OQO crawls back from the dead, releasing Model 03 in China this month (Updated)
By Richard Lai 
posted August 3rd 2010 1:41AM
posted August 3rd 2010 1:41AM
The juicier news, however, is that OQO's launching a Model 03 for Chinese buyers in Q3 2010 (and the website's banner specifically says August). Don't be fooled by the model number, though -- this 15-ounce device essentially shares the same chassis with the Model 02, but is now packed with Windows 7, Intel Atom Z500 series chip, SSD, 3G radio (compatible with WCDMA, EVDO and TD-SCDMA), and a 4.8-inch 1024 x 600 multitouch LCD (previously 5-inch 800 x 480 single-touch). You'll also get the same old Bluetooth, WiFi, built-in mic and HDMI across the four flavors: Gold, Diamond, Elite and Business, which range from 1.2GHz to 2GHz, 32GB to 128GB (1GB to 2GB of RAM), and ¥12,999 ($1,919) to a whopping ¥31,888 ($4,708). Well, these are still far from what most of us would consider as affordable, so here's hoping the Chinese market will keep OQO alive until it can bring us some cheaper alternatives. Or at least avoid sending the company to its second funeral.
Update: Eerily, the long static OQO home page has been updated with a brief, but telling bit of text at the bottom of the page: "We did not sell out to Audiotone. Anything by them is a Clone."
Update 2: Looks like the previous OQO home page update is a hack... by zombies!
Who cares? Evo and froyo FTW!
When the EVO can run a desktop OS and has a keyboard as good as the Model 02, then you can compare the two
Thought the OQO was dead ?
BAZZZZZINGA !
@webosandroid While I agree, the EVO is a US device and this story is about the OQO *in China*. I have no idea what the selection is like for Android phones (or other smartphones) in China at the moment.
@webosandroid
The OQO can play CS Source tho.... BAM SUCKA!
@webosandroid I like the evo but this is way off. Tell me when the EVO can triple boot Win7, OSX, and Ubuntu
Too expensive, especially for those specs.
@MoonWalkerCTE They are most likely heading straight back into the grave any time soon...
@MoonWalkerCTE
Not too expensive for status symbols.
@xyglyx
It didn't sell well enough as a status symbol before, why would it succeed now?
@MoonWalkerCTE
Add up how much it would cost to similarly spec a computer
Buy the parts
Assemble within 5 inches along with a keyboard
^^What youre paying for, a computer you can literally put in your pocket
@MoonWalkerCTE
My thoughts exactly. ExoPC Slate is going to be out shortly for half that price, similar specs and a bigger screen. If they had released this last year, they would have had a chance. Hell, i was going to buy one of the 02+ when they came out.
Speaking of the 02+, where's the OLED?
I wish they would survive, to be able to make a less expensive version. I've always wanted one of these so badly, at least now I'll be able to have a second chance.
@Dafrety I used a Model 01+ extensively for a few months (not mine) and it was completely unusable. Got so hot you couldn't hold it very fast. I think at least the Intel Model 02s weren't as bad as the Via Model 01s, but even then, I'm not convinced that it's really a good form factor for a full-blown Windows PC. At least with Atom it might not burn your hands, but that price tag is still ridiculous. Maybe if they could get the price down below $800, some people might actually want to buy it.
Does this mean they will keep using it on Chuck?
@Jive Turkey
I hope so!
I have an OQO model 2, still use it, and love it.
These new-fangled tablets miss the mark for me. I use an active digitizer.
@JayVe
Wait, the OQOs have active digitizers? In all sincerity, is it really comfortable writing on such a small screen? 'Cause it seems like the minimum amount of screen I would need to write a sentence would be the entire surface. Or do you use Palm Graffiti-type input? I guess it just seems like after menus and tool bars, it would be like writing an essay on a post-it note.
I only ask because I love the idea of an active digitizer on a 7-10" device (something smaller than a convertible like the x200t), but 5" just seems way too small.
@Matthew
Yes. Active Wacom pressure-sensitive digitizer. Ever written on a small piece of paper? Same. OneNote and EverNote make the device into an endless piece of paper, with an Internet connection.
