Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments
Search

News for nerds, stuff that matters

Slashdot Log In

Log In

Create Account  |  Retrieve Password

Computex and Gigabyte's Slick UMPC, Linux SmartPhone

Posted by CmdrTaco on Wed Jun 06, 2007 09:34 AM
from the mail-me-three dept.
Handhelds Hardware
MojoKid writes "Computex Taipei is brimming with new technologies as usual this year and the first day of the show has proven to be a Tech Geek's nirvana of sorts. Highlights of the show for the handheld crowed include Gigabyte's slick UMPC, FIC's Linux-based Smart Phone, and Asus' sub-$300 Eee notebook PC shown at an Intel keynote address."
+ -
story
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.

Computex and Gigabyte's Slick UMPC, Linux SmartPhone 50 Comments More /

 Full
 Abbreviated
 Hidden
More
Loading... please wait.

  • Huh? (Score:5, Funny)

    by Aqua_boy17 (962670) on Wednesday June 06 2007, @09:40AM (#19410621)

    the handheld crowed...
    I don't know about the rest of you but when my PDA starts crowing, I think it will be time for me to look for a nice quiet padded room somewhere.
    • Well, perhaps it's an added-value feature: It keep basilisks away, a defensive device of tremendous proportions if you happen to be a Muggle or are Muggle-born.
    • no text, except that which is put here to get past the lameness filter.

    • the handheld crowed...

      I don't know about the rest of you but when my PDA starts crowing, I think it will be time for me to look for a nice quiet padded room somewhere.


      Dude, if you read the article, you would know that this is supposed to say, "handheld crowd"; apparently someone has finally figured out how to make a crowd fit in your hand. I've been waiting for this for so very long.

  • Nice $300 notebook (Score:5, Insightful)

    by CastrTroy (595695) on Wednesday June 06 2007, @09:40AM (#19410633) Homepage
    That would be a nice $300 notebook, if it didn't look like an oversized PDA. I'm all for portability in notebooks, but once they're too small to have a full sized keyboard, they should lose the right to call it a notebook.

    • Re:Nice $300 notebook (Score:5, Informative)

      by stoolpigeon (454276) * <bittercode@gmail> on Wednesday June 06 2007, @09:52AM (#19410781) Homepage Journal
      Here is the most substantial [hardwarezone.com] list I've seen of specs on it. I agree with you that calling it a notebook is a stretch. At the same time, I haven't seen anything with that kind of capability at this price point, smaller or larger. I think I could easily go for the $199 model. They don't specifically mention usb in the list of features - but I would think that it would be necessary to augment the storage.
      • you can see the USB ports in the picture.
        I wonder when these will hit the market?
        I would buy one *today* if I could. I fly out on a trip tomorrow and don't want to carry my thinkpad, this would be perfect for what I want to do while I'm away. (namely upload pictures to my server from my digital camera).
        -nB
        • you can see the USB ports in the picture
           
          I figured, but I would love to see it in print to be sure. I think I saw somewhere in this thread that the other umd mentioned is like $900 or something. I can't find a price for the via nanobook that they announced. But I'm willing to bet it is more than $300.
        • Oh yeah. And for small keyboards - the thing that's surprised me using a Zaurus clamshell for a few years is that even though I've long be a touch typist, going down to a keyboard so small I'm just using index fingers is much easier than I'd thought. So this keyboard is way larger than the Zaurus, while the whole thing weighs in at about a pound, and if it does come in at $300 it's cheaper. And Linux. When/where can I preorder?

          In a few years, this could make all the folks with the big notebooks look old-tec
          • I use a 17" "big" laptop on my desktop, and carry a Libretto 110ct (which is smaller than these machines). The Libretto has a 60 gig drive with all my files and syncs; it's a fantastic solution, but maxed out at 64 megs of memory, it is sorely limited. There's not been much activity in the ultraportable space for many years... not in the US at any rate. These are great, but the "big" laptops merely become the home machines.

            --
            Evan

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by evilviper (135110)

      once they're too small to have a full sized keyboard, they should lose the right to call it a notebook.

      Why? Most of us don't have massively fat fingers, and a 3/4 size keyboard is quite comfortable for typing.

      In any case, at 22.5cm [1], it's more than wide enough to accommodate a full keyboard.

      [1] According to: http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/entry/3951/asus_introd uces_new [ehomeupgrade.com]

      • Why? Most of us don't have massively fat fingers, and a 3/4 size keyboard is quite comfortable for typing.

        On the other hand, some of us do (I used to have a picture of me depressing both the control keys at once without pressing any other keys, on a full-size IBM keyboard) and even ordinary keyboards aren't large enough. I'd like to see someone do the IBM butterfly keyboard thing, except, I'd like to see them do it right.

