The Register Reviews Bsquare Power Handheld

[marlof]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/0...bsquare_review/

As a user of Handheld PCs (both previously with the Philips Velo 1, and currently with a HP Jornada 720), I was pretty interested when I first saw the Bsquare Power Handheld, code name "Maui", mentioned. A retractable QWERTY keyboard. A 640x480 screen resolution. GSM/GPRS. Would this be the ideal crossover between a Pocket PC Phone Edition and a Handheld PC?



If you're as curious as I was, you should read the review over at The Register. In spite of flaws like limited battery life and the lack of either WiFi or Bluetooth, Tony Smith sees a lot of good in this device: "[...] mobile computing isn't a one-size fits all market, and there's room for a variety of form-factors. Bsquare's device does meet the need of users who want a portable data terminal that can offer a less crammed display and text entry system than a PDA or smartphone yet can offer such a laptop-like experience without the weight."

Still, I'm not so sure if this is something I'd get, esp. not with Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition and system wide VGA resolution in Pocket PCs around the corner. What about you? What do you think the benefits of a device like this could be?

[marlof]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/0...bsquare_review/

As a user of Handheld PCs (both previously with the Philips Velo 1, and currently with a HP Jornada 720), I was pretty interested when I first saw the Bsquare Power Handheld, code name "Maui", mentioned. A retractable QWERTY keyboard. A 640x480 screen resolution. GSM/GPRS. Would this be the ideal crossover between a Pocket PC Phone Edition and a Handheld PC?



If you're as curious as I was, you should read the review over at The Register. In spite of flaws like limited battery life and the lack of either WiFi or Bluetooth, Tony Smith sees a lot of good in this device: "[...] mobile computing isn't a one-size fits all market, and there's room for a variety of form-factors. Bsquare's device does meet the need of users who want a portable data terminal that can offer a less crammed display and text entry system than a PDA or smartphone yet can offer such a laptop-like experience without the weight."

Still, I'm not so sure if this is something I'd get, esp. not with Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition and system wide VGA resolution in Pocket PCs around the corner. What about you? What do you think the benefits of a device like this could be?

[arnage2]

I think the only bennifits of this device is the gprs mixed with the keyboard and vga is that it could be laptop replacement for some business men traveling short distances. The gprs would allow a business man to communicate and send files to their office. Other than that, I see no reason to get this over an asus a730.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

It's an innovative and interesting device to be sure, but I can't see this specific device catching on. I do believe that future devices will incorporate many of the same features as this device WITH the inclusion of WiFi, BT, or both. It seems that more and more manufacterers are flirting with the slide-out keyboard as well, though this is the first time I've seen one slide out "landscape-style" (which I think is pretty cool actually). And of course, we all know that VGA resolutions are right around the corner from being available en masse.

If this device had come out a couple years earlier, I think it might have been considered a killer device, but now, it doesn't provide enough punch.

[Kacey Green]

Originally Posted by ekkie

It's an innovative and interesting device to be sure, but I can't see this specific device catching on. I do believe that future devices will incorporate many of the same features as this device WITH the inclusion of WiFi, BT, or both. It seems that more and more manufacterers are flirting with the slide-out keyboard as well, though this is the first time I've seen one slide out "landscape-style" (which I think is pretty cool actually). And of course, we all know that VGA resolutions are right around the corner from being available en masse.

If this device had come out a couple years earlier, I think it might have been considered a killer device, but now, it doesn't provide enough punch.

This device has been on the front page 2 or 3 times. Maybe you missed it.

[Pat Logsdon]

Originally Posted by Kacey Green

This device has been on the front page 2 or 3 times. Maybe you missed it.

Your point being....? I happen to agree. It seems like they took too long fiddling with the form factor and missed the boat on some important current tech. WiFi is kinda important these days. :wink:

[Kacey Green]

Originally Posted by Pat Logsdon

Your point being....? I happen to agree. It seems like they took too long fiddling with the form factor and missed the boat on some important current tech. WiFi is kinda important these days. :wink:

Me? I was pointing out it was kind of taking a long time with this device, so I was esentially agreeing with what you just said and J. Wat
Edit: Seems J. Watkins wasn't here yet. Who ever said it wasn't seeming to be very viable was the one I was talking about.
Edit 2: two the one I was talking about was ekkie

[Kati Compton]

Just from an ergonomics/usability point of view, I think the layout of this device has two big pluses, and probably one minus.

Plus #1: Has buttons on BOTH sides of the screen. Landscape is great, but playing games with ALL the controls on one side of the screen would suck for a lot of games. Yay for this. I think all PPCs should move (or better yet, add) ~2 buttons "above" (from the portrait viewpoint) the screen. Then, depending on whether a game is landscape or portrait, it could use different buttons.

Plus #2: Has a keyboard.

Probable minus: I think the slide-out keyboard design, at least with my small hands, would be very uncomfortable to use.

Let me say it again...

Clamshell! Clamshell! Clamshell!

[Kacey Green]

If we could see a few landscape defaulted PPCs running WM 2003SE that would be so awsome, you just push the rotate button if you can't use landscape at that time..

[Shadowcat]

Originally Posted by Kati Compton

Plus #1: Has buttons on BOTH sides of the screen. Landscape is great, but playing games with ALL the controls on one side of the screen would suck for a lot of games. Yay for this. I think all PPCs should move (or better yet, add) ~2 buttons "above" (from the portrait viewpoint) the screen. Then, depending on whether a game is landscape or portrait, it could use different buttons.

I agree! To the best of my knowledge the only Pocket PCs that have two buttons above are the XDA and XDA II. I would much prefer 6 buttons too.

[dh]

Originally Posted by Kati Compton

Let me say it again...

Clamshell! Clamshell! Clamshell!

For you Kati - anything