On Fri, 28 Mar 2003, Brian Empey, P.Eng. wrote: > Jeremy, > > You mean you'd buy it if it wasn't vapor-ware! > > But seriously ... at US$950 this is the price of a lap-top computer. > Find 2000 people who will pay $650 each for a device like this and we'll > build them for you! (With Linux 2.4.20, X-Windows, the same Samsung > LCD, but a 400 MHz Samsung CPU with USB host and slave ports ... maybe > even GTK 2.0 and Sun's J2ME/CDC with "Personal Profile" including AWT > graphics thrown in for fun ... and the "Hot-spot" CVM which is already > running on our computers -- a world first) Brian, To add to what Jeremy said, I would buy this tomorrow if it ran Linux or NetBSD and if it had integrated Bluetooth in addition to the 802.11b. USB is good, but it would be nice to also have firewire as an option. You might also consider whether it is possibile to place a touch screen over the WVGA display and incorporate a stylus holder into the case. Sharp has done a good thing with the Zaurus by making the platform open and they have been rewarded for it. But they haven't gotten it all right. The Zaurus devices are nice, but they lack integrated wireless of any kind, their battery life is less than desired and they don't seem to offer VGA out (correct me if I'm wrong as I've mot familiar with Sharp's most recent product updates). The exciting thing about a machine like this is that if done right it allows me to use the same device for many functions. It effortlessly becomes a wearable in combination with an SV-3 display and a Twiddler 2 USB keyboard. Unplug those and it is a PDA/tablet PC. Plug in a folding keyboard like the NEXiO S160 offers and it replaces my subnotebook. Integrated 802.11b, and Bluetooth are crucial though. If I'm within range of a WAP, it's advantageous for me to tell the OS to preferentially use the WiFi for its internet connection. If I'm away from a WAP then I want to use a cell network to connect to the net, preferably over Bluetooth to my phone. Having both of these integrated leaves the CF slot open for storage or something else useful rather than it being occupied by an 802.11b card, a cellular internet card, etc. Also, built in Bluetooth could enable connection to Bluetooth external hard drives and digital cameras, etc. The technology should enable me to take as little or as much of it with me as I desire. I should be able to just grab the cell phone and walk out the door and have my address book/date book available on it (already happens thanks to Bluetooth). Or I should be able to grab both the cell and the tablet and use them together to surf the web/read, etc. Or I should be able to grab the whole apparatus: cell, tablet, and Twiddler/SV-3 and go hike around a park and write some code. If someone offered this product in the next six months I'd guess they could make back their R&D cost in no time. If the platform is open the Zaurus hackers would jump all over it, not to mention the wearable potential. My suggestion: drawn up some sketches and specs and throw up a survey asking "Would you buy this?" and get Slashdot to cover it. My guess is that your response would be nothing less than a mandate. Cheers, Brandon D. Valentine --http://www.geekpunk.net Pseudo-Random Googlism: brandon is three -- Subscription/unsubscription/info requests: send e-mail with subject of "subscribe", "unsubscribe", or "info" to
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