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Portables Hardware

Hand-Sized Antelope Windows PC To Debut 148

Posted by simoniker from the much-easier-to-lose dept.
securitas writes "CNet's Michael Kanellos reports on start-up Antelope Technologies' plans to launch its Modular Computing Core (MCC) next week. The 'full-fledged Windows [XP] computer that measures 3 inches by 5 inches' is based on the IBM Meta Pad, which Antelope Technologies licensed from IBM. Priced at $3,970, it's expected that the MCC will be primarily for corporate fleets, where mobility is a requirement. Antelope's MCC was previously mentioned on Slashdot, and it seems that the company has beat competitor OQO to real product status. Will the Nimbel V5 be next?"
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Hand-Sized Antelope Windows PC To Debut More

Hand-Sized Antelope Windows PC To Debut

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  • World record (Score:4, Funny)

    by Rosco P. Coltrane ( 209368 ) on Monday October 27, 2003 @03:37PM (#7321720)
    The 'full-fledged Windows [XP] computer that measures 3 inches by 5 inches

    That'd be the world's smallest space heater.

  • Windows XP. Yeah, but... (Score:1, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    The 'full-fledged Windows [XP] computer..

    Yeah, but can it run Windows 2000?

    • Yeah, but can it run Windows 2000?

      Probably not. Small, custom devices like this usually dont have a lot of options as far as driver support goes.

      I was a huge fan of the Toshiba Libretto, way back in the day, so its nice to see somebody else pick up the mini-PC torch. Those things were an admin's dream; imagine having all your software installed on an easily portable system which can fit in your pocket; and this was in 1996!

      That one was really hard to get drivers for as well, as I recall; its hard to r

      • Although pricy, the sony viaos really do do as good a job / if not better than what the libretto did. And they look damn cool!
        • Part of the beauty of the Libretto was its smallness. It really could fit in your pocket (assuming a slightly oversized pocket).

          The vaio's are nice and small as far as a sub-laptop goes, but the libretto was about as big as my hand. If you needed to use a floppy or cd-rom, you needed to connect it externally via a PCMCIA card. Inconvenient if its your regular computer, but as a utility computer it was phenomenal.

          The only bad thing was you needed to use the PCMCIA slot for a network connection (it wasnt i

          • OK you need to visit Dynamism.com [dynamism.com].

            The Sony U101. 1.9 lbs, 7.1" TFT, 7.04 x 1.34 x 5.49 inches. Integrated WiFi. Celeron 600A processor, firewire, USB 2.0, tons of battery life...
            • Japanese keyboard, japanese drivers, poor support for external CD-ROM drives (only three Sony models (starting at $400) for FireWire, hit and miss for PCMCIA, and NO USB models supported), shorter battery life than the faster Interlink 7310...

              I think I'll pass. (Granted, I've heard something about the Celery 600A really being a Pentium M ULV 600MHz, but I'm gonna call BS on that... it's probably a severely underclocked tualie)

  • odd size comparison (Score:4, Funny)

    by SubtleNuance ( 184325 ) on Monday October 27, 2003 @03:39PM (#7321733) Journal
    How big is an Antelope's Hand? Just a little bigger than a jackalope's buttock?

  • xp handheld has three buttons, guess which ones??? (Score:5, Funny)

    by searleb ( 168974 ) * on Monday October 27, 2003 @03:39PM (#7321734) Homepage
    CTRL-ALT-DEL [antelopetech.com]

  • For real (Score:2, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Antelopes don't have hands.

  • Antelope Hand-sized? (Score:3, Funny)

    by cK-Gunslinger ( 443452 ) on Monday October 27, 2003 @03:39PM (#7321739) Journal
    And just how big is an antelope's hand?

    Oh wait, I found it: 1 Antelope Hand ~= 0.067 VW Beetles
  • Now thats exactly what I want!
    Not these trickle down upgrade Plam type devices.
    overpriced dayplanners
    • Bah. My PDA has been capable of running a MySQL server and Apache for some time now (really-- it's a Sharp Zaurus running Linux), so I don't know what I'd want with this ultra-sub-notebook type device. Of course, the only real use I've made of the system I do have is to whip up a PHP script to help me view and manage personal schedule and contact data stored in the database. ;)

  • Comment removed (Score:3, Funny)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Monday October 27, 2003 @03:40PM (#7321748)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  • Confusing Measurements (Score:5, Funny)

    by Mignon ( 34109 ) <satan@programmer.net> on Monday October 27, 2003 @03:42PM (#7321764)
    Antelope Hand-Sized Windows PC

    I thought we were going metric. First they start measuring storage in Libraries of Congress (LoC), now they're measuring PC sizes in antelope hands. And here I thought they had hooves. Anyway, what would an antelope need a PC for?

