[ARS] OQO launches world's smallest Vista PC with OLED screen - Overclock.net

linskingdom · 01-08-09

Quote:

LAS VEGAS — Ars has been making posts about handheld computer maker OQO since at least 2002, when the company stoked the fires of geek lust with an x86, Windows-based MID well before that term had even been invented. Of course, the OQO didn't launch until 2004, and when it finally rode in on a Transmeta Crusoe processor we were all pretty underwhelmed by the features, form factor, price, performance, and pretty much everything else about.

But the original OQO was just ahead of its time, and by "ahead of its time" I mean that you just couldn't really fit an Intel x86 processor in that form factor without a lot of pain in the form of added bulk and low battery life. The company simply bit off more than the process technology of the day would allow it to chew. There have been other OQO models since that first Model 01, at least one based on a VIA CPU, but hardware technology didn't really catch up with OQO's concept until today.

At a CES event here in Las Vegas, OQO unveiled the long-awaited Model 2+. This new MID now has a real low-power mobile part in the form of a 1.86 GHz Atom processor, and it also packs wireless connectivity via Qualcomm's Gobi multimode wireless chipset (it does both CDMA and HSPA, and can run on Verizon and Sprint). But OQO is still reaching for the bleeding edge: witness the 5-inch OLED screen, which, in addition to being gorgeous, should help out with battery life

Here are the basic specs of the new device, from the press release:

Available with 1.86GHz Intel® Atom™ Z540 CPU offering up to 2x improvement in processor-intensive tasks, and up to 5x improvement in multimedia performance
Intel® System Controller Hub US15W with integrated 3D graphics
DirectX 9 and H.264 video decode support in hardware
2GB RAM with 2.7x improvement in memory performance
Up to 20% increase in battery life (3.5 hours with standard battery, and 7 hours with double capacity battery)
World’s first PC with integrated Active Matrix OLED display; 1,000,000 to 1 contrast ratio, color gamut up to 110% of NTSC, 0.01ms response time, and viewing-angle free
Embedded high-grade touchscreen for stylus and finger-based input
Native resolution of highly-readable 800x480 with 1024x768 and 1000x600 interpolated modes
Featuring Qualcomm's Gobi™ solution, the industry’s only embedded multi-mode module with support for CDMA2000 1xEV-DO and HSPA

The OQO's dock The device has an HDMI/DVI out and can drive a 1920x1200 display. At $999, the Model 2+ is still on the pricey side, and I imagine you're paying extra for that OLED.

The question still remains, though: now that the MID form factor is technologically viable, is it commercially viable? The OQO still fits in that no man's land between the smartphone and the notebook, and indeed many will probably prefer to carry it in a bag and not a pocket. But if you're going to carry it in your bag, then why not get something with a real keyboard?

And a final issue: above, I said that "hardware technology" hadn't caught up with OQO until today, and I did mean to specify "hardware." OQO runs Vista, and I'm just not feelin' a standard Vista install for this form factor. Someone at Redmond needs to wake up and make a real MID edition of Vista—basically just Vista with a MID-friendly GUI.

In spite of the caveats above, though, the few hands-on reviews that I've seen of the Model 2+'s close sibling, the Model 02, have raved about the latter device, so I can't wait to get my hands on this new one to try it out. I'm going play with it for a bit at the Digital Experience! event, and I'll be posting my impressions in Kit afterwards

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TripleC · 01-08-09

doesn't look bad

Thingamajig · 01-08-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripleC

doesn't look bad

Screen doesn't. Hideous looking keyboard though.

ChielScape · 01-08-09

DO WANT

id put 7BETA on it

Kamikaze127 · 01-08-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thingamajig

Screen doesn't. Hideous looking keyboard though.

What's wrong with the keyboard? It's like a souped up LG Voyager.

benko · 01-08-09

i want one

Urufu_Shinjiro · 01-08-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChielScape

DO WANT

id put 7BETA on it

Me 2!

Mjolnir · 01-10-09

It'd be great for my line of work. A full-feature PC that fits in my pocket would make everything easier. I could use dosage calculators, check prescriptions. Check information on UpToDate. Use my VPN to keep on top of some of my work back at my office when I'm stuck at the hospital. Check email, etc. Everything my smartphone can do, plus a lot more.

But can it play crysis? J/K

GPA_Voltaire · 01-10-09

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[ARS] OQO launches world's smallest Vista PC with OLED screen

01-08-09	#4 (permalink)
ChielScape Over 9000. Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 9,234 Rep: 682 Unique Rep: 468 Trader Rating: 0	DO WANT id put 7BETA on it

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