[Ed Hansberry]

http://www.antelopetech.com/en/index.aspx?view=i-products_DesktopCradle.htm

"Small computers are great when you are on the move, but when you are at your desk you don't want to work on 6" screen -- you want a desktop computer's big monitor, big keyboard, and big mouse. Insert the MCC into the Desktop Cradle and your traditional desktop computing environment comes to life with your desktop monitor, full-sized keyboard and mouse. Everything is available to you, all your applications and data running in the Windows XP environment that you depend on."



This apparently has a 1.0GHz processor, 256MB of RAM and a 10GB hard drive. It doesn't seem to be as much mobile computing as much as you just have cradles at all of your work points and move the MCC around with you.

[Ed Hansberry]

http://www.antelopetech.com/en/index.aspx?view=i-products_DesktopCradle.htm

"Small computers are great when you are on the move, but when you are at your desk you don't want to work on 6" screen -- you want a desktop computer's big monitor, big keyboard, and big mouse. Insert the MCC into the Desktop Cradle and your traditional desktop computing environment comes to life with your desktop monitor, full-sized keyboard and mouse. Everything is available to you, all your applications and data running in the Windows XP environment that you depend on."



This apparently has a 1.0GHz processor, 256MB of RAM and a 10GB hard drive. It doesn't seem to be as much mobile computing as much as you just have cradles at all of your work points and move the MCC around with you.

[rlobrecht]

I just don't get it. $4000 for the guts of a $399 computer. Sure its portable, but that handheld sleeve looks gigantic. There may be a few vertical markets that will go for this, but I anticipate a dismal failure.

[powder2000]

Who would pay that much? I don't get it either. There are plenty of workable solutions already(smaller tablet pc's) that are affordable and attractive to businesses. I don't see how they expect to go anywhere with this at that price. Just my humble little opinion.

[The Yaz]

I think it's an interesting concept. If you look at the whole connection cycle, they've taken a hard drive and treated it like a compact flash card.

My major concern over this concept is that you lose location redundancy. What I mean is that the files on my laptop also exist on my desktop and sometimes my Pocket PC. God help you if something happens to this MCC and you aren't backing up your data regularly.

It's a neat idea, but at this pricing, it is more expensive than the combined equipment that it would replace.

Steve 8)

[Mojo Jojo]

To throw in another 'huh?' comment with an Apple slant...

I can buy an Ipod and not only have all my music but install OS X on it and use it as a bootable device. Plug it in to any Apple, reboot, and presto have all my work and files with me...

(Granted you need a donor to connect to... but for $4k I can get four eMac machines to use as 'dumb terminals', a 30 gig Ipod for a 'brain', and still have $404 dollars before I even consider the price of extra monitors, keyboards, speakers, cd-roms needed for this version. )

[jb]

HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!!!!!! :lol:

Please, $4000. One horrible screaching corporate death coming up.

Haven't these people heard how corporations are cutting back on IT purchases. To come out with a $4,000 mobile product at this time in the current economic climate is sheer suicide.

On the plus side, maybe 1 to 2 years from now they fold and sell of their remaining inventory on Ebay for .12 cents on the dollar.

Wouldn't mind picking up one of these babies then.

[bkerrins]

It may be great that I can carry it from work to home...but if I can't use it in between then who cares. If this was all I needed, I could just set up a portable hard drive unit for $400. It needs to be accessible without connecting to a monitor and keyboard.

[JonnoB]

If you cannot use the computer unless at a 'station' then why not just use a less expensive desktop system to remotely connect to a central site via RDP (Remote Desktop/Terminal Services)?

[Ed Hansberry]

Guys, is the device $4,000 or is this a development kit? It also seems to come with quite a bit for that - a "desktop" center and a handheld.

Modular Computing Core
Modular Computing Rugged Handheld
Modular Computing Desktop Docking Station
External AC Power Adapter
Handheld Battery Pack
Carrying Case
Screen Protector Pack
Windows XP Professional
Windows XP MCC HH Software Pack (preinstalled)
10/100 Ethernet Card
Mouse
Keyboard
Executive Pen-Stylus Combo
Documentation Pack

[daveshih]

Originally Posted by rlobrecht

I just don't get it. $4000 for the guts of a $399 computer. Sure its portable, but that handheld sleeve looks gigantic. There may be a few vertical markets that will go for this, but I anticipate a dismal failure.

Remember, it's $4,000 for the guts of a $400 computer in a very, very tiny form. Try getting a normal $400 computer into your pocket. No other forms (notebook, tabletpc, subnotebooks, etc.) currently has this capability. The only things this "brick" doesn't have in it are a screen and input devices. A real interesting idea to come in a long time. Of course, this is a IBM Metapad licencee.

I do agree with you, though, that vertical markets with security needs (only one set of data and OS, but have real mobility) will go for this.

Dave