ExoPC shows its touchscreen stuff on video
By Joanna Stern 
posted February 8th 2010 2:13PM
posted February 8th 2010 2:13PM
posted February 8th 2010 2:13PM
powered by gdgt
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
Sorry but this machine looks pretty cheap.
Look at the capacitive touch screen, oh sorry resistive touch screen.
You can really see the the wave like surface...
And the software is the key to touchscreen success, windows 7 is not really any good on a 9inch screen, just look at the symbols in word. How are you supposed to use that thing?
USB ports yeah. That is an amazing feature. Tablets failed before, and they will fail again if software does not move on.
Well everybody go out and buy crap like this i pass.
Real computing: real computer
Mobile computing: iPhone or iPad or any other touch modified platform.
@iRACK
It will ship with a multitouch enabled capacitive touchscreen, check your facts before slamming a device you've yet to use...
@oldpass56
also, it will ship with a customised ui...
@oldpass56
Facts? What are those. I much prefer to just spew out what Steve Job's tells me.
@bjsguess
you and all the other ********* (post changed so comments aren't banned again...
@oldpass56
@w/e editor changed that above comment, why would you not delete that obviously flame inducing comment he was replying to?
That was quite impressive, particularly when he showed that multiple programs were open and the thumbnails could still display the kinetic scrolling in IE8. Not bad.
ummm keyboard? also why the hell would you want that massive chunky thing to carry around, i swear i'd rather have my Macbook Pro, than that hefty brick
@JustThatNerdyGuy
don't quite understand the concept of a "slate", no?
No accelerometer? I want windows tablet to reorient itself based on how I am holding it. Virtual keyboard demo would have been nice too.
I am looking forward to actual reviews of the device.
Is the 3D engadget animation new?
Not seen it before.
Excuse me i forgot, that if anyone comments in favor of any apple product on ENGADGET these days they will get down-ranked.
So let me put it this way:
In what way is the featured tablet computer different to a netbook with the scrren put to the position where the keyboard used to be?
Really there is nothing genuine to this device at all. I am just curious how anyone could possible go out an state that they would consider buy one of these with basicly no real information on the UI it is going to sport.
I ll say it again. It will be software not hardware things that will decide in tablet computing. And Apple lover or hater (an aint either one) Apple did a great job on that software side.
I will be glad to observe the future of Tablet Computers in this year, but i am sure the winner will be the "feature stripped" apple device.
Thank you for handling my comment with respect, even though it regards to Apple.
@iRACK
Yeah, you get downranked because most people do not believe this:
" It will be software not hardware things that will decide in tablet computing. And Apple lover or hater (an aint either one) Apple did a great job on that software side. "
And you assume everyone has to agree with that. Some don't.
Ia m guessing, most do not want a gimped OS, and most of us just want a netbook (full OS) without a keyboard and with a touchscreen. I could be completely wrong.
By the way an Asus EEE without a keyboard and with a touchscreen, UNR installed, we are probably looking at $250. Kicks all prices points ass. AND UNR has more useful apps then the iPhone library will ever have, including Flash.
@iRACK
"It will be software not hardware things that will decide in tablet computing. And Apple lover or hater (an aint either one) Apple did a great job on that software side."
A lot of us need something more than a pretty OS. Not that Apple doesn't do a great job with their interfaces, but calling an iPhone or iPad (presumably, in the case of the latter) much more than an entertainment and communications device is a fraud.
And I'm also sorry, but hardware matters. Three letters: U. S. B. I can't overstate the benefit of even *one* usb port.
@glamajamma
I understand that someone down ranks when people ar 100% inappropriate. But this is an opinion board. So mine is one and even if you or others do not believe my opinion, you should not bash it. I do not downrank you.
You know and i still think my bet is right.
Like i said earlier: Real computing: real computer; mobile computing iPad or smartphone even but certainly nothing like the powerhungry beast above.
I'm a businessman not an Apple fan boy, but seriously, it's as if these startups are ignoring Apples dominance in market and mind share within the mobile sector. If The JooJoo was one-hundred dollars cheaper they could actually give Apple a run for their money. But at $499 or $599 neither of these product can demonstrate benefits at the same level the iPad can? I dunno, that makes them look like a real joke. Business 101, sell your product's benefits because consumers don't buy technical specifications.
@Zavrion It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that this is a more powerful platform that has no walls, and that the iPad offers no more functionality than a iPod Touch with four screens duct-taped together. Outside of the Apple fan community (which lets face it, they even liked the 4200rpm ridiculously slow and overpriced Macbook Air at launch), the iPad has been less than well received and most would say was a letdown.
No one should be copying that, as that performance and small closed wall environment can be done on smartphones that can perform other useful tasks like taking pics, vids, making calls, and working as a GPS in your car.
@Ducman69
and, given that we've seen a few of these in real life before the iPad descended from iHaven, and don't know that it's completely fair to call to say they're all attempts to ape Apple.
It also just seems natural progression to me.
