Engadget Podcast 165 - 10.02.2009
By Trent Wolbe 
posted October 2nd 2009 6:07PM
posted October 2nd 2009 6:07PM
Look, an Engadget Podcast, delivered on schedule! That certainly hasn't happened in a while -- and to celebrate, the crew did another live show yesterday, running down a couple new Dell and HP laptops, some more Courier info, the PSP Go, and some phone news before a live (chat room) audience. It's all here, so get listening!
Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul MillerProducer: Trent Wolbe
Song: California Girls
Hear the podcast
00:03:34 - Dell's Latitude Z 600 is a 16-inch thin-and-light, makes overcompensated CEOs out of us all (update: video!)
00:17:20 - HP Envy 13 unboxing and first impressions
00:32:26 - New Microsoft Courier video details tablet interface, exciting life of a shoe designer (Update: Windows 7 underneath, might run Microsoft hardware)
00:43:04 - PSP Go review
00:43:20 - Sony thinks its "aspirational" PSP Go might encourage an uptick in PSP-3000 purchases
00:56:15 - Garmin nuvifone G60 officially coming to AT&T: October 4th for $299
01:04:30 - Motorola CLIQ coming to T-Mobile next month for $200 on contract
01:13:51 - webOS 1.2 now available, brings support for app purchases
01:19:03 - Challenge: Make your own Natal demo video, get yourself on The Engadget Show
Subscribe to the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC).
[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.
[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator.
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
Download the podcast
LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)
Contact the podcast
1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.
Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget
WOOT!
Oh yeah its got GPS and everything "But its not an iPhone".....
I dont understand why you people are so scared of Microsoft making hardware. It can only open up competition, lower prices, and increase quality. They are not going to stop selling Windows to OEM. This Courier doesnt even compete with `most pcs, its not hard to believe that they would make their own device every once in a while (ex. Zune, xbox)
Who's scared? I'd buy a Microsoft-built Courier tablet in a heartbeat. I'm just saying it's a big departure for them to do their own Windows hardware, and I'll be extremely surprised if that happens.
Besides that, it's not like that many manufacturers actually make tablets these days, and I doubt they sell many (even though I currently have two and love them).
HP has the 2730p and tx2z, Dell has the XT2, Lenovo has the x200T, Fujitsu has a couple models, and then there's niche companies like Motion Computing that only make tablets.
But if you compare that to the number of models of regular computers that they have, there's almost no tablets. I doubt for the big makers that it'd be much sweat off their backs.
Who should be worried in some ways are the niche makers like Motion... but they don't exactly have much pull compared to a HP or Dell anyway.
I agree with Nilay, Microsoft's business model is all about licensing when it comes to Windows. These small encroachments into also producing hardware can hurt Microsoft's relationships with its partners. The whole PlayForSure vs Zune is a perfect example. Where do you see anymore PlayForSure devices anymore?
look at this Josh, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Ryan you are on Wiki
This message is for the Engadget guys. Please stop comparing everything with an iphone. You guys talk like a bunch of school kids. be professional for once and do a review without comparing every gadget with apple product.
You don't seem to be making the realisation that in most cases, the iPhone is a very good benchmark - given that it does so well in so many areas. Maybe now, you need to listen to their in-podcast debate a little more objectively, as they are actually very objective.
That said, Engadget guys - could you please not play with your keys next time around? It's very obvious, and quite irritating!
i think it is most advantageous for microsoft to develop this hardware (Courier), they will be able to keep the software and hardware in house and possibly reduce the time it takes to bring this product to market.
Quick suggestion - You guys should post a day in advance (rather than earlier on the same day) when you are going to 'do it live'! I love joining in but if i don't check in on time that day i always miss it. Thanks.
To the Podcast team.
I don't know if it's just me but the podcast has become way too negative in my view. The main one trying to keep it positive is Paul Miller.
When the podcast was Ryan and Peter it was way more positive. Example the HP laptop you introduced in this podcast. The laptop seemed like crap after listening to you ranting on the trackpad and how could they possibly have done something that sticky (the chrome and the rubber one). Yet at the very end of the section you all agree it's a great laptop and better than the mac one in many ways.
That was just an example, it's been like this for a while. What about going over what's great about the product and then a little part about what's bad if the product is generally good.
What I get out of the podcast is that most products seem like crap and a few are a little less crap than others.
There's no intention to offend but I would love to enjoy listening to the podcast and coming out knowing more about great products.
cheers