CeBIT America, Part 2: A Tour Of The Show Floor (Page 2) [Archive]

Janak Parekh

06-28-2003, 12:08 AM

Go back to page one by clicking <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,14869">here</a>. Displays! There were a number of interesting screen technologies at CeBIT. <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/AEI-LCDs.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/small/AEI-LCDs.jpg" /></a> Pick a screen, any screen... :lol: <a href="http://www.aeicomp.com/">These guys</a> develop screens for many embedded applications. <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/Activu.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/small/Activu.jpg" /></a> Any of you willing to buy me an <a href="http://www.imtech.com/">Activu setup</a>? Please??? ;) <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/Activu-2.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/small/Activu-2.jpg" /></a> One more for good drooling measure. For what it's worth, this is about twice the height of the other Activu screen in the <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,13758">first CeBIT article</a>. <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/SmartTech-DViT.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/small/SmartTech-DViT.jpg" /></a> SmartTech's DViT technology -- massive interactive plasma screen. (It's actually brighter, but the flash dimmed it somewhat.) <a href="http://www.smarttech.com/Products/plasma/index.asp">SmartTech's DViT technology</a> is amazing. They can support existing plasma displays, or you can get one from them. The kicker is that the screen becomes "touch-sensitive", so you can tap at Windows controls with a finger... and it's big enough to do so practically. It's so much fun to be able to "play" with your desktop -- I could see how this would be a great interactive whiteboard tool. Unsurprisingly, it won a Best of Show award. <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/HP-Projector.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/small/HP-Projector.jpg" /></a> HP's smallest projectors. Oh so cute... I continue to be blown away by how small projectors are getting. I don't think it will be long before you'll be able to carry a projector the size of your PDA and just connect it via Bluetooth to either your laptop or your Pocket PC. <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/HP-Projector-2.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/small/HP-Projector-2.jpg" /></a> Fits so nicely in the hand, and it's light. To run or not to run away with it, that's the question... ;) Handheld computing Apart from the phones I previously mentioned, there were a few manufacturers whose products were worth seeing. Fujitsu Fujitsu is improving upon their previously-groundbreaking LifeBook <a href="http://webshop.fujitsupc.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P2">P2000</a> with the new <a href="http://webshop.fujitsupc.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P5">P5000</a>, which is a Centrino powerhouse with a simply stunning display. The P5000 won a Best of Show award. Too bad that doesn't translate to a "give Janak one award"... <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/Fujitsu-P1000P5000.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/small/Fujitsu-P1000P5000.jpg" /></a> The <a href="http://webshop.fujitsupc.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P1">P1000</a> and the P5000 side-by-side. They're tiny, and tinier. <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/Fujitsu-P5000.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/small/Fujitsu-P5000.jpg" /></a> A closer look at the P5000. The flashless shot shows off the screen, although it came out slightly blurry. :( <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/Fujitsu-ST4000.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/small/Fujitsu-ST4000.jpg" /></a> The <a href="http://webshop.fujitsupc.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=AA">Fujitsu ST4000</a> Tablet PC... with a reflective display! Moreover, Fujitsu finally did something I wish was done quite some time ago: make a reflective Tablet PC. What's the use of a Tablet PC if you can't use it outside? This one should work fabulously in the sunlight, and is very manageable sizewise. Unfortunately, the Fujitsu guys wouldn't let us carry it outside to see how good it looks. ;) (As for transflective, I'm not sure which would be better: for outside applications, the reflective is clearly an advantage over transflective, although I wouldn't mind having a tablet PC which looks great indoors and merely satisfactory outdoors either.) NEC Do I hear anyone say the HPC is dead? Well, you'll have to tell NEC that. They recently released a new 400MHz XScale unit, the <a href="http://www.necsam.com/mobilesolutions/products/MobilePro/900/">MobilePro P900</a>. I tried typing on it and noticed that it had significantly larger keys than the HP Jornada 720 and 728 units -- it was very easy to touch-type. If it wasn't so expensive, this would serve as a killer laptop replacement for me. <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/NEC-MobilePro-P900.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/small/NEC-MobilePro-P900.jpg" /></a> Fossil's PalmOS-based Wrist PDA Despite the fact that this puppy is running the PalmOS, it's just darned cool -- and not really that large-looking. Their <a href="http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/fossil-pda-watches-review.html">previous unit</a> looked far worse. (Interestingly, the old Wrist PDA doesn't seem to be on Fossil's Web site anymore.) <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/Fossil-WristPDA.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/small/Fossil-WristPDA.jpg" /></a> The <a href="http://www.fossil.com/tech/default.asp?Tier1=Tech">Wrist PDA</a> as worn on a hand. <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/Fossil-WristPDA-Comparison.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/parekh/features/CeBIT-2003-2/small/Fossil-WristPDA-Comparison.jpg" /></a> Comparison of the new Wrist PDA to my medium-sized <a href="http://www.casio.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=products.detail&catalog=Watches§ion=Waveceptor&product=WVX100DA%2D7AV">Casio Wave Ceptor</a> and my other colleague's ultra-compact Swatch. We're not finished yet, though. <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,14879">I've got a third full page of pictures and commentary!</a> <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=14869">Discuss this story here</a> (and not the link immediately below)