PDAs -> PDA phones -> Convertibles -> UMPCs -> tablet/slates -> (next)
Downrank the following if u like:
I forget to mention that all it really does in the video is showing a video of birds. S*** (self beep out) that is amazing stuff.
Oh and the background music is really cheap, too.
If this is supposed to be a video to favor the new "netbook with the screen where the keyboard used to be" or as known in the industry as NWTSWTKUTB´S (term has been secretly patented by me), i would have chosen better music.
It's a work in progress, but looking good so far.
beats the iPad hands down.
For me, it will come down to the custom UI's that ship with these Win7 devices. If they can cut it down to the most useful apps up front, with the full power of the OS hidden behind a thin veil, and all the standard inputs/connectors of an HD netbook, then I'll be all over these things when they arrive.
UI (Usability) is absolutely crucial, and pretty much remains the only thing the iPad has over these Win7 devices right now. All iTunes and iBook content will be available through normal Windows PC's as well, so it really comes down to ports, sexiness, and usability. Throw in a full and non-gimped OS behind the scenes, and you'll have a real winner.
bet?
More battery life would be cool too...
function over form
microsoft need to make a WIN7 Tablet version... slim everything down and make it less memory intensive,
include a compact qwerty keyboard with smart dictionary.
Why is it so fat? prpbably heavy too
@kyphem I assume its so thick because it can actually do stuff, and store stuff and run real programs.
@theinternetstom Hmm why do I need this fat and heavy thing if I can just buy a netbook which will do everything better than this?
I thought the point of a tablet is to be light, thin so I can take it with me. How quick my arms will get tired holding this fat boy?
@kyphem
Probably never, if you can manage to do 10 reps with a 5-lb weight every few days.
I know the stereotype about computer folk being pasty and out of shape, but come on, we're talking about something the size ad weight of a medium hardcover book, not an iron ingot.
@OniExpress sorry but this thing is heavier than a book.
IMO I would never buy this, the netbook is cheaper, has bigger screen, keyboard and it is faster. What are the positives of this device? none.
@kyphem
Going just by dimensions and density, even if this thing was made of solid aluminum (unlikely), it would still only weigh 5.05 pounds. Solid plastic of a reasonably dense sort would be more like 2.62lbs. Average it out to be generous, and you get something like 3.85lbs.
I'm sorry, but if you think that 4lbs is heavy, you really *do* need to start thinking about exercising more. No offense, just speaking in general.
@OniExpress I see your point don't get me wrong but I remember the times when the cellphones were very heavy and TRUST me even 30 grams make a HUGE difference if you hold the cellphone for 40 minutes talking 100 grams difference is even greater! Now holding 4lbs with 1 hand for 40 minutes is IMPOSSIBLE!
OMGGG! DID YOU SEE THAT RESPONSIVENESS!!!
Its soo fluent! runs like 5000% better and faster then my laptop in Win7...but than again the laptop is on 8 year old hardware hahah
Man just seeing how nicely it took all the inputs and quickly it ran the programs (especially Media Center!)...assuming it really does get even better before launch, I AM BUYING THIS BAD BOY NO MATER THE PRICE! I was rooting for the iPad, but this is running my fav OS faster than my laptop and thats all I really want in a tablet (+ taking notes easily for college)
[=
Cant wait to hear more news on the EXO.
@abedinthehouse
Been on a Moon Mission lately?
@iRACK haha that was actually next on my agenda...
but in all seriousness....I have juts been waiting for a decent tablet to take with me everywhere that was lighter than my laptop and ran better...this fits in perfectly...you have to admit it runs pretty clean as of now...even with Win7, and they are promising even better hardware (i think) and a more touch friendly UI on top of Win7...thats actually a really good comparison to the iPad...hopefully the HP Slate will be just as good if not better..anyway in short...it has (so far..without actually having hands on time on it) what ive been wanting for years...that equals to a good reason for empty pockets in my mind.
@abedinthehouse The word you were looking for is "fluid", meaning smooth and free-flowing. "Fluent" is usually used to describe someone's proficiency with a language. :)
Otherwise, I pretty much agree except that I'm not personally in the market for tablets of any kind.
Add a better CPU and a 3G module and it'll sell a lot better.
No reason not to pay the 20 or so bucks more for a more efficient Atom chip than the one they're planning to use.
@MikeZ Agreed. But even then it already seems to be running pretty fluid for now...but 3G should definatelly be included...infact I think there already is a slot for a SIM (look at the post that showed the insides of the Exo)
n hey u never know, its still not in production yet, so it juts might get better. or even better...theyll have customization of the hardware to your choosing [= (fingers crossed).
@abedinthehouse I have to agree with you as well and the SIM card slot pictured in the last article is what gave me hope in this product.
With one of these I could finally throw away the Archos 5 Android tablet and have something for when I need more power than my N900 but can't be arsed to take the 18" Core i7 out of the backpack. And the ability to boot into Windows or Ubuntu depending on the situation definitely is a selling point for me.