        Barring that, I'd rather just have one of those fold-out Targus keyboards. I have one

        • On the other hand, some of us do

          The fact that some have special needs shouldn't preclude normal equipment being designed to work for 95% of people.

          (I used to have a picture of me depressing both the control keys at once without pressing any other keys, on a full-size IBM keyboard) and even ordinary keyboards aren't large enough.

          I'm just half an inch away from being able to do that myself, and I'm rather sure my fingers are fatter than average, but I don't have any problem typing on 3/4 keyboards.

          • Did you mean with one hand? Because I really don't see what's so difficult about depressing both cntrl keys otherwise.

            Er, yeah. Sorry, I realize that's kind of relevant here, and I forgot it. I'm distracted by chattering coworkers :)

            My hands are absolutely gigantic. If I try to touch type on even a full-size keyboard, it makes my hands hurt. I hunt and peck at about 75 wpm, though (it's touch typing, but it's not standard style or whatever they call it)

    • Maybe the notebooks are designed for tiny people instead of big americans with sausage fingers?
  • A Win UMPC with a fullsize keyboard ... now if only it has both WiFi and cell broadband (2.5G/3G/HSPDA) I'm in heaven!

  • I want that phone (Score:4, Funny)

    by alta (1263) on Wednesday June 06 2007, @09:57AM (#19410855) Homepage Journal
    Did you notice the price??? They're free! Don't beleive me? Check out the placard beside the phone!
    • But seriously, free as in speech... This is not simply a linux phone, it is an OPEN phone you will be free to replace the OS with anything you choose, and programmers will have unprecedented access to the OS and hardware. This is an awesome project.

      www.openmoko.org
       

  • eee is the Intel Classmate (Score:4, Interesting)

    by stoolpigeon (454276) * <bittercode@gmail> on Wednesday June 06 2007, @10:01AM (#19410891) Homepage Journal
    Interesting Guardian article [guardian.co.uk] explaining that the asus eee is the Intel Classmate - Intel's response to the OLPC.
  • http://openmoko.org/ [openmoko.org] is the site for the software running on that FIC phone. It's quite a nifty project. The wiki also has pictures of the insides of the phone if you are into that sort of thing. :)

    But ... those girls don't wear cases. You can see their bare circuits! -- Bender

  • Some more info [linuxdevices.com] about the Neo 1973 Linux phone. Interestingly it can run Windows Mobile, too.

    It would be nice to have the option to install Linux on other smartphones too. The only interesting project I know at the moment is Xanadux [xanadux.org], but since most phones have to be reverse-engineered, development is much slower than it could be.

  • Either the user's fingers are too fat, or the UMPC keyboard appears painfully small [hothardware.com]. Hard to blame Gigabyte though - personally I think the UMPCs are in a most uncomfortable market segment (between cell phone/PDAs and laptops), making it very hard to choose what features to sacrifice and what to optimize, if not started out with a definitive design goal.

    On a different note, is that FIC phone the one with Java Mobile FX (nee savaje) that was introduced at the java one dev. conf a few months ago as the 'ja [slashdot.org]

    • Either the user's fingers are too fat, or the UMPC keyboard appears painfully small.

      Well, I have the Nokia E70 [handy-discount.de], and its even smaller thumb-typing keyboard is not too small at all for managing my calendar entries or to send out few emails and text messages every now and then. The UMPC keyboard is not meant for churning out code for ours, but I bet it's just excellent for the purposes it's aimed for.

  • I wonder when Computex will have a Slashdot Booth, and CowboyNeal as the Booth Babe.

  • Has anyone noticed (Score:3, Interesting)

    by overshoot (39700) on Wednesday June 06 2007, @10:29AM (#19411329)
    that FIC seems to be doing their best to discourage interest in the Neo1973 phone?

    They may be showing it under glass, but if you search their website there is zero reference to it. Me, I've been lusting after it since December and really lusting since my Treo got crunched in February. Looks like I'll have to resurrect an old Zire instead, though.

    • I'm not sure, but I think FIC is only responsible for the hardware? This site [openmoko.org] has more info. I would like a camera and led flash on it.
    • Not surprising, since it is still being sorted out. OpenMoko.org [openmoko.org] - specifically the mailing list, the Planet section, and the wiki - has a lot of good information.

      Don't know why they have the ugly model in the display case there. The black with grey trim looks much nicer!

    • It's not that they're trying to discourage interest, just not let the hype get too big and crush the project. I'm on the mailing lists and I'll be buying one when they become available, and I can tell you that the amount of people who want this phone is immense. Every time there's even the smallest delay (All the ones thus far have been because of supplier/parts problems or manufacturing delays), there is a loud wailing and gnashing of teeth.

