Antelope MCC

[marlof]

<a href="http://www.antelopetech.com/op.html">http://www.antelopetech.com/op.html</a><br /><br />Back in February, Jason <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=55">spoke</a> about the <a href="http://www.research.ibm.com/resources/news/20020206_metapad.shtml">IBM Metapad</a>, which at its core is a PC that can be used in different shells. As one of those shells could be a handheld computer, one might wonder if that makes it a real "Pocketable" PC.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/mcc_hh.gif" /><br /><br />mvoosten pointed out to us that Antelope Technologies has licensed the Metapad from IBM, and is offering a handheld shell to go with that. "The MCC, or “mobile computer core,” is a totally new PC architecture centered around a processor, internal battery, data storage and computer software applications. An additional power supply, display, communications and input/output connectors are accessories that you choose based on your individual preferences and work environment. The core consists the Crusoe processor by Transmeta, 10 GB hard disk and 256 MB Ram all contained within 3"x5"x3/4"—smaller than a typical PDA. Low power consumption makes it ideal for portable applications, and no fan is required. It will automatically identify and adapt its system, power management, thermal, software and user interface behavior, depending on the attached accessory. Use it to run Windows 2000, WindowsXP, or Linux operating systems. Use it in multiple configurations—desktop, laptop, handheld, tablet, or wearable. Above all, use it to simplify your life, save time and improve your access." <br /><br />It sounds and looks really nice, and if you take a closer look at the handheld specs, you'll see that this is not targeted at the Pocket PC league at all:<br />• Display: 5.8" 800x600 backlit active matrix touchscreen<br />• Battery: 10.8V 1400mAh 15.1Wh<br />• Battery life: approximately 2 hours<br />• Weight 390 g (13.7 oz)<br />• I/O: 2 USB, Audio In/Out, DC In<br />• Core &amp; shell combined specifications: 647 g (1.425 lb)<br /><br />I guess we're back to the point, where we have to be happy that the Pocket PC in reality isn't a PC at all. It can mimic many of the PC features, but is finetuned to do both PIM and light computing tasks. This MetaPad on the other hand is a real PC, and would come in handy where PC specific tasks would have to be executed in different situations. Have the core with you in a handheld shell, or use it in a desktop shell, a laptop, etc., and you have all the right things with you at all times. And of course, that advantage does come at a price (limited specfications for a desktop, high weight and short battery life for a handheld) as this is trying to be the best of both worlds.

[Arne Hess]

http://www.antelopetech.com/op.html

Back in February, Jason spoke (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=55) about the IBM Metapad (http://www.research.ibm.com/resources/news/20020206_metapad.shtml), which at its core is a PC that can be used in different shells. As one of those shells could be a handheld computer, one might wonder if that makes it a real "Pocketable" PC.
You can also get more information on PPCW.Net. Back in June, the CEO of Antelope sent me some more detailed slides about the MCC you can find here: http://www.ppcw.net/stories.php?story=02/06/25/0691439

The concept is pretty interesting and like Marlof, I don't see it targeting the Pocket PC market but the Tablet PC market!

[heliod]

As you, I am happy that the Pocket PC is not a PC. I can't even think of myself going around with a Windows 2000 or XP machine for the needs I use the Pocket PC for.

However, it is a very interesting machine for corporate use, in the area of the Tablet PC, and will be able to provide corporate users with a level of mobility that they don't know nowadays.

[SassKwatch]

Just another competitor in the 'ultrapersonal computing' market....like these.....

http://www.oqo.com

or

http://www.tiquit.com

Personally, I can't wait for these type devices to become available. As much as I love the PocketPC platform, I'll drop the iPAQ in a heartbeat to have almost full dekstop capabilities in a handheld device....and to be rid of the ActiveStink nonsense.

[Sslixtis]

It looks really nice like all the others of its ilk, but 2 hours battery life? I don't care if it can tapdance as well, if it only lasts 2 hours. :lol:

[Deslock]

This is a pretty cool concept, but you can already get a Fujitsu Lifebook that has a keyboard, touchscreen, 256 MB RAM, 20 GB HDD, 1024x600 wide-screen display, and weighs 2.2 lbs for $1100! That's only another 40% of the cost of a high-end PPC...

Check it out: http://webshop.fujitsupc.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P1

So this 800x600 tablet that weighs 1.4 lbs is sweet, but it isn't *that* ground-breaking... if they could get it under a pound with the screen, then I'd get excited.

Personally, I'm mucho impressed with the Lifebook P2000 series, though this moves deeper into laptop territory (and thus slightly off-topic):
http://webshop.fujitsupc.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P2

It's similiar to the P1000 series notebooks, but has a 1280x768 wide-screen display, *internal* DVD/CDRW, and weighs 3.4 lbs. The CD drive can be removed, lowering its weight down to 2.8 lbs, or a second battery can be added, increasing battery life to 11 hours (or 14 hours with the double capacity battery). It costs more than the P-1000 but is still quite reasonable ($1500). These Fujitsus put the Sony Vaios to shame in design and cost. They're the only Windows laptops I've seen that impress me like the MAC Powerbook (which is larger and expensive, but very slick).

[Deslock]

As you, I am happy that the Pocket PC is not a PC. I can't even think of myself going around with a Windows 2000 or XP machine for the needs I use the Pocket PC for.


???

If it'd boot up instantly (or come out of standby-mode instantly), the hardware was small and light enough, and battery life was reasonable, then why not want to run XP? (which can run PIM apps too)

Isn't the whole point of Pocket-PC to provide PIM and PC functionality? PPC is, afterall, a streamlined version of a desktop OS modified and rewritten to run with less hardware (it was not, however, actually designed from the ground up as a handheld OS... it still has a registry, DLLs, complicated directory structure, etc. Fundamentally, PPC has a lot in common with NT/2k/XP).

Obviously, you'd want to run a more efficient OS if possible, but XP provides you with a hell of a lot more functionality than PPC does... there are a lot of Palm users who write "I am happy that the Palm is not a PC." but I've never seen someone write that about a PPC.

[jlp]

Comdex fall (Nov. 18-22) promises to be very interesting:

Antelope Tech say they will be there (cf. their site), OQO promised their device will be out in 2nd Semester 2002 so they will show something in production or late beta.

The MMC (Antelope Tech) seems to be more versatile, while the OQO is integrated and a lot smaller since the screen is embeded, and they've already shown prototypes. Also they could make another model without the screen to make it as versatile as the MMC.

OTOH the OQO already has integrated BT and Wi-Fi and there's another company that makes a stretchable pocketable keyboard with BT and Wi-Fi connections. (http://www.infosync.no/show.php?id=2012)