View Full Version : Asus XScale Pocket PC prototype
marlof
02-15-2002, 08:19 PM
<a href="http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/pc/docs/2002/0212/intel.htm">http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/pc/docs/2002/0212/intel.htm</a><br /><br />In the previous thread, some commented on the need for new blood among the Pocket PC OEMs, and many requested more spectacular design. On a Japanese site covering the introduction of the Intel XScale processors, several pictures of a new Pocket PC were shown. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/xscasus02.jpg" /><br /><br />According to a <a href="http://babelfish.altavista.com/">babelfish</a> translation of the site, this device ran Metalion to demonstrate the XScale possibilities for the Pocket PC. I think the design looks great, but don't get your hopes up too high: "The PDA which was used with demonstration was the prototype by the ASUS. Commercialization is undecided." And if it does come out, there remains a question: plasticalion or metalion?<br /><br />Source: <a href="http://www.ludipocket.com">Mobigeeks.com</a>
Foo Fighter
02-15-2002, 08:33 PM
Damn! Now this is more like it! 8O
It looks just like a Sony N760.
Boxster S
02-15-2002, 08:46 PM
It's bootiful :lol:
I guess it's time to get rid of this Jornada 568 :twisted:
Wow, now that is cool looking. I agree with Foo Fighter, very much like the Clie.
~Spencer
michael
02-15-2002, 08:59 PM
mmmmm Thin!
entropy1980
02-15-2002, 09:14 PM
nahhhh looks like the NEC Pocketgear....
mar2k
02-15-2002, 09:18 PM
Asus is the OEM for NEC on the MobilePro P300. Even if it doesn't come out as an Asus branded PDA maybe it will still see life as NEC's followup to the P300.
The NEC P300 is my favorite design of all the PPC 2002 machines but seems destined for a short life span with only 32MB RAM and the manufacturing delays. :?
AKBishop
02-15-2002, 10:02 PM
Nice form factor, but aagh... look at the d-pad and the tiny speaker buried within. But then this is a prototype...
T-Will
02-15-2002, 10:04 PM
Looks very nice, but it looks like it only has a SD/MMC slot, no CF, but I guess if you really want a small Pocket PC then taking the CF slot out is the way to cut down on the extra size.
JonnoB
02-15-2002, 10:46 PM
Why would this not be productized? Something better? It already looks to be a step above of what is available now.
Dave Conger
02-15-2002, 11:50 PM
Why would this not be productized? Something better? It already looks to be a step above of what is available now.
This really does look like a step up. It looks thin almost like the Handspring Visor Edge! If they are implimenting everything that other Pocket PC OEM's are, plus XScale, into a super thin device, that is very great. I love my ASUS motherboard, so I would favor a ASUS PDA since maybe they would have tweaked some of the hardware inside.
st63z
02-16-2002, 12:26 AM
Looks very nice, but it looks like it only has a SD/MMC slot, no CF, but I guess if you really want a small Pocket PC then taking the CF slot out is the way to cut down on the extra size.
I can see the CF slot on the top, hopefully it has an SD/MMC side slot? In fact this looks like the same design as the vaporware OEM MobilePro P300 photos that circulated a while back (as someone else had mentioned)... the one that was rumored to feature a removable batt, IIRC? Man, I'm always fantasizing something even more perfect :)
James
02-16-2002, 01:21 AM
Looks very nice, but it looks like it only has a SD/MMC slot, no CF, but I guess if you really want a small Pocket PC then taking the CF slot out is the way to cut down on the extra size.
I can see the CF slot on the top, hopefully it has an SD/MMC side slot? In fact this looks like the same design as the vaporware OEM MobilePro P300 photos that circulated a while back (as someone else had mentioned)... the one that was rumored to feature a removable batt, IIRC? Man, I'm always fantasizing something even more perfect :)
I was thinking it was a SD/MMC slot too til I grabbed the larger image - definitely CF. Hopefully it does have a SD slot somewhere.
Mark (NL)
02-16-2002, 02:56 AM
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/pc/docs/2002/0212/intel09.jpg
I only can make SD of this... afterall CF makes at least for 3/5 of the width of a pocket pc.... not only 1/3 like this obviously is...
Jonathan
02-16-2002, 03:07 AM
I'm quite sure it's a Memory Stick slot...
IpaqMan2
02-16-2002, 04:23 AM
If this PPC brought nothing else to the table than just form factor.... than it's innovation in the right direction. PPC OEMs need to push their designs a bit more.. and this appears to be fairly thin.
Kirk Stephens
02-16-2002, 04:57 AM
The look is good. However, I need more than just a SD/MMC slot.
Daniel
02-16-2002, 05:04 PM
<speculation>
Looks like it might be bottom lit from the distance between the buttons and the bottom of the screen, not to mention the space available on either side of the machine.