      This is FIC's first foray into the direct-to-customer market, and
  • I can't believe this wasn't mentioned in TFA. I really want one of those $600 ultra portable laptops [engadget.com] which seem like a steal at $600, with a comfy keyboard. That looks to be 100 times more practical than that slide-down underneath keyboard I saw pics of. Gimme one of those.
    • I personally think the slide down would be a little more comfortable for me. However, I don't like that there is no way to flip the screen 90 degrees like a notebook. If that incorporated that, I'd really like it. I don't like the keyboard of the VIA you mentioned. To cramped. Hell even on a notebook I prefer to use a regular USB keyboard.
    • Um...yeah, that's great and all
      but if no one even attempts to catch up, what will drive Apple to advance?
      not a damn thing, really.
      so, even if you think everyone else is crap
      which I don't
      you have some interest in keeping some competition alive.
    • The iPhone has been 'lived up to' outside of the US for a few years now! It's yesterday's
      technology being sold to fan-boys very well by Apple's marketing dept.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by Anonymous Coward
        Then why don't you point us to a phine that "lives up" to the iPhone instead of just insisting it is so.

        And if you're going to post a link to one of those kludgy, half-ass smartphones that are available, don't waste your time.

        If such a phone as you suggest does exist, I'd like to see. Sadly, I suspect you're just running your dicksucker because you're an Apple foeboy.

    • Re:Will any smart phone measure up to the iPhone? (Score:4, Insightful)

      by Bishop (4500) on Wednesday June 06 2007, @10:09AM (#19411013)
      I think the better question is: "Will the iPhone measure up to the iPhone?" There have been endless rumours and hype, few real facts, and no independent reviews. While I am certain the iPhone will be a solid product, let us wait until June 29th before declaring the iPhone the greatest phone ever.
    • Let's see:

      Buttons, Check

      My phone lives up to the iPhone in the way that is most important to me.

    • Re:Will any smart phone measure up to the iPhone? (Score:4, Insightful)

      by evilviper (135110) on Wednesday June 06 2007, @10:16AM (#19411117) Journal

      With the impending release date of Apple's iPhone, I am left to wonder whether there is even any point in other manufacturers continuing to develop smart phones

      Really? Because, with the impending release date of Apple's iPhone, I'm left to wonder whether it will be a half-decent phone to begin with.

      Apple's success with the iPod is impressive, but it was a fledgling market which smart phones are not, and none of their other product lines have been remotely as dominant as the iPod. I don't believe the iPhone is going to set the world on fire just because its name also starts with the letter 'i'. And a few little features might look good on stage, but that usually doesn't translate into real-world user-friendliness.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by MadJo (674225)
      Freedom to develop and iPhone?
      It's only since recently that Jobs announced that there will eventually be support for third party apps on the iPhone. But I'd hardly call that freedom.

      Freedom is the ability to speak directly to the GSM modem and any other piece of hardware in the device.
      Is that possible with the iPhone? Not sure... Is that possible with the Neo1973 Heck yeah!
      And the mass-market phone Neo1973, that will come later this year, will have Wifi, GPS, 2 accelerometers, 3d capabilities. (so far the o

      • Re: (Score:1, Informative)

        by Anonymous Coward
        I believe the Neo also has bluetooth.
        And since you brought up the iPhone's price, the Neo is going to be $350 and will be unlocked, with no plan.

      • Freedom is the ability to speak directly to the GSM modem and any other piece of hardware in the device. [...] Not sure... Is that possible with the Neo1973 Heck yeah

        Banned from US carriers' GSM networks 5...4...3...2...

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by suggsjc (726146)

      Apple's iPhone has slain the competition before it has even hit the market

      Spoken like a true fanboy without a grip on reality.

      Will either, for instance, offer the freedom to develop for the platform that developers enjoy with the iPhone?

      Wow, what a completely uninformed statement. Jobs just said that 3rd party development will be allowed, but has released ZERO details as to the extent of what will be allowed. There are NO API's and NO developer tools at the moment. Windows CE and Linux BOTH offer tha

      • Re: (Score:1, Offtopic)

        by cp.tar (871488)

        Well, technically, the prophecy "and neither can live while the other survives" does not, in fact, claim that only one will die. It only says that at least one must die.

        Luckily, this spoiler changed nothing for me; I thought that would happen ever since I read the first book.

        Which is why I don't believe it all that much, really.

    • Dude, that's something you need to post anonymously. That way I don't have to bother reading it. kthnx

All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. Comments are owned by the Poster. The Rest © 1997-2009 Geeknet, Inc.