  • And just buy a nice compaq IPAQ. These things are pretty robust, can run linux for those inclined, and have a decent amount of memory.
    Best buy description [bestbuy.com]
    I mean hell worst case scenario, you go out and buy that flat panel tv you always wanted with the extra loot you saved.
    • Agreeed! You must be off your rocker to even consider paying $3,500 when you can get a decent Ipaq running windows which is probably just as good. Hell - i'm sure you could do alot better with ANYthing that this thing for that amount of money.
      • Not only that, if we were paying attention we would notice that the MCC is just the core of the system. It has no screen, no keyboard, or anything else attached to it. It's got an LED and a connector. For the moment the only things you can do with the MCC are plug one into a "rugged portable" or a desktop cradle. The portable device is decidedly larger than a Palm/Zaurus/iPaq-- but it has all kinds of computing horsepower. And when docked this device is a fully functional desktop system (keyboard, mouse, cd
    • Actually, since we are talking about grazing animals, the competing product from COMPAQ would be the IBEX.

      And yes, the IBEX is much more robust than the Antelope given it is designed for operation in harsh mountain terrain.

  • Oh.... (Score:1, Redundant)

    by Trolling4Dollars ( 627073 )
    I thought they said "Antelope Sized Handhelds with Windows to Debut". "Way to innovate" is what I thought... But oh well, I was wrong. ;P

    • Canteloupe-Based (Score:1, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward
      I think you are confusing this with the canteloupe-based version of the Tungsten Palm Pilot ("Tung Pilot").

      This handheld, with its unique lingual input system, comes in 4 flavour varieties: canteloupe, Bertie Bott Random Flavour Generator, lesbian, and Tootsie-Pop.

      It's available for $499 ($549 if you want seedless).
  • How is this thing powered?
  • I just don't think this "hands-free" thing, in its current incarnation, is going to take off.

    Locutus [antelopetech.com]

  • I don't get it... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Mengoxon ( 303399 ) on Monday October 27, 2003 @03:47PM (#7321809)
    You have this small box thing which you put in a cradle to connect to a monitor -> This is your desktop. To become mobile you insert the small box into a PDA shaped thingie -> This is your notebook/palmtop. Why the hell did they not just integrate the small box into their PDA receptacle, making it probably overall smaller and then run the PDA in a cradle as your Desktop PC???
  • ...or are you just... oh nevermind.
  • After just 1 hour of use, the Mini-PC can also be used as a lightsaber. Just play your favorite star wars movie, burned of course.
  • I thought antelopes had hooves?

  • Bah! (Score:2)

    by Noofus ( 114264 ) *
    Silly editors edited the confusing yet funny subject line! And here I was thinking how many posts would get shot off about the funny subjhect and I come back 10 mins later to find it 'fixed' :(
  • Another start-up, OQO, is expected to release a similar handheld computer soon,...

    This coming from an October 24 (2003) C|Net article? Do these guys know what "soon" means?

    Call me a troll; I'm just disappointed because I really wanted one of those things, and by the time one's finally released, we'll have Intel Septium Freon eXtreme processors which will be barely fast enough to run Micro$oft LookOut Express.

  • Deal killer! (Score:2, Insightful)

    by toupsie ( 88295 )
    "The MCC will cost $3,970"

    I will buy an Apple PowerBook G4 17" w/ Superdrive instead.

    • Or for those interesting in equipping their "mobile fleets" cost-effectively, $3,970 will buy 7 or 8 PocketPC or Palm handhelds.
      • right you are and if you REALLY want a fully capable OS then install GNU/Linux on those PPC's.Or, better yet, just buy the Sharp Zaurus with Linux already installed.

        What's probably going on here is the WinCE still sucks and some customers want something more reliable. Look how the US Army dumped Windows for Linux on it's future wired soldier platform. A company would REALLY have to have deep pockets to want one of these ~$4,000 handhelds. IMHO.