I've had the OQO for three years. Always-on Sprint data connection provides screaming fast speeds. Digitizer is great for taking notes or *gasp* ARTWORK! Real keyboard, real programs. Yeah, I paid a bit of cash for it when it came out, but the thing was built to last, so I've gotten my money's worth out of it.
Oh, and I'm still using it.
I still like these although I would never buy one at those prices, half those prices definately, but the proc speed/small HD space doesn't make it practical for what I want.
I've always wanted to have a permanent mobile computer for mp3/video storage (on a much larger screen than cells) and need the keyboard for playing old text input games like Sierra classics, Zork, even Maniac Mansion/Monkey Island.
Netbooks seemed to be the answer when they were 7 inch models around but these 10 and 11 inches are just waaaaaaay too big to lug around for this.
Villiv seems to keep tempting me too but not going with the crappy touchscreens for playing those typing games.
Is it the same OQO, or just a Chinese company that's appropriated the name? I'd think the latter is pretty likely...
I bought a 02+ but they went bankrupt and never shipped :(
This is huge news for me.
O.o I see dead people!
OQO device was my dream portable computer, back on the day when they announced it. But, today, Nexus One is more than what I need... :)
Hey Engadget!
Did you see the message posted on the bottom of oqo's official website? On oqo.com it says "We did not sell out to Audiotone. Anything by them is a Clone."
@AnEngadgetCommenter It's gone now. Must have been some sour grape hack.
@Richard Lai
It's still there.
A KIRF clone?
Why is there a link to a sketchy website supposedly selling brains in the bottom right corner? They really are a zombie!
@FlyingAero I saw that. Bet they don't have much demand. Looks like the OQO web dev is asleep.
Even if it is a clone, this is nice. But they also "cloned" the OQO marketing strategy od selling an ultra-highend device for big $$$, without providing a low end device that the common man could afford.
I always lusted after an oqo, but couldn't justify spending much more then $1000 for a handheld device that probably had a 2 year lifespan at most (that is how long my everun lasted).
I want one, but I wouldn't pay that price (there is other stuff that I want to spend my $2000 on). $600? Definitely. Viliv needs to wake up and modify their N5/S5 into a slider.
As a previous OQO owner
It really does not matter unless they solve the problems they had
1) The device was too expensive compared to an Android or iPhone
2) The device was fragile or poorly made -- I needed 4 RMAs to get a working 02 and still had problems
3) The device suffered from heat problems with a HD
4) Wifi was flaky at best - not sure the antenna design was the best
5) Customer service sucked!
6) Accessories were way over priced
7) Battery life sucked
8) Did I mention that a Android, iPhone or perhaps an WinMo7 phone will probably do 85% to 90% of what you need and a lower cost
I am not an Apple fan, but the iPad I have rocks and I am hoping that when we have WinMo7 phones it will complete my mobile device need especially on business trips
The OQO form factor is still great. The overall design is great. I don't have a problems with Win7 on this device -- but it is poorly put together.
They will do great in China and perhaps Japan where it can work as a status symbol device.
These are all topics that where discussed on the OQO forums and there were promisses that they would be handled, but they never where handled.
When and if Microsoft goes whole hog on Tablet type devices, maybe OQO can come back on the sceen but they better have a much more robust device -- I have dropped my cell phones a few times without harm but I felt the OQO could simply drop from my desk and it was game over and for many it was.
OQO is the company Microsoft needs to partner with for their HypePad Killer.
This is not real. AudioTone screwed over OQO. They were OQO's reseller in China, and owed OQO half a million dollars. They refused to pay, but offered to buy the company. After several months, they scheduled a closing meeting to complete the deal. Then they disappeared. OQO lost a lot of money and several months in their effort to sell the company, and this finally sunk them.
AudioTone tried several times to buy the IP from the bank after the bankruptcy. Finally, several OQO execs/investors bought the IP to keep it out of AudioTone's hands.
If AudioTone is producing something, it is a clone. It will not have the innovation that made an OQO work. If you look at their Chinese website, the marketing images are original OQO pictures that have been photoshopped to add a Windows 7 screen.
OQO is dead. Long live OQO.
@displaysRus Where are you seeing this info?
@Richard Lai
It's all over the forum being linked to, as well as elsewhere.
I don't believe that AudioTone is using the OQO name legally, but good luck proving that; AudioTone is a Chinese governmental company.