Other than the Nokia 770..Does anyone know of

[TripleNickle]

any other companies currenty working on the same concept... internet tablet for email, browsing, etc.??

I will be at CES 2006 and was hoping to see other internet tablet products along with the Nokia 770..

Thanks

[Mike Cane]

Hitachi at one time was offering a CE-driven tablet, I think.

There is also the Battlestar PepperPad -- well, compared to the 770, it's Battlestar-sized. See teleread for more info or go to their website.

By Spring, the air will be filled with flying Internet Tablets from companies as they try to cash in on Nokia's success.

I wouldn't be surprised if MS announces a special "Windows IT" OS for one...

[TripleNickle]

Thanks Mike... I looked at the Pepper Pad...I am not interested in the current rendition. I would like a larger screen than the 770...

CES 2006 should be interesting ! I am sure the 770 with be there, maybe a "new" Pepper Pad... and who knows what else as you say.

[RogerS]

You may want to check out the the MiniPCs site (http://www.minipcs.com/). FlipStart and OQO are two I can think of off the top of my head, plus the Ultra Mobile 2007, which is a Microsoft initiative for hardware manufacturers similar to PocketPC and TabletPC, as I understand it. Of course, you won't likely see that before, um, 2007.

The OQO, btw, can run Linux, so you don't have to live in a Windows world if you don't want to.

I ran across this reference to the Flybook (http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/laptops-pcs/flybook-a33i-107669.php) at Gizmodo. it looks good.

Then there's the Fujitsu Model P1510D (http://www.minipcs.com/content/view/124/31/). And the Motion Computing LS800 (http://www.motioncomputing.com).

Of course, everything I've seen is way, way more expensive than the 770. The reason people are looking at the Pepper Pad is its about the first of its kind under $1000.

Roger

[TripleNickle]

Roger,

Thanks. Very helpful info. I am looking for something really good at around 700 or less. I would like a bigger screen like the Pepper Pad but I dont care for the design as it is now.

[RogerS]

There may be other devices I'm unaware of, but AFAIK, the Pepper Pad and the Nokia 770 are the only devices under $1000. I think Mike is right in saying that the success of the 770 will bring lots of imitation web tablets.

Any tablet will have some compromises when it chooses its feature set -- the OQO, for instance, includes the keyboard, small size, hard disk, full WinXP but compromises on the cost ($1900). I like the 770's choices. I would like a 5-inch screen better than its about-4-inch screen. but what if that added $100 to the price? The things it's doing without, I realize I can do without, in what will not be my primary computer but an auxiliary device.

However, given the hardware specifics in Internet Tablet 2005, I expect to see the 800-pixel-wide screen for a long time. :)

[Mike Cane]

You can always go for a >snicker< Palm LifeDrive >snicker<.

No one else will have a chance against Nokia. They've given the IT and its software base a *lot* of thought. More thought than *Palm* ever gave its entire bloody run.

Ah, well, let me amend that. There is *one* company that could come in and give Nokia a big punch: Apple.

(Yeah, they laughed at the iPod in the beginning too! Not laughing anymore!)

As much as I hate recommending Windows, if you want a pocketable *computer* -- and something that is marketed *as* a pocketable computer -- the OQO is the way to go. The 1.0+ model makes me drool again...

[mk500]

Some may disagree, but I think the most similar device is the Sharp Zaurus (http://www.markandjo.com/markblog/wp-content/C760_Tablet.jpg) clamshells (becomes tablet by flipping screen over). I have a 2 year old device:

- I Paid about $500 for Zaurus C760 2 years ago
- 640x480 touch screen
- CF and SD slots (so wifi or bluetooth is via CF)
- Several Linux distros avialable. I run "Cacko" right now, which is based on 2.4.x kernel, but many run OpenZaurus which is on 2.6.x kernel. Others run debian, etc.
- 400Mhz processor, 64MB RAM, 128MB flash for OS/data

dimensions (Sharp 120 x 83 x 18.6mm vs. Nokia 141 x 79 x 19mm)

I use Opera for web browsing about 2 hours/day. I also use the included email package. I use GAIM for AIM chat. With bluetooth CF card installed, I can chat and surf via my bluetooth cell phone that stays in my pocket. It is unfortunate that you have to import the Zaurus units from Japan, but it really wasn't very difficult. I had a friend pick one up on a trip to Tokyo. I simply downloaded a new distro and "flashed it". It's fully English.

