardware to decode/playback the HD content. What codec are they testing with- is my question.
One use of that inverted V shape should be standing the thing on its side and using as a secondary vertical monitor. OK technically it would be a secondary computer, but still...
I wouldn't say it's a 100% new form factor, it's pretty much a slight reworking of the same concept that Compaq used for the TC1000 and then the TC1100 about 6 years ago.
Looking at the Tc1100 on my desk, I can say this is a different beast. Granted, the conversion from laptop to slate is similar, but the TC1100/1000 could not fold close like a normal laptop or invert.
Hopefully the small insides will allow the balance of this to be pretty good. The TC series were (for obvious reasons) absurdly top heavy.
@Bondtastic
Hmmm... I'm writing this on my 4 year old TC100 and it does everything you it doesn't do, but stand up like a desk top calendar. I love the TC100 form factor and would buy it if HP updates it.
I tried using my tc1000 as a netbook before the Asus, but it was just too slow. I am beyond surprised that HP hasn't resurrected the device in netbook form. Maybe this will give them a kick in the pants.
As far as similarities. The Tc1100/1000 act like a tablet when open, but basically can't fold close like a normal laptop. I was wrong about the 180 turn and close. My bad.
Definitely want this. This is what a netbook should be, long lasting and very flexible!
similar to the idea someone had about modding the eeepc 701 into a tablet.
Should note that the $299 pricetag is for the tablet part only - adding the keyboard assembly (and the additional battery life it brings with it) bumps it to $399.
Still, if this is more than just some craptastic renders, it's worth a look...their site also mentions a 30-day "no questions asked" return policy.
Oh, it's real alright!
http://i.gizmodo.com/5162584/always-innovating-touch-book-is-a-part+netbook-part+tablet-open-source-frankenstein?skyline=true&s=x
It's pretty :D
Still not convinced this isn't just so much vapor.
One great feature that i wish these went to was an instant status sync.. say you have 2 or more of these things and you have one in your office that you are doing notes or something on... and you have another one in a hiberate or sleep mode in your livingroom... Via the wireless interface you can hit a sync button and it sends the full state of the one in your office to the one in the livingroom.. Basically when you walk out of your office and into the livingroom it is like the same device you were just working on.. say watching a movie in the bedroom and you pause it and want to go into teh kitchen.. sync it to teh kitchen one adn when you get to the kitchen hit the play button and it starts up right where you paused it...
That would be innovation...
That's the most pointless thing I've ever heard, who's so lazy they'd buy another computer just to sync around their own house? Pointless unless you weigh about 400 pounds.
Well i think you are pointless and dumb then...
For people that often multitask and are working on projects that dont feel like unplugging a power supply, moving the whole setup and power supply to another location and then hook it back up.. it would be a great feature... But not everyone lives in a 1 bedroom shack that their kitchen is also their livingroom and and bedroom and bathroom so they only need 1
That'd be a lot more helpful for larger computers, like a full laptop or desktop.
This tablet is small enough to carry to the other room. At most you'd just buy a another keyboard or two to dock in for the other rooms.
Truthfully i wish i had this feature for every computer i have... Would be awesome when watching a movie in my livingroom via XBMC and decide i want to go to bed so go into my bedroom where i have my other xbox with xbmc.. just transfer the status to the other xbox and bam.. can hit play and start exactly where i left off... or working on my server and transfer it to my laptop so i can head out and take it what i was working on with me...
The concept isnt even mine.. actually stems from stuff like this
http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/02/microsoft-shows-a-glimpse-at-the-future-of-computing-and-the-peo/
Where you are able to work on something.. then just "move" it over to a tablet or other device and take it with you exactly how it was before.. Instead of relying on programs like remote desktop (which i use religiously) which if you are outside your network via hamachi or other vpn protocal is slow as dirt sometimes...
I would buy that thing as a PMP player. No more worrying about codec support or expensive Archos plugins, just throw a good linux media player on it and play anything.
This will be awesome when Apple invents it and charges $1400 for it.
$1,100 to put some aluminum around the case and chuck dead fruit on it. iTouched, iArm, iDodad... iVe, iSlow... I know... iJobs
"Ideal for little tasks the iJobs."
Wow good innovation
Hey, just a little thought on product design, its a great idea, but I see two problems with that design
1. Screen in heavier than the base, so this thing needs TOUGH Hinges!!!(or else the screen will develop a play, which would suck)
2. Again, the screen is heavier than the base, so this thing would fall over... (Basic physics) .......
Could be that the base has a extra battery, then only point 1 would apply !
Well, I would think the battery to be in the keyboard part, because of the room, but then how can it function as a tablet? Maybe there is a secondary battery in the screen, and thats how it also gets its good battery life.
Their website says has a battery in the screen that should last between 3 and 5 hours as well as a battery in the keyboard dock that extends overall battery life to the 10+hrs.
