Review of Viewsonic/Microsoft Smart Display

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/01/06/BU116766.DTL' target='_blank'>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/artic...06/BU116766.DTL</a><br /><br /></div><a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/smartdisplay/">Smart Displays</a> are essentially WinCE tablets that act as Remote Desktop clients, much like what you can do using a laptop or desktop connecting to a Windows XP Professional box; however, these are solid-state and have better battery life. Despite this, the reviewer had mixed opinions on it. The biggest problem, it seems, is that it's significantly overpriced - for $999 the reviewer would rather have gotten a notebook.<br /><br />Do you think this aspect of Microsoft's mobile vision will eventually be useful, and if so, how? Or do you think Terminal Services Client on Pocket PC's are the preferred solution?

[Programmer]

Do you think this aspect of Microsoft's mobile vision will eventually be useful, and if so, how? Or do you think Terminal Services Client on Pocket PC's are the preferred solution?

I have been waiting for something like this for over 12 years.

unfortunately this is too limited right now.. It is too thick and too heavy. and the screen resolution is still too small. and oh yeah.. its too expensive.


Oh Well. I'll keep waiting

Robert

[klinux]

Won't work... and heard that revision is in already the works!

I like to see 802.11g and not logging off users on the PC i.e. allowing X number of users to work on the same machine at the same time! That feature would be great with either the new hyperthreading CPU or the many cheap dual-CPU machines out there.

Oh, and since a new full fledge laptop can be found for $800 or less, the price needs to be around $500.

&lt;/rant>

[Janak Parekh]

I like to see 802.11g and not logging off users on the PC i.e. allowing X number of users to work on the same machine at the same time!
The 1-user limitation is XP's fault, not the thin client's. Presumably with .NET Server you'll be able to circumvent this by using full terminal services.

--janak

[dim_watt]

I really like this idea. If it works the way it should (big "if"), it'd be so much simpler than a networked laptop, and far more functional than current handhelds. A big plus, I think, is not having to have every app that you might want to get to around home installed on every PC you use there; same goes for certain hardware.

I agree that they're currently way too expensive, but get it around $250 as Norr says and this is a great device.

[T-Will]

You can barely buy an LCD screen for $250, let alone a touchscreen device that has CE and networking built-in.

It would be cool if all LCD monitors were Smart Displays and didn't cost any more than a normal LCD screen.

[merlin]

Just went to COMP USA here in Las Vegas to try and win one. No Luck.
I got a free lunch though! :beer:

The displays looks good but when I asked if it had 802.11a or 802.11g for video and music, they said not at this time. Perhaps the next update.
:?

One would think this device would be cost much less since it's just acting as a display and not doing the computing. It costs way too much.

[Macguy59]

Love the idea and would buy one in a heartbeat IF they get the price below $600. Why would anyone pay laptop prices for these things without laptop capabilites? Heck for that matter the highend HP PPC is overpriced.

[that_kid]

I saw one the other day at compusa. All they had was a demo running on it :? you would think they would have it TS'd into something so you could try it out. I noticed that it had a pcmcia slot on it and I'm not sure if that was for the wifi card or not. If the price was better I could see myself using one but for that price I can get a laptop to do the same thing and more.

[Fitch]

The 1-user limitation is XP's fault, not the thin client's. Presumably with .NET Server you'll be able to circumvent this by using full terminal services.

Yeah! I was shocked to hear that you can't use the desktop if you load up the Smart Display. It's not useful for multiple users at all. So sell your desktop and get a really nice expensive destkop-replacement laptop for the extra $1000

Is this the case with XP's "Remote Desktop"? Is this the same technology?

[T-Will]

Yeah, plus when you're disconnected you can't even play DVD's, so it sounds like getting a cheap laptop that has wireless and a DVD player is the better way to go...interesting idea though...

[dean_shan]

This look's great. I've been wanting a flat pannel LCD moniter for a while now but the price has always been to high (Isn't that they way it is with all the good stuff :wink: ) Now they've got me wanting a Smart Display. Hopefuly once they work all the bugs and kinks out of the Smart Displays I might be able to afford it.

[icatar]

Definitely cost is a factor for these smart displays. If I'm going to pay $1000 for something, I'll get a laptop. If I'm going to pay $500-$999, I'll get a high end PPC, with the TS client, and can function away from the home PC.

This thing will have to hit the sub $500 range to take off. That could happen with the prices of flat panels and such dropping every day.

[Janak Parekh]

Is this the case with XP's "Remote Desktop"? Is this the same technology?
In a word, yes. XP's Remote Desktop features only let one person be logged on - either a console user or a remote user.

The displays looks good but when I asked if it had 802.11a or 802.11g for video and music, they said not at this time. Perhaps the next update.
You don't need 802.11a/g for music. At uncompressed 44KHz 16-bit audio, you are using 176kBps, or 1,408kbps. That's much less than the rated 11mbps (or ~ 5mbps actual) bandwidth of 802.11b.

Video, on the other hand, is an entirely different story. You could get decent video on 802.11b, but not true DVD-quality.

--janak

[acronym]

I wonder about the video refresh rate.
most computers in my house are connected through vnc, I wouldn't want to rely on that connection to do webbrowsing or anything that loads a new screen often - the lag is terrible over 802.11b

[icatar]

Heh, looks like MS is already on top of things. After the first round of displays are released, they will release an update that will allow multiple sessions for XP Pro. They also said that to improve streaming video, they will support 802.11a (no mention of 802.11g though).

