Quanta working on 3.5-inch smartbook-as-phone, hates our thumbs

Without pictures or firm form factor details, it's hard to tell exactly what Quanta is driving at here (or who it's driving at it for), but the concept of a "computer in an iPhone form factor," as Quanta Chairman Barry Lam so tactfully puts it, doesn't fill us with much hope for usability. At least it probably won't look as terrifying as this modded Dell netbook pictured above. Quanta says it's building a "smartbook" device with a 3.5-inch touchscreen, with voice calling and web browsing the primary functionalities. We're not really sure what even qualifies this as a "smartbook" if it's really in an iPhone form factor, but perhaps it's to run some sort of full-featured OS. Unfortunately, Moblin and Windows seem out, because there's Qualcomm and ARM under the hood. If this is indeed in some sort of fold-up form factor, our greatest fear is another Viliv N5 or UMID mBook BZ experience -- we just don't think we could relive that sort of pain.

[New Reformation Posted Jan 20th 2010 3:26PM]

the above picture is proof that if Macgyver was still around he would have a dell mini netbook. You can make almost anything with them!

[EpsilonNot Posted Jan 20th 2010 3:35PM]

what

[jdm28690 Posted Jan 20th 2010 3:35PM]

you'll niggaz postin in a troll thread

[PATRICKmcnicholl Posted Jan 20th 2010 3:35PM]

That picture proves hobbits are real

[Blaine Posted Jan 20th 2010 3:36PM]

Come on Engadget! You weren't duped by somebody's personal mod of a netbook into an iPhone looking package, were you? That's not a pre-release of some new product. This was on Digg weeks ago.

[Blaine Posted Jan 20th 2010 3:40PM]

@Blaine
Nevermind, I realize they were saying it *won't* look like this modded PC/iPhone from a prior Engadget post. My bad.

[JeremyBenthem Posted Jan 20th 2010 4:03PM]

@Blaine
it's not supposed to be an iPhone, it's obviously a [not so] mini 3i running the OPhone OS

[Gonzie Posted Jan 20th 2010 3:38PM]

WTF

who's that phone for? Dom Joly?

[ohmygosh82 Posted Jan 20th 2010 3:43PM]

Holy Crap that thing is UTLRAOVERSIZED =O geezz !!!

[Smurf Posted Jan 20th 2010 3:52PM]

Oh wow. That thing is terrifying to look at.

An iPhone the size of a computer would be a garish nightmare.

[rainbowkey Posted Jan 20th 2010 3:53PM]

It's the iPhone for anyone over 7 feet/2 meters tall!

[John Day Posted Jan 20th 2010 4:14PM]

That dell notebook sure looks uncomfortable

[Xperiatchet Posted Jan 20th 2010 4:27PM]

This thing again? Nobody is gonna buy this. Maybe Bill. No one else.

[VampireHunterZ Posted Jan 20th 2010 4:30PM]

@pachi72
LMAO, this is probably the most amazing picture I've ever seen on here.

[Branhower Posted Jan 20th 2010 4:47PM]

Wait, that's not the iSlate?!

[c w j Posted Jan 20th 2010 5:16PM]

Elven Mr. Blurrycam.

[Murphys Law Posted Jan 21st 2010 3:58AM]

@VampireHunterZ Picture= ewwwwww facepalm

[Dan Fruzzetti Posted Jan 21st 2010 1:26PM]

I want to see a video of someone taking a call on that thing in public.

[Smurf Posted Jan 29th 2010 7:47PM]

HOLY CRAP! It's the iPad!