The back of the device also has at least one removeable section (proto-type?), perhps this means upgrade, battery or maybe proprietry slot.
</speculation>
ahh, now that I got that out of my system, I can go and get a drink of water...
;)
If this PPC brought nothing else to the table than just form factor.... than it's innovation in the right direction. PPC OEMs need to push their designs a bit more.. and this appears to be fairly thin.
Agreed, but with the apparent lack of CF slot, I'm not sure it is a step in the right direction. Because if you add an expansion pack on the back for CF you are right back at the old form factor.
I'm going to speculate that the slot on top is SD/MMC, not wide enough for CF, but it does look a little thick for SD/MMC.
Dave Conger
02-16-2002, 08:25 PM
Agreed, but with the apparent lack of CF slot, I'm not sure it is a step in the right direction.
Remember...
The PDA which was used with demonstration was the prototype ...
There are a probably a lot of things that change just between the prototype and beta stages of a PDA. I know from experience with other products, that a prototype device can look nothing like the end result. Though the device looks thin now, it could potentially builk up or the expansion could change.
JMountford
02-16-2002, 11:30 PM
Even if this Prototype undergoes massive changes it is still, at this point in time an elegant example of what can be. Yes CF is more main stream, but I can see the desire to move to smaller memory footprint.
This Asus design is classy as all hell. Very nice. I am wondering seriously if a device has integrated Bluetooth and WiFi do you really need Compact Flash? Maybe if some one made a CF to SD adapter that would be fine?
Agreed, but with the apparent lack of CF slot, I'm not sure it is a step in the right direction.
Remember...
The PDA which was used with demonstration was the prototype ...
There are a probably a lot of things that change just between the prototype and beta stages of a PDA. I know from experience with other products, that a prototype device can look nothing like the end result. Though the device looks thin now, it could potentially builk up or the expansion could change.
Quite True!
hopbot
02-17-2002, 07:26 AM
hey there all,
i think pocket pc's are cool, but c'mon, this is a total rip-off of the sony clie. i own a clie and it looks soooo much the same. couldn't these guys come up with something original? this is like the whole e-machines fiasco and the imac!!!!!!
Dave Conger
02-17-2002, 07:42 AM
hey there all,
i think pocket pc's are cool, but c'mon, this is a total rip-off of the sony clie. i own a clie and it looks soooo much the same. couldn't these guys come up with something original? this is like the whole e-machines fiasco and the imac!!!!!!
Yeah, it really does look similar. Hey, I am not going to complain, I freakin love the Sony devices!!! I wish Sony would put out some Pocket PC based products cause I would buy one! If this is as close as I would get to a Sony, but with an SD slot, ummm, not going to make a fiasco, I am going to buy the little bugger. Sony has done so much for Palm OS devices (size, resolution, etc), I would love to see what they could do with the Pocket PC market.
JMountford
02-17-2002, 05:42 PM
I have to agree that there are similar styling features between the Clie Line and this Asus prototype. I do frown on creative infringment, but from what I have heard and seen the Clie would be the device to shark cues from.
I am just glad to see some OEM working on smaller form factors for PPCs.
James
02-17-2002, 08:10 PM
freakin love the Sony devices!!! I wish Sony would put out some Pocket PC based products cause I would buy one! If this is as close as I would
As long it doesn't include a stinkin' memory stick!
Dave Conger
02-17-2002, 09:42 PM
As long it doesn't include a stinkin' memory stick!
True.
Though, I used to love the memory stick. This was back when I was like 12 and my Dad said..."I hear Sony is working on something that will put the CD in something the side of a piece of gum." Amazing. How could they do that. I tend to like Sony's MP3 player with the memory stick technology (maybe it is just cause of my childly love for "playing music off a stick of gum") but I don't think it works to well in a PDA. No good expandibility other then just memory...and the bluetooth card that is on the way.
Daniel
02-18-2002, 01:10 AM
As long it doesn't include a stinkin' memory stick!
Yes indeed, nix to MemoryStick!
daniel
JMountford
02-18-2002, 02:41 AM
I can certainly see how Memory Sticks are a neet invention, but when Sony does not want to acknowedge that no other company wants to adopt the memory stick technology that is causing problems.
Dave Conger
02-18-2002, 03:03 AM
I can certainly see how Memory Sticks are a neet invention, but when Sony does not want to acknowedge that no other company wants to adopt the memory stick technology that is causing problems.
Is it that no company wants to adopt it, or that Sony wants to sell it exclusivly?
Is it that no company wants to adopt it, or that Sony wants to sell it exclusivly?
I kinda think that it is the later of those two. I don't see Sony wanting to give their technology to some one else to use. Now I may be wrong about that, but that is just my opinion.