Still if those are platic Hinges... it'll break in NO TIME (even my Thinkpad developed a little play, T40!!!!)
Screw the linux media player and stick XBMC for linux on it.. That will take care of almost anything you can think of
Maybe I'm just being dumb, but isn't a Netbook supposed to be a small, cheap laptop? Once you throw an ARM processor in the thing, it isn't really a full laptop anymore. I'd label this as a fancy MID rather than a Netbook.
I would say more that a netbook is a small device in the form of a laptop which is made for sufing the *net* and not much else. What you're talking about are more ultraportables - think the lenovo ideapad line or the x200: laptops which are fully specced but with a smaller screen. Netbooks are supposed to be small and *cheap*, with a *large battery life* so that you can spend all day going anywhere and still being able to use the internet, watch a video or two and possibly do some word processing on their depressingly small keyboards. You don't need an x86 chip which will destroy your battery life to do it.
ARM is just as good as x86 if not better, especially for a netbook. Sure, it can't run Windows, but it can run any Linux distributions.
The ARM CPU they're using is about as powerful than the PowerPC G3 (same speed -- 600 MHz -- and ARM actually has MMX/SSE-like instructions, unlike the G3). It's not a desktop replacement, sure, but given that they're basing it on the Beagle Board, I'd worry more about the amount of RAM than about clock speed.
After looking up more information on this, I am a bit worried now.
While arm proc will give it extended battery life it makes the eliminates the option of running any x86 based OS (windows, osX) or applications. This puts A LOT of pressure on the linux build this will come with as expansion options will be severely limited.
Battery life is nice, but what's the point of running your netbook for 10 hours if you have nothing to run on it?
This also puts a LOT of stress on the browser (fennec apparently) as whatever is not covered in the OS build will have to be provided by the cloud.
That's a lot of questions that are software based (and probably out of AI's hands).
I really want this to work and succeed but the route they have gone means the enthusiasm has to be a bit tempered.
You just made a Point... I would Def. Pay more for a x86 Cpu, even the VIA nano works for me. this is great for In-Class use!!! (but not without any good software)
I could be wrong... but what about Android?
Well you could get windows ce(pref version 6) to run on this and have an okay software selection....then again it does not really do a good job in replacing a x86 build of any os.
/facepalm
Have you ever used a desktop Linux distro?
There are no limitations... There is software in Linux for everything you will ever need to do (except for very specialized stuff, but you won't be doing that in a netbook anyway)
Umm, why would you need to use Fennec? Just use Firefox. There's a whole Debian ARM distribution.
Kids say the darnest things, right?
See, there's everything for every processor you might want. It only takes either the developer or a group of interested individuals to get the source package and recompile it (and trust me, you will not have to compile anything, that's why they have DEB packages).
Why would you want Windows on a computer like that??? What's the marvelous piece of software you so desperately need to run under Windows that is not present (or can't be run under WINE) on Linux?
Why would you need Fenec? There's Firefox for ARM processors.
Why would you say there's no Skype when even Nokia's tablets had it (wtF did you thought the camera was there pointing at you for?) AND EVEN IF THEY don't do it, that's why somebody developed OpenSky for.
FLASH? You don't get the news there? Adobe and ARM are working together to port Flash player 10 (so mobiles can have it too) since November last year.
Being ignorant is one thing, but you guys... You speak like if you knew what you are yapping about. P.S.: You don't!
If this is real, I may have to put temporary restraining order on my vow of poverty.
diggs
I'm not really up to speed on the netbook scene, so this might be a noob question... Can you reverse the screen and still fold it all the way flat? Like a closed notebook, but with the screen on the outside?
I'm wondering if you could get the extra battery life from the keyboard dock, but still use it like a tablet...
Look at the pics, YES!
It kind of sounded like the keyboard would have been left exposed, and I was concerned that would end up causing issues. I'm broke so it doesn't really matter, but I'm still curious.
haha me too....
I think from the pictures you can plug in the head unit either way; one way, it goes from closed notebook to notebook to flat-open notebook (or oversized qwerty-PDA!), but not much, if at all, past flat, and the other way it goes from thick tablet (with the keys inside, not exposed) to stand-up (should do either /\ or L config, depending on screen rotation) to (presumably, although uselessly) flat-open with the keys on the bottom and the screen on the top.
If it really works like that, and comes out at that price, I think I'm buying one. The magnet is the only potentially bad thing (Seriously, stick a computer on my refrigerator and slam the door? DO NOT WANT!), and if it got more annoying (picking up paperclips, pens, and pocketknives) than beneficial (gluing magnets onto peripherals and sticking them to it for easy transport) it could probably be removed.
To all the people saying they want an atom processor in there, STFU.
An atom processor would cut the battery life down to 3 hours and kill the idle time. This device will run linux and you can probably change it to whatever linux you want or maybe windows CE/android. No you can't run x86 apps on this but why would you need to. This is designed for basic mobile computing mostly consisting of media playback and internet browsing. There are emulators and things you can use on ARM too for gaming. There is even a full office program for ARM.
