Whoa - Where Can I Buy This? HP's Matisse Prototype

[Jason Dunn]

This is a scan from the magazine Popular Science - would you look at this thing? Cool! Pocket PC software isn't sophisticated enough yet to be a primary computer for most people, but the potential is there, and as a concept, this makes me weak in the knees. The only problem is where would I put my DVD burner?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/whattheheck-large.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/whattheheck-small.jpg" /></a><br /><span>[Click the thumbnail image to get a larger version.]</span><br /><br />Here's the text for those of you that can't make it out (I had to zoom in):<br /><br />"We've seen the all-in-one flat-screen PCs before, and they always seemed a little half-baked. Sure the CPU was behind the monitor, but that made the monitor something less than svelte. HP's latest concept PC, the Matisse, reduces the bulk by storing all the brains in what it calls "knowledge pods", removable palm-size cartridges that hold everything but the monitor. The keyboard, mouse, and Internet connection are wireless, as you'd expect, but Matisse also provides wireless power though a metal rail at the base of the monitor. At the end of the day you'd place the keyboard in the tray, rest the mouse next to the base and pop the PDA into the cradle that snaps into the rail. No plugs required. What you see here is only a prototype, but the pod and wireless charging rail technology exist today and could show up on HP products as early as this winter."

[yschang]

oh my god :shocked!:
oh my god :shocked!:
oh my god :shocked!:
oh my god :shocked!:
oh my god :shocked!:
Want one!!!
Have to have one!!!
:drool:

[hdsalinas]

COOL! I want one !

Actually, I am about to build my new PC right now and I am going after the ipaq look with my setup (black and silver).

To make my PC look something like this HP I want to get the microsoft wirless optical desktop. Has anyone had any experience with it?

I hope HP changes their product line image. Their current look is getting old and its starting to look like something from fisher price (without the bright colors)

This new style looks great and I relly hpes it makes it to all the HP line.

HDSALINAS

[bdegroodt]

:multi: Please! Please! Please!

DVD burner could be incorporated into the monitor side (Slot fed).

[rlobrecht]

Pocket PC software isn't sophisticated enough yet to be a primary computer for most people, but the potential is there, and as a concept, this makes me weak in the knees. The only problem is where would I put my DVD burner?


I suspect that this wouldn't be a PocketPC, but a full fledged XP machine. See the thread from last week about new form factors and the (maybe) real OQO type devices.

[lonesniper]

I am sure I saw on www.news.com or www.ibm.com about IBM having designed a prototype of a small black box that had the CPU, hard disk, small PDA size screen anda connector. All of your data could be stored on it and viewed like a PDA with the built in screen or when plugged into a laptop case used as a laptop or used as a desktop when plugged into a desktop case.

I have done a few searches but found nothing, as can't remember what term they gave it. Or it could have just been one of my crazy dreams, as I eat way too much cheese sometimes.

[Jason Dunn]

I am sure I saw on www.news.com or www.ibm.com about IBM having designed a prototype of a small black box that had the CPU, hard disk, small PDA size screen anda connector. All of your data could be stored on it and viewed like a PDA with the built in screen or when plugged into a laptop case used as a laptop or used as a desktop when plugged into a desktop case.

I have done a few searches but found nothing, as can't remember what term they gave it. Or it could have just been one of my crazy dreams, as I eat way too much cheese sometimes.

Yeah, I remember reading about it. But so far none of those little XP devices have proven they can be useful in a stand-alone scenario.

[bdegroodt]

I guess if this does see the light of day, it effectively could kill OQO before it gets unit one shipped.

[alandashby]

I read about this in Popular Science this week end I thought it was quite cool as well, though Jason you asked about your DVD burner. If you look at some of the images you can see that the front has the letters DVD just bellow the screen. I would imagine that hp would have several different models one including a DVD burner. I did think the last statement of the article “…technology exist today and could show up on HP products as early as this winter.” Was encouraging. Though I thought if funny that the handheld was an iPAQ 3600 or 3700, not a 5400.

[lonesniper]

Ok the article was on news.com from 2nd Feb 2002
http://news.com.com/2100-1001-830173.html

The device was called the Meta Pad.
I love Big Blue :D They sure do make some interesting idea's.
IBM's page about it is here. http://www.research.ibm.com/resources/news/20020206_metapad.shtml

[bdegroodt]

Anyone have a speculation when the prototype might become reality?

Should be on the shelves at your local CompUSA this Spring :roll:

[huangzhinong]

Well, I have built so many computers. But Excuse me, what's special in this computer? Of course it is not pocket pc, it is a desktop. The Ipaq's cradle just connect to desktop, perfect but not wireless.

At least I don't think there is any excitment. If anybody think this is a future product, that's must because you never build a computer by yourself. I can build this one out in one week.(Frankly say if HP want to release it, they can release it tomorrow).

[bdegroodt]

Well, I have built so many computers. But Excuse me, what's special in this computer? Of course it is not pocket pc, it is a desktop. The Ipaq's cradle just connect to desktop, perfect but not wireless.