Dave Conger
02-18-2002, 03:41 AM
I kinda think that it is the later of those two. I don't see Sony wanting to give their technology to some one else to use. Now I may be wrong about that, but that is just my opinion.
It all depends on what you want to do with their technology. Adapters and such are alright it seems, but actually implementation in a competing device is probably not. There also could be a cost associated with licensing that people just don't want to pay.
JMountford
02-18-2002, 03:41 AM
Well Dave I read way back when that No one else wanted to adopt another Sony Technology for various reasons. I think one of those was Sony wanted a steep price for Licensing. Now who knows what has changed since SOny forst introduced the Mem Sticks. I thought there had even been one or two companies who were producing the darn things but that faded fast. I don't honestly know what the current policy is only what I had read long ago.
I honestly despise the Sony way of Bussiness. I think they opperate much as MS does only worse. The thing that makes me really not like them is they cosistently make great products. They just don't care about their customers in my opinion.
James
02-18-2002, 03:42 AM
Is it that no company wants to adopt it, or that Sony wants to sell it exclusivly?
Last I looked, it Sony still refused to license the technology. That and Sony's general refusal to adopt standards (mini-disc ring a bell?). Heaven forbid they go with a standard such as SD, MMC, or CF.
JMountford
02-18-2002, 03:45 AM
This is part of what makes Sony so evil... They will not accept other standards. Why should they when they can make their own? THey can make devices that exclusivly use only their media types. It is just all rediculous.
Dave Conger
02-18-2002, 03:48 AM
This is part of what makes Sony so evil... They will not accept other standards. Why should they when they can make their own? THey can make devices that exclusivly use only their media types. It is just all rediculous.
That is a good point. I knew there was an issue there, but I didn't know quite which direction it was in. I wish that Sony (and other companies) would adopt standards like CF and SD that are now established instead of trying to make new ones. Just doesn't really seem like we need more "standards" but more products that support or are most used standards.
James
02-18-2002, 03:52 AM
That is a good point. I knew there was an issue there, but I didn't know quite which direction it was in. I wish that Sony (and other companies) would adopt standards like CF and SD that are now established instead of trying to make new ones. Just doesn't really seem like we need more "standards" but more products that support or are most used standards.
And that brings us to standards issues more generally. One of the other threads we have going discusses the evil that is AOL and their competition busting in the Instant Messaging market.
JMountford
02-18-2002, 04:08 AM
At one time people cared about standards. Companies had standards. There were morals in the world.
Oh hey we are talking about hardware standards. I wonder if this is something where more power should be given to the ISO to cover a more broad scope of hardware and devices.
Though here guys I think maybe we should move back towards the original topic of Xscale and Prototype devices and maybe move the topic of Standards and Evil nonconformist companies to a new Forum.
kettle
02-18-2002, 08:55 AM
I agree with you guys memory stick slots don't offer much in the way of expandability. Styling cues from Sony, I don't have a problem with that either, as long as it looks good, I don't care who makes it. I would be happy to buy this thing, memory stick or no memory stick, styling cues or no styling cues. At the very worst, this encourages other PPC makers to inovate a little.
I know memory sticks are sold under the Lexar name, and I think one other company has licensed the memory stick.
Dave Conger
02-18-2002, 09:10 AM
I am still a little worried about the "Commercialization is undecided." I don't quite understand why they wouldn't at least try the market. I understand with the not so great economy they might be sceptical, but I think the inital impressions of this product are good. There have been quite a few rumors about Asus and finally we are seeing something, which I really like. If they can make a good device, at a good price, that people like, they could be "the next iPAQ." Handheld sales were up over Xmas right? So I would think now would be as good a time as any to start doing something.
Maybe they want to have a focus group look at their product...I think there would be some good people on Thoughts that could help them decide what to try and do with their product :wink:
JMountford
02-18-2002, 04:11 PM
I honestly think that PPCs will see a greater consumer demand with the more devices being offered. One of the great things that Pocket PC devices have over Palm OS devices is the different styls and offerings. You have Palm, Handspring, and SOny that are the big three Palm OS devices. Sony is the only true inovator there. Yet With the Pocket PCs each manufacturer has there own style. I think this is great for the consumers. I also beleive that we are starting to see the end of the desk top PC has it has been for the last ten or so years and that Portable is where the industry is moving. Hopefully Asus will take it's cues from the Toshiba/Audiovox devices and at the very least issue the PDA with a different name for the consumer market.
Daniel
02-19-2002, 05:11 PM
Maybe they want to have a focus group look at their product...I think there would be some good people on Thoughts that could help them decide what to try and do with their product :wink:
I'm guessing that there would be a very long line for that one!
