Samsung Low-Cost Concept Pocket PC Design

[Ce]

"The new design incorporates a Samsung ARM9-based S3C2410 application processor"

Is this processor technicaly the same as the current Intel Xscale processor? If not.....it's very, very, very strange that MS supports this processors while it has, obviously, no interest in supporting the current Xscale devices.

[Ce]

"The new design incorporates a Samsung ARM9-based S3C2410 application processor"

Is this processor technicaly the same as the current Intel Xscale processor? If not.....it's very, very, very strange that MS supports this processors while it has, obviously, no interest in supporting the current Xscale devices.

[AZMark]

This is just a low end spec. It most likely kills off the requirement for mic, ir, speaker, rocker or dpad. You might also see the loss of some of the built in software.

It doesn't mean mfgrs can add them back in if they like.

[PPCRules]

Just think: If Dell hadn't changed our expectations by announcing a $200 color PocketPC device, we'd still be thinking a "low-end" color device gets $300, so a monochrome model like this would be introduced at $200. But instead, we're saying $100.

It's tough saying it's worth an extra $100, but owning both a color PocketPC and a mono model, it would be hard for me to recommend a mono version to anyone (unless maybe if they would be using it outside all the time). Color make such a huge difference, even in simple text applications.

By the way, very little PPC software won't run on a mono device. Some is harder to use, a few programs may not really be usable at all (only due to color choices by the programmer, who really had no reason to worry about it because mono PPC didn't really exist), but most programs would run just fine and be fully usable. If a large user base of mono models developed, most software would be adjusted to optimize viewing on both.

[szamot]

I was hoping that mono was dead and that was the upper hand PPC had over the Palm that it was color, however having said that we might very well see this device in a few months after the release to hit the $79 US mark. However Dell being Dell we might very well see their low end color devices hit the $150 US mark or even $99.00 and Palm might very well be dead with that kind of marketing.

[jpaq]

OK.
Question and speculation.

There are two things on the back view that catch my eye.

1. on the left side (side with the red dot), what is that? It looks almost like a pull out panel of some kind. I doubt that's what it is, but that's is what it looks like.
I figure that must be some kind of odd stylus.

2. On the right side (opposite of the red dot side) there is a little panel towards the top. Is there, could there, should there be a jog dial of some kind there?

[PhatCohiba]

Did anyone notice that this device appears to be missing a:

- D-Pad (others pointed this out)

- Speaker (only a headphone jack)

- Mic (hmmm.)

If I was deploying a business app on hundreads of devices, then $99 vs $299 is a big jump. This could make quick inroads. Can someone dig up those unit numbers on the sub $100 devices. If I remember correctly it was a HUGE chunck of palm's business.

I think that this a definate challenge to fight for the low end of the market and could put palm out of business.

-John

[mookie123]

Originally Posted by feo

Hey where's the directional keypad?, I thought that was a must. How are you suppossed to play games without it? :lol:

It will come with telekinesis SD card of course....

[ECOslin]

Yep, the PocketPC industry does need a student version to spur sales. I've been appalled that the entry level for this type of device, and not a Palm type, has been starting at $300 for entry level machines.

I don't consider the Palm/Handspring or Psion devices to be anything like an entry device to the PocketPC type. Apples, oranges and tomatoes.

This industry needs a bubblepack Walmart packaged device. What will you get the kids for their birthday, Power Ranger toy or PDA with ABC school rom pack for the same price. The lines need to blur to make PocketPCs the obvious choice to the absolute ignorant.

I'd like colorful, not obviously cheap, bright happy color screen, speaker, touchscreen, no direction disk is fine, memory needs to be user upgradeable by ram pack, happy windows startup logo when turned on like 'Apple Macs', this doesn't have to be the fastest thing - just usable and not a piece of crap, flash card memory cards need to be standardized. What about those colored blocks used in original Star Trek(just kidding).

Edward

[Newsboy]

I'm most interested in:

Battery life! This thing probably runs forever! If it does run for a long time between charges, I'd actually consider one. Of course, at $99, I'll probably buy one just to add to the "collection". :lol:

Also remember that although this device looks small now, when OLED active matrix displays hit the market, this will merely be "average" size. For me, that day can't come soon enough!

[mookie123]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

I'm most interested in:

Battery life! This thing probably runs forever! If it does run for a long time between charges, I'd actually consider one. Of course, at $99, I'll probably buy one just to add to the "collection". :lol:

Also remember that although this device looks small now, when OLED active matrix displays hit the market, this will merely be "average" size. For me, that day can't come soon enough!

I can't find anything about power consumption for this chip.

but from Samsung .pdf, it can support about half dozen different brand of screen, from 4 color bw to 16bit color, so all depends on what a manufacture will put in. Give it a super Huge 4 inch HVGA high quality B/W screen. This can make the ultimate ebook machine. (without the DRM please....)