        LoB
    • You're right about one thing, that this MCC is overpriced. However, I'd much rather spend my sheckles on buying a laptop from someone [amd.com] who knows how to make a chip that runs cool enough and has low enough power consumption to fit into a mobile. My next laptop is going to be 64 bits, and I laugh at the primitive screwheads who are stuck on platforms where only 32 bit laptops are available.
  • You've gotta run like an antelope... out of control!
  • > Priced at $3,970

    At that price point you can almost have a one-off custom made just for you. Anybody can make fancy hardware for a price. Call me when they're $299 at Newegg, that's when it gets interesting.
  • I think I'll just buy a used Itronix laptop. Sure it's not as small, but I can huck the Itronix at a wall and boot it up afterward. I'm not sure I'd be able to sweep up the damn Antelope.

    And at the risk of bringing forth the obligitory fat jokes, if I can sit on it and break it, I don't want it. (Although I'm not a big guy, I don't like shelling out nearly 4 grand for something I could break as easily as my 10 dollar shades.)

    -Doc

  • Apparently they don't count operating system when they use the term "modular."
  • Hand-Sized Antelope

    Cool! I can keep a whole stable of those in my cramped dorm room.

  • Well, its this product seems a little immature... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Fallen Kell ( 165468 ) on Monday October 27, 2003 @04:01PM (#7321954)
    I have been following this off and on for a few months now. It is still a little immature for it to truely make big gains in the market (at least in my opinion). The system throttles performance of the processor down to pda speeds when on battery (i.e. about 400mHz). When on battery, it still only has an expected battery life of 3-4 hours. Laptops get easily as much battery power and they have a huge display as well as run at usually around 800 mHz or faster while on battery. Now grant it mHz doesn't mean everything in terms of performance, but a laptop's CPU is easily on par performance wise to the CPU in the Antelope, and the laptop's are running easily 2-4 times the clock speed.

    So on the high end, if you are looking for performance, a laptop blows this away. If you are looking for portability, a PDA easily wins. PDA's will give you easily 4-5 hours on battery as well as WiFi and/or Bluetooth wireless access. As well as cost 1/8 the price.

    I just don't see the market for this device at this time. It isn't very small, or very powerfull. And it is very expensive especially considering you can get a high end laptop AND a high end PDA for the same price (or less!) then an Antelope.

    • The system throttles performance of the processor down to pda speeds when on battery (i.e. about 400mHz).

      Current Centrino laptops do this also.

      When on battery, it still only has an expected battery life of 3-4 hours. Laptops get easily as much battery power

      That's because their batteries are physically much larger.

      And it is very expensive especially considering you can get a high end laptop AND a high end PDA for the same price (or less!) then an Antelope.

      It does seem expensive. That's often the c

    • (i.e. about 400mHz)

      Completing an operation every 2.5 seconds is sloooow.

      I agree on your points. I want something in the 10cm x 15cm screen size range without paying a fourth this much.
  • next? [logicsupply.com] And at a massive 7.5 X 7.5, a damn-sight cheaper, apparently.

  • Let's see if it catches on. (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Gldm ( 600518 ) on Monday October 27, 2003 @04:12PM (#7322059)
    I'm sure nobody saw this coming [slashdot.org] or anything.

    Seriously though, it's a good idea if it catches on. People are starting to accumulate data they want or need to carry around and use in different places in different machines. I'd much rather have people plug their own machine into a docking station at my house than constantly bug me "Can I use your computer to check my mail?" and have to worry about them screwing up my machine.

    The main obstacle is getting enough power and storage without losing portability and compatability. PDAs seem to have a problem with the latter, most are very limited in what they can run. Laptops seem to have problems with the former. To get a decent battery life and features you often wind up having to haul around 5lbs more hardware.

    The big problem I can see with it is there's no standard for the docking bay design. Which means proprietary systems that are no good. There needs to be a standard design for this kind of thing so they all work in each other's docks and you can just plug your base unit into anyone's keyboard, monitor, cd drive, sound system etc.

  • At first i thought it just said Hand Sized Antelope, and was wondering why there wasn't the bio-tech icon, thinking they'd engineered/bred a housepet sized antelope.
    1000TH POST!!! W00T!!!
  • For 3K I can buy a laptop that'll smoke whatever this thing can put up for numbers, and it'll have a DVD writer and a builtin wireless card and all kinds of other fun shit.

