01-29-2004, 05:00 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Synosphere Blue Dock Turns Pocket PC Into Desktop
http://www.synosphere.com/
"Synosphere�s Blue Dock� is the world�s first docking station to allow Pocket PC handhelds to function as a primary computing platform in a work place environment, without the need for an additional workstation or laptop. Easily dock compatible handhelds and productively create, modify, and edit data on a full sized monitor, with optimized and projected full screen video, using a full size keyboard and mouse. Once docked, experience instantaneous access to Email, the Internet, and network resources (file servers, printers, and other shared workstations). Additional data storage is provided through a mobile Secure Digital flash card interface."
Features include:
� SDI Interface
� SVGA (640 x 480, 800 x 600)
� PS2 Keyboard and Mouse
� Network Interface Port
Pocket Excel at 800X600 on an external monitor
There is no pricing or availability yet. There is a WMV video here with lots of word and music you can dance to, but not much information.
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01-29-2004, 05:21 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 222
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Am I the only one who feels like Tom Hanks in "Big" when I see this? In "Big", he took one look at the Transformer that went from skyscraper to robot and said "I don't get it". That how I feel about the Blue Dock.
It seems interesting but strange. PCs are so cheap right now that I think it's cheaper (and easier) to have a desktop PC with plenty of horsepower instead of a (relatively) low-end Pocket PC. I'm sure this could find a niche market but that's about it. PDAs are great as Personal Digital Assistants, not as desktops.
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01-29-2004, 05:26 PM
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5000+ Posts? I Should OWN This Site!
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 5,133
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My guess is the monitor, etc. would be shared between the PDA and a "real" computer. This really would be for hard-core users that are going to run productivity software on their PDAs. Data entry with keyboard and monitor is much faster (and comfortable) generally than doing it on the PDA itself...
But really, more than the keyboard (as there are keyboards for PDAs), it has to be the monitor connectivity that's the draw here.
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01-29-2004, 05:26 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 718
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Not to mention that you can use your existing computer and a $30 copy of PocketController Pro to get the same effect.
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01-29-2004, 05:36 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 176
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Is it vapourware day today? :lol:
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01-29-2004, 05:40 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 468
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Not bad, and certainly interesting. Adding the big monitor, full size keyboard and mouse(!) to the Pocket PC would certainly make using it at your desk much easier.
But would anyone really trade in a full Windows XP desktop for this? I would think the relatively low-computing-power and feature-lite applications of the Pocket PC would be a significant drawback. I certainly wouldn't want to do without all of my PC apps.
Although I suppose that could be compensated for with the third-party word processor (I forget what it's called) that has all of the features missing from Pocket Word, and to some extent a better browser like the Thunderhawk. And I guess, you could always use the Remote Desktop Client to connect to a regular PC when the need arises. Of course, if you have a desktop to use, why not just use it all the time?
I'm sure this dock would be fun to play with, or to replace the regular dock when I'm at my desk (to be used purely as a secondary machine), but I just don't see getting rid of my PC in favor of one.
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01-29-2004, 06:00 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 434
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If you go to their website and look at the photo of the entire setup (Ipaq, keyboard, and monitor) stop and look at it for a minute. The monitor shows a spreadsheet, the Ipaq in the dock is rebooting, and the other Ipaq in the foreground in someones hand is actually running the spreadsheet.
__________________
James Kendrick* ...using mobile devices since they weighed 30 lbs
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01-29-2004, 06:05 PM
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01-29-2004, 06:09 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 14
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Their 'surfing the web' example shows the PalmOne site?
Hmm, I just don't what to think about that.
Heh 8O
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01-29-2004, 06:12 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,041
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That's a pretty slick design. Something like this could work for students or someone on a budget. I think this would become even more attractive as Pocket PC's performance increase.
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Linear Mode