The current Zaurus models are a bit bulkier, which is disappointing, but they also include a microdrive. Still have to do wireless via CF card (stupid Sharp).

I'm really excited about the Nokia 770, and will pick one up as soon as they are available. I really like the higher-res screen, and built-in wireless (no need for CF cards anymore). I also think the price point is extremely exciting (assuming the estimates are accurate).

any other companies currenty working on the same concept... internet tablet for email, browsing, etc.??

I will be at CES 2006 and was hoping to see other internet tablet products along with the Nokia 770..

Thanks

[Mike Cane]

I've studied the Z in the past. Never achieved traction. Which is a shame, given the debacle of Palm. But Sharp itself made some screwy decisions with the Z, such as no internal speaker(!) on the first ones. Some companies are their own worst enemy...

[TripleNickle]

You can always go for a >snicker< Palm LifeDrive >snicker<.

No one else will have a chance against Nokia. They've given the IT and its software base a *lot* of thought. More thought than *Palm* ever gave its entire bloody run.

Ah, well, let me amend that. There is *one* company that could come in and give Nokia a big punch: Apple.

(Yeah, they laughed at the iPod in the beginning too! Not laughing anymore!)

As much as I hate recommending Windows, if you want a pocketable *computer* -- and something that is marketed *as* a pocketable computer -- the OQO is the way to go. The 1.0+ model makes me drool again...

I agree with Apple being a possible player. I want to think Apple with do something similar soon.. if they dont announce anything like this at MacWorld (week after CES), I plan to pick up a 770 as an interim device...Apple would be my first choice since I have 4 Macs and an all Apple wireless network in the house. An Apple junkie, what can I say??

[Mike Cane]

Nah, too early for Apple to do this. January will probably be All About Intel Macs (which I hear just screeeeeeeam). Apple needs to see the 770 success before reviving their Mac Tablet development. And when Apple does it, it will make mucho PR noise too. "Portable Web Comes of Age" and the like...

Of course, by then we'll also have the 780 or 790 from Nokia...

[TripleNickle]

Mike... hey... a guy can be a wishful thinker, huh? I would agree that Apple has their hands full with the intel switch BUT.... Steve can surprise you...you never know with that guy!

[Remote User]

Hitachi at one time was offering a CE-driven tablet, I think..
The Hitachi VisionPlate also comes with Linux. You can see it in use as an X terminal here
http://www.viewtouch.com/wireless.html
It's very expensive in small quantities, however. If Hitachi would sell it to the public at large at the same price they're selling it in quantity 1,000 then it would be a great deal. Hitachi Marketing doesn't understand its own product, unfortunately. And the next version will have an even larger screen.

[Remote User]

However, given the hardware specifics in Internet Tablet 2005, I expect to see the 800-pixel-wide screen for a long time. :)
I expect to see a 7" touchscreen tablet from thinlinx before too long. Resolution will be 800 x 480, I think. That's wide aspect ratio. It should be even less expensive than the 770.

[Karel Jansens]

Apple releasing anything resembling a Newton again?!!!?!!?

Are you joking? Steve would sooner install Windows ME on his desktops.

Still, I'd buy one...

[adrianeaton]

Remote User, do you know something about thinlinux's new tablet or are you just guessing?

I would love something like the nokia but I don't need such a portable device so a bigger screen would be ideal. I don't want to buy a Nokia if my ideal solution is about to come out. I have had no reply from thinlinux after I emailed them.

Adrian.

[justsomeguy]

I have a Pepper and am satisfied with it so far. What I wanted was


linux (with dev abilty)
tablet form factor (not too small, not too large)
silent (no fan)
enough disk space for mp3s/pictures
decent screen
usb
wifi


I got it because I wanted something to use on the couch, around the area,
and on travel. It's definitely slower than I would prefer but I'm willing to trade-off speed for less heat. 802.11b is fine for me re browsing, email, and streaming radio.
I can ssh in/out of it which is excellent. USB kbd is perfect for it and I'll
be trying Bluetooth soon.
The setup was very quick with no issues and I've used it at home and
at Starbucks so far. I've been able to do some dev on it to test and am going to be doing more later.
The thumbkey pad works fine for simple IM/email.

[Remote User]

Remote User, do you know something about thinlinux's new tablet or are you just guessing?

No, I'm not guessing, but I don't have one in my hands yet, either. I post a lot all over the Internet so as soon as I get one it will be in the news.