    This is merely a stupid toy for a rich VP's.
  • After learning terms "palm pc", "palm sized pc", "pocket pc", "hand sized pc" etc..., I have come to know what they mean by "window pc". It means "window sized pc".
  • This product concept reminds me a great deal of Apple's Duo product line
    info here [everymac.com] that was sold in the early 90s. The idea was to make a tiny computer for use in a portable role, that could be easily stuck into a device that would make it perform like a desktop. The sales were abyssmal since it could do neither role particuliarly well. My bet is that this concept, as nifty and geek pornish as it is, will go the way of the Duo.

  • convergence (Score:2, Interesting)

    by cybpunks3 ( 612218 )
    I've been reading in the news that PDA sales are plummetting. Most people attribute this to the consumer need shifting from the old style PDA to a smartphone.

    However, that's just ONE aspect of what I see as the convergence in the portable space.

    There are several portable devices, all of which can be duplicated by a conventional laptop:

    1) portable MP3 player (ala IPOD)
    2) portable DVD player
    3) PDA apps
    4) cell phone (well, I'm assuming it's possible)

    The big problem with PDAs are:
    1) No optical storage opti
  • ...in VIA bringing their Nano-ITX [via.com.tw]motherboards (12cm x 12cm) affordably to market than the likes of Oqo, Nimble and this other group.

    Combine that with their new, smaller Eden-N processor that runs at 1 GHz with 7 W of heat dissipation, and built-in AES 256-bit acceleration...

    Considering their Mini-ITX boards run under $200, I don't think they'll have a tough time beating $3,700.
  • Yes, but will the Antelope [bgwildlife.com] run Longhorn [nasa.gov]?
  • Those machines should run Linux just fine.

    Note that there is a whole crop of vaporware hand-size PC's now: Antelope, OQO, Tiquit, Nimble, etc.

    However, it is less and less clear why anybody should care about them. A PDA with a 400MHz ARM has sufficient computing power and you can plug in a CF or USB disk drive if you need more storage.

    Of course, there is the fact that Windows XP applications aren't sold for ARM, but for Linux, you get a full desktop computing environment out of one of those machines (wel
    • Those machines should run Linux just fine.

      Devices such as this are a far cry from a plain vanille desktop PC -- notebooks present similar challenges. Getting power management working is bound to be hassel. The biggest challenge I've faced is handwriting recognition. Nothing in the PDA/Slate form factor beats the Newton there.

      • Devices such as this are a far cry from a plain vanille desktop PC -- notebooks present similar challenges. Getting power management working is bound to be hassel.

        People run Linux on laptops all the time.

        The biggest challenge I've faced is handwriting recognition.

        Well, if that's the "biggest challenge", then the challenges are indeed not very great. xscribble and Qtopia are both as good (or as bad) as any of the other PDA input solutions.

        Nothing in the PDA/Slate form factor beats the Newton there.
  • Oh yeah, it's exactly the same concept as an Intel Personal Server [slashdot.org].

    IBM has decided that a slot-based hardware adaptation is best, whereas Intel is angling for wireless connectivity. Both are basically computers and storage with battery in a tiny box.
  • I told Sharp about this kind of thing about a year ago. It told them that they should build a display system that'll allow the Zaurus to plug into it and act as the computing center for the desktop display. Wireless mouse and keyboard would enable familiar data Input and networking could be built into the display or via a wireless link.

    Good to see somebody coming up with a product( kinda ) using this idea. These handhelds have enough CPU these days for lightweight desktop use.

    IBM's implementation of a com
  • the MSRP really spells DOA. any questions?
  • PC104 [pc104.org] is an older standard for a small (3.8"x3.6") low-powered modular stackable form factor that's mainly intended for the embedded markets. Typical PC104 systems had one board with CPU and memory, and other boards for peripherals as needed. Newer versions of the standard support PCI busses as well as the older ISA versions.

    This always struck me as a good way to build a PC, if you don't need a high-powered system with lots of peripherals. Is anybody doing much with it these days, or has it pretty much

  • Oh give me a home
    where the buffalo roam
    and the deer and the antelope play...

    Hmmm...maybe I can play "Deer Hunter" on my Antelope PC.

  • makes it much easier to fling across the room when Windoze crashes, or even to crush the damned thing with your hands (take THAT, Bill G!).

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