Is there a future for HPCPro machines?

[Fishie]

Hi, im new here.
Im relatively new to the world of PPC machines.
I write about the exciting world of videogames and for quite some time I used a Packard Bell/NEC Mobilepro 770 for my work.
Only recently I exchanged my machine for an Ipaq, wich is a cool little machine but I do miss the nice big screen and almost full size keyboard wich served me incredibly well on the road and during intervieuws with developers and publishers.
Now the Ipaq itself is a wonderfull little machine wich fits in my pocket and wich I can use for a variety of different tasks that dont involve a lot of typing, its much more practical to just look up some info or read some avantgo content on the road or play some kickass games while waiting for appointments etcetera.
But still I do miss the fast and easy productivity wich the 770 provided me with and I dont feel like plunking down 2000€ for a Sony Vaio sublaptop or 1000€ for a smaller Jornada 728.

So what it comes down to basicaly is this, do HPCPro like machines have a future and if so when can we expect to see NEW machines wich take advantage of newer processors enter the marketplace?
Is it worth for me to wait and buy one running ce.net or a new HPCPro OS or whatever or should I consider that niche as dead and instead get a horribly overpriced vaio or something similar?

Thanks in advance for anny and all feedback regarding this subject.

Regards Ali.

[Jason Dunn]

HPC Pro devices never quite took off. The OS is basically frozen, and the hardware updates with the newer devices are very minor. I was an HPC fan myself, but I think it remain a niche market. :?

[ECOslin]

I still use my HPC, an IBM z50, for text file reading and the occasional data gathering(Excel, sometimes Word).

http://www.allnetdevices.com/specs_img/ibm_workpadz50.gif

I'd like to see more of these devices, I like the mobility, instant-on operating system, keyboard and reliability of my device.

And the 640 by 480 screen makes it an easier reading platform.

My Audiovox Maestro is useful for it's PocketPC 2002 OS and portability.

http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/pocketpc/hardware/images/audiovox.gif

My HPC has a 16hour battery, my Maestro a 3hour or less battery. I can use both of them, and I appreciate that I can use my HPC longer.

Edward

[Peter Foot]

I think the main reason H/PC pro's never took off is because they are neither Handheld computers (at least compared to pocket pcs etc) or PCs, they are somewhere in between. On the one hand they are smaller and cheaper than most notebooks but on the other hand, they can't just run any PC software on them. To a purist the HPC is better because its got a less cluttered OS and impressive battery capacity but its just too easy to pick up a laptop these days.

For truly mobile devices Pocket PC's and Palm offer a form factor which allows a certain amount of one handed operation if necessary. They are something really different from a PC and have really got a large following.

[Fishie]

Thanks for the replies people.
Looks like there is not much chance then that I will ever find the machine I want.
Too bad, the MobilePro 770 really served me well and id love nothing more then have a same sized similar OS and hardware updated machine.
The lil Vaio´s dont particularly tickle my fancy and altough incredibly cool the PPC´s are nowhere near as usefull for me on the field.
Oh well, I can but hope that someone somewhere will make a machine that caters to my specific needs sometime in the future then.

[bitbank]

All is not lost. I use my HP720 on a daily basis for email and web surfing. My many Pocket PCs just don't do that as well.

HP just released a new model (728) which is quite nice. I think this indicates the market is not quite dead. HPCs will never be mainstream machines because of their bulk and price, but they do service a viable business market.

L.B.

[sub_tex]

Thanks for the replies people.
Looks like there is not much chance then that I will ever find the machine I want.
Too bad, the MobilePro 770 really served me well and id love nothing more then have a same sized similar OS and hardware updated machine.

Well, that new Zaurus is still clamshell, yet can swivel to be a tablet PDA for one handed use as well.

http://www.mobilenews.ne.jp/news/2002/10/16/wpc/01s.jpg

It's not out yet (december in Japan so i hear), but if it does come here soon, it could offer the keyboard you're used to, the 640x480 screen is just as nice, and the dual slots for expansion. The only major change would be OS. And if what you do mostly is word processing and net browsing, you'd be covered in those areas right off the bat.

I'm in a similar position to you (love those Psion machines and that Jornada 720) and i've been waiting this Zaurus ever since they showed pics of it.

Best of both worlds for those of us who love both clamshell pda's with keyboards, and tablet PDAs for one handed use on the subway.

:D

[Fishie]

So there is hope still.