IBM Core (Pocket-Sized PC) Announced

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/53/35824.html' target='_blank'>http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/53/35824.html</a><br /><br /></div>More news on IBM's Core system: "IBM Japan has developed a tiny prototype PC that measures just 16 x 8.2 x 2.2cm (6.4 x 3.3 x 0.9in) and weights a mere 300g (10.6oz), the company said today. For now dubbed the PC Core System, the (literally) pocket PC is based on a 1GHz Transmeta Crusoe TM5800 processor. Inside the case, you'll also find 256MB of memory - it can take up to 512MB - and a 20GB 2.5in hard drive. The machine runs a variety of versions of Windows." How very useful! :wink: <br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/1380.jpg" /> <br /><br />"IBM's thinking is that users will carry around their PCs, plugging them into base units located wherever they happen to be working. The approach is intended to appeal to corporates who want to thoroughly mobilise their workforces. The base stations can connect the core unit to a screen, keyboard, mouse and network connection. It has even rigged up a handheld display device that could be used with the core." So the idea is that this is not a PDA as such, but can be used as one if needed.<br /> <br />It certainly is one possibility for future PDA usage. "Carry your iPod with you during to day to listen to music, read email, check your diary and so on. At home or in the office, you just slide it into your Cinema Display - or a cradle connected to the LCD - and do some work." Interesting that this is coming from the opposite direction - ie shrink the desktop down, rather than increasing the power of the PDA. Well, whatever direction they come from, I'm all for tempting new tech toys. 8)

[Ratel10mm]

This looks like the nearest thing yet to a competitor for the OQO. As a field worker (on occasion), it would be great to have the power to run some of our proprietry software on something that could fit in my tool box! Roll on the mini PC! :D

Mind you, I can't see it making me fall out of love with my Ipaq 5550! :wink:

[Aerestis]

I would love to have something affordable that could run Macromedia fireworks or Adobe Photoshop for school next year. I wonder if this could? As long as I can draw concepts for class on the bus and while visiting my parents, I would be way more productive. The problem is, laptops are too huge and things like this will probably be $2000 or more.

I want to cry but I'm too excited for the day that I'm carrying one of them around. Isn't it weird that we think our technology today is all great, but in five years, we'll be running those at 5 ghz with 1024 megs of ram, 1024x768 screens, the same old pocketability, insta-boot on whatever windows is running at the time, other impressive features... We'll always have our pc in our pockets, and our work stations will just be 21" LCD monitors, keyboards, mouse, whatever else you want, with a little docking station for your pc. You just... plug it in and go.

Well, that's about all I have to say. :(

[kagayaki1]

Enterprise solution today, interesting idea for consumer technology tomorrow. I kind of believe in the portable computer idea, but more like the size of my Smartphone or iPod.

[Jonathon Watkins]

I would love to have something affordable......

:? Don't think it will be - at least - not for a long while. :?

[Deslock]

A similar prototype from IBM was announced almost two years ago (around the same time as the OQO (http://sci.newsfactor.com/perl/story/17306.html), which may actually see the light of day (http://www.transmetazone.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1525)).

I'm not especially excited by the IBM... well as it's described in the Register article anyway. The 10.6 ounce figure refers to the core, which does not include the LCD (I'm guessing that it also excludes the battery). Aerestis mentioned how useful it would be to run Photoshop on something like this. I agree, but unfortunately the Transmeta TM5800 would be painfully slow for that. However, Transmeta's next generation TM8000 CPU has finally come out (http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/urltrurl?lp=ja_en&url=http%3A%2F%2Freview.ascii24.com%2Fdb%2Freview%2Fpc%2Fb5note%2F2004%2F01%2F06%2F647069-001.html%3F) (it was previewed way back at Comdex 2002 (http://www4.tomshardware.com/business/20021120/comdex_day_2-04.html)). It's supposed to be a lot faster than the old Crusoe... I wonder if it uses too much power for a device like this...

[chora]

I expected IBM to launch a PDA, but running LINUX!

Anyway it doesn't look a good idea to me. Pluging it on base station etc, is certainly NOT a mobile device.

Finally mobility needs a looong period running on battery, and these specs will not allow more that a couple of hours disconnected.

[Aravind Rao]

This same technology (announced a couple of years ago by IBM) has been licensed by antelope technologies here in the usa.

http://www.antelopetech.com/en/Index.aspx

And its been on the market for a few months now, obviously not generating a lot of interest among the mobile geek community. I think its priced way too much. And I think they are marketing it as a platform rather than a consumer gadget. Now the new Motorola MPX yum yum... :drool:

[arnage2]

ill take one, but there is one catch. It will be very very expensive. I cant afford the (est) $2000 price tag.

[dmacburry2003]

OMG!!!!! ANOTHER ONE!!! AHHHHH!

How many of these devices are they going to propose without actually bringing one to our market??!?!?!

I'm going to have to see the psychiatrist :lol:

[jolam97]

Here's just my thought on the future of computing that I would like to see, maybe one day they'll have a device where it is in the form factor of a pocket PC that have enough power, memory, battery life, and hardware to run a full-blown Windows or other OS. There will be 2 different interfaces that will allow it to run in either PDA mode when undocked or run in PC mode when docked to the other peripherals (some type of display, keyboard, mouse, etc.) The 2 interfaces can either be parts of the same OS or 2 separates ones that are internally syncing with each other in the background. The applications can be dual-mode as well if possible. Of course, whatever OS it is it'll have to be instant on with no boot up time.

Flash memory have reached the Gibabytes and isn't there already a CF card that is 8GB? Who knows how much bigger and faster these memory can go up to. Prices will eventually come down and then we'll be able to put an entire OS and all the neccesary applications and files onto a single flash memory. Just swap this flash memory card into any device, be it a PDA or laptop, and it will in a couple of minutes set up all the device drivers and configure all the setting and you're all set up to use the new device. Any computing device will then become just a shell that is totally interchangeable. Combine that with a wireless broadband speed (3G or better) always on internet connection and you'll have pretty much all your computing needs with you. Maybe in another 10 to 15 years? :0)

Note to self: make sure to back up...

[possmann]

Is this going to be another OQO vapor-ware prodcut?

I mean the concept makes sense, but is the culture relally ready to adopt it? It is user focused, but being in an IT department can you just imagine the nightmare-ish support model that would need to be created to support this?

I don't think it will see any main roll-out of any sort :roll:

[groan]

i heard of something like this but it was docked into a laptop type cradle.
the pda would snap into the laptop and this would give you all the love that a laptop would give you.
the laptop was just a keyboard, screen, mouse and possibly more ram and drive space.
the PDA was a fully functional pc on it's own, but without the stuff mentioned above...(except a small screen, of course)

[Jason Dunn]

This is a great concept, but it will take several revisions and probably 5+ years for this to evolve to the point where it's affordable, workable, and the preferred computing model.

[gohtor]

Is it just me or does the picture look like the pda is superimposed onto the hand?

I suppose it's too expensive for them to make an actual physical prototype lol.

[jlp]

That's the Pic of the Antelope Tech rugged shell for their MCC; the which is licenced from IBM in the first place.

How different is this IBM unit? Apparently the size is similar (I don't have the MCC's at hand). Is it compatible withe the MCC, meaning it can use the same desktop cradle and rugged shell, etc.?

[Pony99CA]

This same technology (announced a couple of years ago by IBM) has been licensed by antelope technologies here in the usa.

http://www.antelopetech.com/en/Index.aspx
I also thought this sounded like the old IBM MetaPad. I wonder if the Register is recycling old news. :twisted:

Steve