What do you think about this device?

[Rudolf]

http://www.road-gmbh.de/produkte/index_01.html
It's a really interesting device. In some way competing with the nokia communicator, in other way with the coming MDA4... And you can choose you operating system... Linux or Windows CE or Symbian... hmmm
Everything is here what one can dream up... Integrated keyboard, 4 band GSM/GPRS with EDGE, BT, WLAN, IRDA, USB2, 640x240 touch screen, external LCD display, numeric keyboard...
What do you think about it?

[Dolphin]

Thier website says.... - Kamera (optional)
2 Megapixel

That would be nice!

Size and weight?

[Menneisyys]

http://www.road-gmbh.de/produkte/index_01.html
It's a really interesting device. In some way competing with the nokia communicator, in other way with the coming MDA4... And you can choose you operating system... Linux or Windows CE or Symbian...

Actually, it's Linux only: http://www.road-gmbh.de/produkte/index_01.html :

Betriebssystem
- LINUX Kernel 2.6.x
- Qtopia Graphic user interface

And it's only a terminal, in addition to the Linux tools/apps (not many). I don't think it would have a chance against the Nokia communicators - it's still much easier to use LOCAL programs instead of server-based ones via technologies like VNC. Linux PDA's don't really have any chance against Symbian / WinCE PDA's for generic use.

[Stephen Beesley]

One thing I do like about this is the keyboard - reminds me a lot of the keyboard on the Psion 5/5mx. would love to see a keyboard like that on a WM device.

[surur]

Actually, it's Linux only: http://www.road-gmbh.de/produkte/index_01.html :

Betriebssystem
- LINUX Kernel 2.6.x
- Qtopia Graphic user interface

And it's only a terminal, in addition to the Linux tools/apps (not many). I don't think it would have a chance against the Nokia communicators - it's still much easier to use LOCAL programs instead of server-based ones via technologies like VNC. Linux PDA's don't really have any chance against Symbian / WinCE PDA's for generic use.

If you look at the keyboard you will see a windows key. I believe win ce WILL be an option.

Surur

[Menneisyys]

Actually, it's Linux only: http://www.road-gmbh.de/produkte/index_01.html :

Betriebssystem
- LINUX Kernel 2.6.x
- Qtopia Graphic user interface

And it's only a terminal, in addition to the Linux tools/apps (not many). I don't think it would have a chance against the Nokia communicators - it's still much easier to use LOCAL programs instead of server-based ones via technologies like VNC. Linux PDA's don't really have any chance against Symbian / WinCE PDA's for generic use.

If you look at the keyboard you will see a windows key. I believe win ce WILL be an option.

Surur

Such a key can also be used when VNC'ing to a Windows server.

If it did support WinCE(.NET), then, they would have mentioned it. Orders of magnitude more people would buy such a gadget if it indeed supported WinCE.NET.

BTW, it's still vaporware - nothing for sure, no pre-ordering screen at all. Furthermore, the firm is pretty unknown. I really doubt it will hit the shelves.

[Rudolf]

If it did support WinCE(.NET), then, they would have mentioned it. Orders of magnitude more people would buy such a gadget if it indeed supported WinCE.NET.

BTW, it's still vaporware - nothing for sure, no pre-ordering screen at all. Furthermore, the firm is pretty unknown. I really doubt it will hit the shelves.
Actually they do mention it. Check models S102 / S104. They are the same hardware with different operating system loaded.
http://www.road-gmbh.de/produkte/index_02.html - Win CE
http://www.road-gmbh.de/produkte/index_03.html - Symbian
However I do agre your comment regarding vaporware. This may or may not be real...

[Rudolf]

And it's only a terminal, in addition to the Linux tools/apps (not many). I don't think it would have a chance against the Nokia communicators - it's still much easier to use LOCAL programs instead of server-based ones via technologies like VNC. Linux PDA's don't really have any chance against Symbian / WinCE PDA's for generic use.

No it's not a terminal. It's running Qtopia, which is a framebuffer based widget set (so it's not client server like the X11 on linux desktops). However I agree that the number of 3rd party apps are much lower on linux/qt. BUT you can port some existing Linux apps relatively easy... If you're not so much after this (not a hacking type) you still can choose the other models with WinCE or Symbian.
However I'm wondering how much effort is needed to support all these OP systems paralell...

[Rudolf]

BTW, it's still vaporware - nothing for sure, no pre-ordering screen at all. Furthermore, the firm is pretty unknown. I really doubt it will hit the shelves.
Hmmm. I made a litle detective work regarding the company. The company is just 2 months old... So most likely it's just someone's nice idea with a nice webpage, nothing more... Sorry to alert you guys. :cry:

[Menneisyys]

If it did support WinCE(.NET), then, they would have mentioned it. Orders of magnitude more people would buy such a gadget if it indeed supported WinCE.NET.

BTW, it's still vaporware - nothing for sure, no pre-ordering screen at all. Furthermore, the firm is pretty unknown. I really doubt it will hit the shelves.
Actually they do mention it. Check models S102 / S104. They are the same hardware with different operating system loaded.
http://www.road-gmbh.de/produkte/index_02.html - Win CE
http://www.road-gmbh.de/produkte/index_03.html - Symbian
However I do agre your comment regarding vaporware. This may or may not be real...

That's OK, I haven't checked their main home page.