Updated OQO Model 01+ with USB 2.0 and More RAM

xanthines-R-yummy writes "OQO has announced the availability of the OQO Model 01+. The new model has more RAM and USB 2.0, which were probably the main deficiencies in Model 01." They now start just short of $2k but they still look very yummy.

Re:not small enough

[Wayne247]

I'd rather have a nice Zaurus like the C3000 [google.com] then.

Re:Any Details On Battery Life?

[Anonymous Coward]

Battery life up to three hours, depending on usage [oqo.com]

The original version did have shortcomings.

[jbarr]

A colleague of mine purchased an OQO to test in our work environment, and though it worked well overall, the MAJOR shortcoming was its VERY limited WiFi range. We could not hit access points with the OQO that we could easily hit with several PalmOS and PocketPC PDAs. This was a real deal killer, because of its limited range.

Also, while its all-in-one cable was nice for travel purposes (minimizing what you have to carry) it was cumbersome on the desktop. We would have rather seen a nice docking station/cradle instead of the kludgy "friction-hold" stand/all-on-one cable combination.

It is certainly a stunning and elegant device, but it still needs some improvements here and there.

Does It Run Linux? (tm)

[oGMo]

No, seriously. I've commented to them and asked a number of times whether it supports Linux; and until it does, I will stick with my Zaurus [dynamism.com]. (Actually I only have a C860, no 4GB microdrive or whatever, but I don't come close to needing more than the gigs of SD I have.)

Linux is not just a gee whiz thing in the palm. Having all your full-blown apps in your palm [pdaxrom.org] is far, far more useful than any stripped-down PDA apps could be. Firefox? Check. Thunderbird? Check. GIMP? Check. Nethack? Doom? ScummVM? Vim? Emacs? GCC? Perl? Python? Ruby? Checkcheckcheckcheck...

Re:Nice but...

[Wayne247]

You must be new to this interweb thing.

Rule #1: Chances are, liunx or bsd will run on [insert name]
Rule #2: Chances are, google will find information regarding rule #1.

Like here [tuxmobil.org], 2nd google result.

Re:The original version did have shortcomings.

[WigginX]

OQO fixed the wifi range issue, and is allowing anyone who purchased a unit with poor performance to return it for upgrade at no cost. Excellent customer service.

The cable is still terrible, though.

Finally... my NDA doesn't have to stop me...

[Supp0rtLinux]

I demo'd one of their 01 models a few months back and signed a nice NDA that prevented me from discussing this newer Model 01. What's missed in the announcement is that the older, original 01's also got a free wifi antenna upgrade and from 802.11b to 802.11b/g. This change was emailed out about 2 or 3 months ago when OQO Ebay'd a charity OQO, but this means that the 01+ now has the extra RAM & disk storage, plus USB 2.0, but *also* an upgraded radio. Many, many people had complained about poor, directional issues with the original 802.11b radio/antenna.

Engadget also covered this and mentioned the Model 02 that they hope to see soon. My NDA bars me from discussing this, but since Engadget spilled the beans, let's just say that I was told there'd be an "upgraded Model 01" before the end of the year and a newer Model 02 out before the end of quarter 2 next year. The Model 02 should have some significant updates including *possibly* having a different CPU instead of the Transmeta among other things. Considering the Model 01+ actually happened, I can only hope the Model 02 will be forthcoming as well.

I for one didn't get the Model 01 simply because I steer clear of the first generation of new devices like this. The unit I demo'd confirmed why I didn't buy one. The upgraded 01+ looks appealing, but I'll probably hold out for the Model 02 sometime next year. But once I get it, I'll be a happy man... I'll have a Treo 650 (Palm-based, not a Winblows version) in one pocket and my OQO in the other. :)

http://blog.mobileoptimized.com/ [mobileoptimized.com]
http://mobileoptimized.com/ [mobileoptimized.com]

Re:Besides...

[demondawn]

Except this thing doesn't have a full keyboard either; in fact, the keyboard on this thing looks comprable to that on the higher-end PDAs. Which means if you DO want a full keyboard, you'll have to lug that around. For this price, if you really want to shell out $2000 for something superportable, there's the Sony U-line, which is about the same speed, just as portable, and has a real keyboard (if not full-sized, at least a lot more useable than the one on the OQO 01 (did they make that name just so it'd be hard to pronounce?)). This seems more like a laptop--portable and fairly full-featured, without making any concessions on the interface or operating system. Except we are making concessions on the interface. The screen pretty darn small, for laptop-style work, and as I said, that's not a "real" keyboard, in my opinion. And if you're looking for one without an OS pre-installed, I think you're going to have a bit of a wait there.

Re:Besides...

[WigginX]

OQO has been working on linux support [oqo.com].

Re:a really cute laptop

[NanoGator]

"For quite a bit less you can get a real laptop like the Dell Latitude X1. This one is also very small and light but has a real keyboard."

If you're looking at the OQO, it's not because today's laptops are sufficient. You can actually hold that thing in your hands instead of balancing it precariously on your lap.

I'm not an OQO fanboy or anything, but the main reason I have a TabletPC right now is that I can't stand using a laptop unfolded on my lap. With a TabletPC, you can actually use it while standing up and walking around. (This is great if you're taking inventory, for example...) This thing is not only more portable than a TPC, but it's obviously more typist friendly.

Lots of you may be shaking your head due to sticker shock or whatever, but this thing would be a god send to a lot of business professionals that need mobility. Heck, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the company I last worked for bought two of these.

Re:Great, I've got to have one!

[interiot]

It's something that's been widely covered [google.com] in the tech press, so it's reasonable to assume that people know what it's basically about. But here's a quick summary:

• QWERTY keyboard
• touch screen
• runs a full version of Windows XP
• 20GB hard drive
• 256MB DDR RAM
• 1GHz processor
• built-in Bluetooth and WiFi
• 3D-accelerated 1280 x 1024 VGA video output
• very small size (4.9 x 3.4 x .9-inches), about the size of an iPod or PDA (scroll down for pictures [engadget.com])

Re:Finally... my NDA doesn't have to stop me...

[Anonymous Coward]

Your facts are way wrong. OQO never gave an option of 802.11G both the 01 and the 01+ only have 802.11b.

As for you and your NDA. I'm sure this was for a 01 and not the 01+ the 01+ testers was a very short list.

Re:Nice but...

[thisfred]

First question that I asked too. The answer is on their site under support:

question

Can the OQO model 01 run Linux?
            answer

The OQO model 01 is a standard x86 PC and can run Linux. However, you will have to install and support it on your own.

OQO does not currently have any plans to offer a Linux-based product, nor does it provide technical support for a model 01 running Linux. ...

One recent reviewer has installed Linux, and you might find his writeup (10/13/04) helpful: http://www.handtops.com/show/news/55 [handtops.com]

Another handtops.com poster has published a through "tutorial" of a Linux install: http://www.handtops.com/forum/752/0//OQO_Linux_Ins tallation__amp_Configurati.html# [handtops.com] ...

Linux will run on it...

[cobrajs]

If you are like me, the first thing you did is to check and see if Linux runs on it...

Linux Devices Review [linuxdevices.com]
Tuxmobil [tuxmobil.org] list of successful installs
and
Handtops [handtops.com] guide to installing Debian

Note:
It is also possible to make it a dual boot (of course!), just in case you actually wanted XP.

Re:Does It Run Linux? (tm)

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes, but it is unsupported: ftp://ftp.oqo.com/unsupported/linux/OQOLinux.html [oqo.com]