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2128349,00.html

[Janak Parekh]

I wonder about the video refresh rate.
most computers in my house are connected through vnc, I wouldn't want to rely on that connection to do webbrowsing or anything that loads a new screen often - the lag is terrible over 802.11b
VNC is much, much, much, much (did I say much?) worse than RDP (MS's Remote Display Protocol, used in this product as well as the general Remote Desktop Connection/Terminal Services technology). RDP is based on a protocol called ICA, developed by Citrix specifically geared for doing Windows fast. It is very tolerable over a DSL-ish connection, and over 802.11b it is extremely fast. There's a slight lag, i.e., you could tell it's not local if you're a power user, but nothing really all that annoying.

VNC, on the other hand, is less intelligent about screen capture on Windows. It was originally designed to be a remote display tool for Unix, and there it performs much better.

Heh, looks like MS is already on top of things. After the first round of displays are released, they will release an update that will allow multiple sessions for XP Pro. They also said that to improve streaming video, they will support 802.11a (no mention of 802.11g though).
Excellent!! I really hope they support multiple connections for general RDP sessions (e.g., not just smart displays). I do have to say that their explanation of why it wasn't supported in XP Pro initially is highly suspicious; they've had the technology for years, and to me it seems they deliberately limited it to differentiate their product lineup from the Server series which is geared towards multiple remote sessions.

--janak

[PhatCohiba]

Is this the case with XP's "Remote Desktop"? Is this the same technology?
In a word, yes. XP's Remote Desktop features only let one person be logged on - either a console user or a remote user.


--janak

The Smart Display is a "Terminal Services Client" so is you Pocket PC if you run the application. You can get a TS client for any os back to Win 3.1 I believe.

On the Server (or host) side, a Windows XP Pro allows 1 user to connect either directly (keyboard, monitor) or through Terminal Services (aka. Remote Desktop).

A Windows 2000 Server supports 2 remote clients and 1 direct (keyboard & Monitor) at the same time. Thereby supporting 3 concurrent users.

If you want more then 2 TS clients to connect at once, you must run your Windows 2000 Server in "Terminal Services Application Mode" (vs. Remote Administration Mode) and buy license packs. At this point, you can support as many clients as your server can handle.

Happy TS'ing.

[Daniel]

I read an article on the SmartDisplay (I guess everything is Smart* now...) that said that the first version does not do video or 3d. The had a quote from Bill about it saying that "version 1.5" would do this better/at all.

Glad to hear about the update to XP Pro to allow more than one user, makes more sense that way, at least to me anyway.

I can't believe the price though, you *could* buy an iBook for that and use RDC on that for goodness sake, given the traditional pricing premium Apple has, that's saying something! I guess you'd have to add the ariport card though which would add $99, but you get what I mean.

I'm sure a certain Mr. McNealy would be a little annoyed right now that these are just a thin client, only wireless?!

Daniel

[Janak Parekh]

The Smart Display is a "Terminal Services Client" so is you Pocket PC if you run the application. You can get a TS client for any os back to Win 3.1 I believe.
I know. The funky thing is that the Smart Display requires at least XP SP1. Seems like they're implementing some services on top of RDP5 (I believe that's the version bundled with XP) to handle non-keyboard environments. Or maybe it's just application-side stuff. I'm not sure how well it'll connect to RDP4, i.e., W2k Server.

--janak

[merlin]

Heh, looks like MS is already on top of things. After the first round of displays are released, they will release an update that will allow multiple sessions for XP Pro. They also said that to improve streaming video, they will support 802.11a (no mention of 802.11g though).

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2128349,00.html

WOW! That was fast!! :crazyeyes:

BTW, While you guys are in Vegas, we have a Pocket PC User Group meeting at the Fairway Chevrolet (conference room) 3100 East Sahara Ave @ Boulder Hwy.
January 10th, 2003 @ 6:30pm
All are welcome to join us. Email me for more information.



Eric P.
Las Vegas PPCUG - www.vegasbiznet.com/pocketpc
iPAQ 3870 - iPAQ 5455 - TDK USB BT - P4 2.4G-
WinXP Pro - Sony Ericsson T68i - Motorola Bluetooth Headset - AT&T

[rlobrecht]

Does anybody else think that this could really benefit from the software enhancements for a Tablet PC. I mean you will in essence have a tablet form factor, and an XP backend, but it doesn't give you any of the software to make it useful. Without ink, and at $1000, this will be the next Microsoft Bob.

[johncj]

Given that these things way about the same as a Tablet PC, and cost 1/2 as much, I just don't see them taking off in the home environment. Weird thing is, I know of a few vertical markets that they would be great for.

[T-Will]

I can't wait until a company comes out with the CRT Smart Display! :D At least they would be cheaper... :roll:

[possmann]

Good idea but way to expensive to put to use.

Yes, it would be cool if some OEM's - like a DELL - started to offer these as a replacement for a flat screen, but the screen quality and price point just isn't there yet.

If the price was down far enough for the harware today, I'd get one because I don't enjoy browsing the web using my PPC while at home, but would love to just take the screen off of the computer and sit in a comfy chair - or read before going to bed - but not for $1000...