Will it play Crysis???
can it MAME me up some Virtua Fighter?
And I think Ubuntu is planning an ARM version very soon.
@Bondtastic: Don't worry too much. There are several full Linux distros suited for ARM processors (Debian for example). I don't think the lack of standard applications will become a severe point. Browsers, office apps, chat etc. will be available or can with little expertise be built to run on that sexy little thing.
But there is also the dark side: Many useful apps like Flash Player (killer), certain Video-Codecs like WM or Skype for exaple are closed source and typically ARM is not supported by the vendors but only x86. This might become a problem, especially at Flash. I've heard of open source flash implementations but I wouldn't bet on their compliance. Most probably many flash movies will fail at beein played back. We will see
actually the open source solutions i've used for flash worked FASTER than the Adobe stuff...
Do want.
So I'm assuming this company has payed HP for the licensing of this form factor patent. I looked into patenting this idea a couple years ago only to find out HP filed for it in 2001. Alas, HP to my knowledge has never acted on this patent.
My idea was a little different with the base being a fully spec'd laptop that uses the arm/xscale powered removable tablet as the screen. Also the tablet would've communicated through ad-hoc wireless with the base to access files and sync your data in real-time.
.
scam
omg sexy
"The Touch Book is the first netbook powered by a 600 MHz TI OMAP3 processor (built around ARM technology), 256 MB RAM, 3-axis accelerometer, an 8-gigabyte microSD card for storage and two batteries providing up to 15 hours of usage between charges"
Sounds awesome, but I need some better specs on the processor and RAM, If Always innovating released a normal laptop rather then just a netbook, I'd be totally sold.
I could see this as a very easy way for a student to take notes and also be able to look up stuff in class. Then again, a ring-binder and pencil have proven themselves over the years.
Well, it could be, save for a few rather annoying issues:
1) There's no stylus input, as far as I can see
2) It can run OneNote or Word, or any other x86 application that the potential student (such as myself) would need
3) Its too weak to run anything beyond viewing videos.
While I'm enamored by its design and love the concept, its just too weak to be any use to students in its current state.
Hopefully this will break the mold and usher in an era of notebook/tablet hybrids that will be powerful enough...but as of now.
Meh.
:/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10185351-1.html
for a vid and some more pics, maybe this is already posted...
I would certainly call this another case of "everything old is new again". Not only is this a takeoff of the HP Compaq TC1100/1000, but that design was itself inspired by the Compaq Concerto from 1992-1994. Functionally, the Concerto is an even closer design predecessor to the Touch Book than the TC1100;
http://pc-museum.com/officewing.htm
http://pc-museum.com/031-compaq/rcm-031.jpg
Anyone wanting to jump on this "new" bandwagon, just give me a shout. I have a Concerto in my attic somewhere.
The FAQ implies that they already have flash up and running:
Q. What can I do with the Touch Book in keyboard mode?
A. Basically what you do with a standard netbook, including opening basic office documents, browsing the web and watching Youtube videos.
Note that last entry in the list.
It would be great if it had mounting holes so I could put it on the wall with a screw like I would a picture frame.. then just leave it plugged in and that would be great in my bedroom or living room!
Just screw some magnets into the wall :p
Cool unit!
oh wow that's cool, I haven't been too "wow"ed by the whole netbook thing, but this looks saweet! Cant wait to see more about it
I wonder if you couldn't add some type of cellphone module and blue tooth to this and use it as a communication device. I know that you would need extra batteries to keep this thing juiced if you were using it as such but I think something like this could be very popular. I've imagine a third or fourth generation Iphone doing something similar but this is a good place to start.
What word processing applications will run on it? Will it run the usual Linux ones, like OpenOffice?
If it's open source and runs on Linux, it'll run it. So, OpenOffice, KOffice, AbiWord, etc., etc.
Magnet? This is to wipe any other electronics/magnetic storage in your bag. It wants to be your ONLY gadget!
surely an ARM OMAP3 cannot run windows. simply becos of the overcoded and too much lighthy resource eating windows. i have a floatingpoint lib which runs both on windows and linux, while running it, the linux kees the laptop cooool whereas my laptop almost overheats when the same runs on windows!!
windows is a worstcase design whereas linux is bestcase. so an efficient ARM11 is much ok for this linux netbook!
I'm puttin' me some velcro on the back and stickin' it to the seat back on those 11 hour flights .... and if it's Virgin Atlantic (Storm Trooper Sheek), then hell, double sided tape!
well... if this can use open office, firefox and vlc player then im hooked. just hope it comes with a stylus and that i can add a gps adapter... after that i cant ask more from a portable companion (exept for it being 10 inch)
i might decide to buy this.. whenever it comes out. unless for some reason i choose eee tablet. but its hard to compete with 10-15 hours of battery life....