06-16-2003, 11:00 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Clio Swing-Top Design May Live Again
"The Pinax Group, Inc. today announced the availability of worldwide licenses for its patented SwingTop� design utilized by the awarding-winning PC companion, Clio�. The SwingTop� industrial design is protected by numerous globally-registered patents. �The Pinax Group is presently in various stages of discussions with several companies worldwide to license our intellectual property related to the exciting SwingTop� industrial design,� said Robert Sowah, The Pinax Group�s Chief Executive Officer. �Our clients have been asking for the next generation Clio� in both a traditional �thin client� format as well as in Windows� XP tablet, Smart Display, and PDA versions. The availability of the Clio� design presents an immediate opportunity for our partners and licensees to introduce mobile computing products that are clearly differentiated from the current convertible product. I am confident that loyal Clio� customers will be very excited to see the next generation of Clio�-inspired products expected to be produced in the near future.� "
For those of you that remember the Vadem Clio, it was an amazing device for it's time, but ultimately is was crippled by a weak operating system, lack of applications, and poor hardware. So what was there to like about it? An amazing industrial design! The "swing top" design is incredibly brilliant, and I think it's a far more suitable design for Tablet PCs than the current "swivel hinge" solution. I would love to see the Clio resurrected in some fashion, because with Windows CE .Net on it, a StrongARM CPU, and 64 MB of RAM, this would be a very functional and slick device. I still mourn the loss of the HPC platform as a whole...it was so promising, but the OEMs making the devices kept trying to keep them in a price zone that made them too near the price of a laptop.
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06-16-2003, 11:57 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 189
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This would be a great form factor for tablet pc's and would give the sony nrv design a run for it's money if it were miniaturized w/ a ppc os. Provided that it didn't cost more than $600 of course. As Jason suggested, the downfall of this product could be it's pricing.
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06-16-2003, 11:58 PM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 541
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The size for this doesn't seem too bad if it were an ultraslim. Judging from the picture, I'm not sure why this couldn't be a full blown x86 laptop if they wanted to.
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06-17-2003, 12:04 AM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 495
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the hinges have to be too thick to support the screen.
it takes up too much space.
the current hinge allows for a smaller footprint.
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06-17-2003, 12:55 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 194
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I'll take 2:
1 as a 2lbs. subnote PC with 512MB of RAM, 32MB VRAM, and a 30GB HD. Oh and a low power consumption processor... 4 hours of runtime please. Something the size of the Sony SRX(?) VAIO and for $1600. (But I'd probably slap on Linux... They should offer it with a Linux install.)
And the other as a PPC/HPC. Even at 10 ounces it would be acceptable but lighter is better. 4" Transflective, at 640x480, 128MB RAM, CF & SD slots, a big battery, 400Mhz Xscale (but I'd live with a StrongARM... But the battery would have to give me 8 hours and the price of the device would have to be under $600.
Gee, one company could instantly get $2200 just that easily. Man, I'm an easy mark...
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06-17-2003, 03:21 AM
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Theorist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 287
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I would LOVE to see this device resurface. I doubt it will though. Not many manufacturer will want to also have to pay a licensing fee for the design.
Man, if this had Win CE 4.2, 64megs RAM, the new Intel 400Mhz and a built-in modem I think it would be a GREAT little unit.
I have thought about getting one of these on eBay but I am not crazy about the memory sieve that is Win CE 3. I still use an IBM z50 HPC but would not put out money for something like this if it does not come with CE 4.x.
dazz
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06-17-2003, 04:04 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 93
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I had two of these and they were great. I never had a computer that drew more attention than this one. I started reading ebooks on it. I was great on an airplane and the crews just luved it.
By the way you can still get them from that link. They are still the same price as when I bought mine, $999. They were on sale not too long ago.
If they would put one of the new XScale processors in it and a few other tweaks I would get another one.
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06-17-2003, 06:05 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 53
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Re: Clio Swing-Top Design May Live Again
[quote="Jason Dunn"]"For those of you that remember the Vadem Clio, it was an amazing device for it's time, but ultimately is was crippled by a weak operating system, lack of applications, and poor hardware.quote]
So the hardware was rotten, the OS was rotten, and the apps were rotten.
Uhm - why was it an amazing device? :lol:
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06-17-2003, 08:27 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 66
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I love the form of my Jornada 720, and was lucky enough to get hold of a new one for $450, just as they were discontinued.
Now, if HP ever decided to resurrect it, and it ran winCE 4.2, had a transflective screen, and a better software base, I'd get another! (IF it was cheap enough! :wink: )
"Today must be Thursday - I never could get the hang of Thursdays..." Arthur Dent
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06-17-2003, 12:31 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 247
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Re: Clio Swing-Top Design May Live Again
[quote="andrewlwood"]
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
"For those of you that remember the Vadem Clio, it was an amazing device for it's time, but ultimately is was crippled by a weak operating system, lack of applications, and poor hardware.quote]
So the hardware was rotten, the OS was rotten, and the apps were rotten.
Uhm - why was it an amazing device? :lol:
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You can blame the software side on Microsoft. It was underpowered, i.e. slow processor, lacking memory, and it had a dual scan screen. The design was/is very innovative, unique, and useful. If it had modern tech such as a active matrix screen, an XScale, more memory, and built-in wireless in addition to the modem that it already had, plus newer software, well, you get the point :wink:
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