From: Tony Kan (tony.kan_at_clear.net.nz)
Date: Wed Jun 02 2004 - 22:15:19 PDT
Both these products (OQO and FlipstartPC) remind me of the HP200LX a DOS
palmtop. I used to use it a lot but found the Newton format and
well-integrated interface a lot more productive and I thought I got a lot of
use out the HP200! I probably used the HP200 for about 45 minutes a day but
mostly for PIM applications. Now, I use my Newton for about six hours a day
and most of that is for document preparation with PIM work still using about
45 minutes a day. I came across Ed Kummel and Michael Stocks on the HPLX
list.
So a small portable format keyboard-oriented fully functional desktop
equivalent is not as functional as an HWR enabled pen-centric device of
similar size. That comment should be qualified with the fact that it is
dependent on a well-integrated pen-based interface.
I noticed in doing some reading on Tablet PCs HWR software that they all
seem to introduce their own gestures for quick commands, some of them quite
similar to the Newton's gesture vocabulary. I wonder if the interfaces will
ever converge so that Newtoneers would shift across en masse?
Another off putting thing about modern PDAs: proprietary batteries. Both
the HP200LX and the Newton used AA sized rechargeables. All the modern PDAs
use proprietary ones. It makes me think of the inkjet market where they
make their profits from the consumables.
Few, that's a load off my chest! [grin]
Cheers
Tony Kan
Christchurch
New Zealand
[snip]
I agree that the desktop computers keep shrinking. I looked at
flipstartpc and it looks alot like this other company OQO. Both
products won't be releassed until the fall.
It's windows in a small box.
Marci
[snip]
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