(Stop pushing!)
daniel
At one time people cared about standards. Companies had standards. There were morals in the world.
Oh hey we are talking about hardware standards. I wonder if this is something where more power should be given to the ISO to cover a more broad scope of hardware and devices.
Very true, standards seem to be falling. And companies like AOL are being allowed to make their product the standard and not allowing any one else on board.
James
02-20-2002, 02:01 AM
Very true, standards seem to be falling. And companies like AOL are being allowed to make their product the standard and not allowing any one else on board.
Standards continue, but unlike Microsoft's excuse against not using the standards*, AOL refuses to even participate and then takes active measures to defeat any attempts at interoperability.
*Microsoft has long maintained that the standards bodies (IETF in partcular) haven't moved fast enough to meet their requirements. Now that the standards are largely in place and working, Microsoft is going back and catching up.
Very true, standards seem to be falling. And companies like AOL are being allowed to make their product the standard and not allowing any one else on board.
Standards continue, but unlike Microsoft's excuse against not using the standards*, AOL refuses to even participate and then takes active measures to defeat any attempts at interoperability.
*Microsoft has long maintained that the standards bodies (IETF in partcular) haven't moved fast enough to meet their requirements. Now that the standards are largely in place and working, Microsoft is going back and catching up.
I meant standards are falling in the way of actions that companies take. Used to there was a standard way of working, seems like today everyone does what they want. As for AOL, somebody needs to give them a big wake-up call.
James
02-20-2002, 03:22 AM
I meant standards are falling in the way of actions that companies take. Used to there was a standard way of working, seems like today everyone does what they want. As for AOL, somebody needs to give them a big wake-up call.
True...as for AOL, everyone's too busy attacking legitimate businesses to worry about them.
Dave Conger
02-20-2002, 04:12 AM
As for AOL, somebody needs to give them a big wake-up call.
I don't think that anybody needs to give them a wake-up call. If they haven't seen the signs of problems, then they are in a coma. Earthlink and other services has definatly shown them that can't neglect customers and still hope to keep them around. At one time, AOL has sooooo many more cusomers then anyone else and I feel like if you looked at those stats now, they wouldn't quite be where they were.
JMountford
02-20-2002, 04:59 AM
I don't really know how this Topic got switched to AOL but I'll play. Last week I installed AOL only because MSN wouldn't work the night I did it and I promtly uninstalled it and called to cancel.
So here goes first AOL is always wanting to install something else on your computer it is worse than Real Player.
Next there is no uninstall. You have to know how to use Windows uninstaller.
Lastly when I finally found out how to cancel the account, You can't do it on line. I called and the rep did nothing to try to get me to keep the account. Of course I blamed installing it in the first place on my wife. :wink:
I have a friend who has just moved, and they didn't have any internet access were the moved to. So they installed one of those 300 hours free deals from AOL until they got an ISP. He said it was the worst internet service he had in a long time. I would have to agree with him, but most people that use it think it is great, why? Because they have never used anything else to see how much better other things are. Most people I know that have switched off of AOL like whatever new service they go much better.
Maybe we'd better take this AOL discussion to the other thread on AOL. Seems like we can't get away from it! :?
Jason Dunn
02-20-2002, 05:06 PM
How about your guys start a new thread about AOL in the off-topic forum? :-)
How about your guys start a new thread about AOL in the off-topic forum? :-)
Here it is - http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=291
For all your AOL needs, visit the AOL topic in the Pocket PC Thoughts forum. Only $0 for the first 3 million years and only $.01 a year after that! Remember that URL - http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=291
I'm the AOL dude reporting for AOL news, broadcast daily on AOL Instant Messenger, recorded live at AOL-Time Warner studios. This is the AOL TV Network. :lol:
Ok that was a ramble but I had to do something funny like that didn't I?? :? ...Yeah, that is what I thought.
I can certainly see how Memory Sticks are a neet invention, but when Sony does not want to acknowedge that no other company wants to adopt the memory stick technology that is causing problems.
Is it that no company wants to adopt it, or that Sony wants to sell it exclusivly?
Sony MemorySTINKS is their new Betamax:
1) it came late on the field occupied by 4 different, more capable standards
2) they most certainly want too much for licencing their technology
3) their technology has a lot less to offer than the competition:
a) much lesser capacity 128 MB flash vs. 1 GB for CF flash
b) limited to memory; only recently a digicam and a BT MemorySH!T cards are offered, while the competition has had close to a dozen different options for ages
4) Palm was tu use the MemorySINK slot in their devices when they licenced their OS to Sony; they quickly dropped it in favor of the MMC/SD standard.
The only non Sony device I know of is the Konica Digital Revio KD-400Z digicam it has 2 memory slots: besides a MemorySICK slot there's an MMC/SD slot.
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