At least I don't think there is any excitment. If anybody think this is a future product, that's must because you never build a computer by yourself. I can build this one out in one week.(Frankly say if HP want to release it, they can release it tomorrow).

Do you accept Amex? If you can give me a full fledged XP machine in an Ipaq form factor, I'll offer up payment today.

[huangzhinong]

Well, I have built so many computers. But Excuse me, what's special in this computer? Of course it is not pocket pc, it is a desktop. The Ipaq's cradle just connect to desktop, perfect but not wireless.

At least I don't think there is any excitment. If anybody think this is a future product, that's must because you never build a computer by yourself. I can build this one out in one week.(Frankly say if HP want to release it, they can release it tomorrow).

Do you accept Amex? If you can give me a full fledged XP machine in an Ipaq form factor, I'll offer up payment today.

did you read the news carefully? The ipaq is ipaq, which has nothing to do with the XP machine.

[[Cruzer]]

This device looks interesting but all this looks like to me is a larger
TabletPC with a dockingstation and a wirless keyboard. Which I have
now but with he current HP TabletPC. What I would rather have is
the unit be the dockingstation for the PocketPC. That would have
access to a cdrw, printer, etc.. Then when i'm done just undock and
take with me. Yah I know I'm dreaming. But it "could" happen.

RC

[amflores]

well, now there´s a HUGE reason to fall into the darkside!.... I´m a palm user, but when such a thing shows up I don´t think I´ll be for much longer :roll:

[Kirkaiya]

Cool! Pocket PC software isn't sophisticated enough yet to be a primary computer for most people, but the potential is there, and as a concept, this makes me weak in the knees. The only problem is where would I put my DVD burner?

Jason - you DO realize that this is not a Pocket PC (iPaq) hooked up to an external monitor, with peripherals, right? I think you realized that, but since your post was vague, just wanted to make sure you understood that the picture shows a modified Tablet PC, with an iPaq *in addition*, with an integrated cradle.

So, the PC itself (which is cleverly concealed in a datapak thingy) is probably running Windows XP, or whatever - I got my PopSci about a week ago, and drooled over the concept also, even though it's not really anything revolutionary. Now, if the iPaq WAS powering the whole setup (as a CPU), that *would* be pretty damn cool.

[johncj]

Now, if the iPaq WAS powering the whole setup (as a CPU), that *would* be pretty damn cool.

Uh, I can do that today with the stuff in my office. Toshiba e740, USB expansion pack (with VGA output), 15 inch LCD screen, powered USB hub, wireless mouse/keyboard combo. Could even use Deje's mass storage driver and throw in a 30GB USB hard drive.

Ok, it wouldn't look as cool, but it would have the same functionality. But you're still stuck with a fairly limited OS. What's cool about that?

[jet8810]

johncj, I think that we are all saying it would be very cool of the PDA-sized unit was a FULL FLEDGED PC (CPU and even hard drive...) and it was powering the whole setup while running a real OS like Windows XP! :).

[huangzhinong]

Cool! Pocket PC software isn't sophisticated enough yet to be a primary computer for most people, but the potential is there, and as a concept, this makes me weak in the knees. The only problem is where would I put my DVD burner?

Jason - you DO realize that this is not a Pocket PC (iPaq) hooked up to an external monitor, with peripherals, right? I think you realized that, but since your post was vague, just wanted to make sure you understood that the picture shows a modified Tablet PC, with an iPaq *in addition*, with an integrated cradle.

So, the PC itself (which is cleverly concealed in a datapak thingy) is probably running Windows XP, or whatever - I got my PopSci about a week ago, and drooled over the concept also, even though it's not really anything revolutionary. Now, if the iPaq WAS powering the whole setup (as a CPU), that *would* be pretty damn cool.

I guess Jason know this is not Ipaq CPU although I don't know why he post this thread. But at least some of readers here are still thinking it is a XP machine in ipaq.

[spg]

For those interested in more pictures of this HP Prototype design you can see some here - http://www.extremetech.com/slideshow/0,3970,p=2&r=10&a=36473,00.asp

The pod the article talks about is shown well in some of these pictures, it is a small device that snaps onto the back of the monitor.

To bad this isn't a Pocket PC device running this thing, as that would be ultra cool. Unfortunetly, I don't think the technology is quite there yet for that. Interesting ideas though.

[adamz]

So I guess this thing must have one cord that goes to the power outlet? And then everything else gets it's power from the metal piping thing? That is extremely cool! Keyboard, mouse, and iPAQ all recharge when they're touching the metal? And the self contained hardware also gets it's power from the pipe! I bet they could make multi-level pipe systems for adding more hard disks and whatnot.

[SassKwatch]

about IBM having designed a prototype of a small black box that had the CPU, hard disk, small PDA size screen anda connector.

Probably this one.......

http://www.research.ibm.com/resources/news/20020206_metapad.shtml

[Steven Cedrone]

To make my PC look something like this HP I want to get the microsoft wirless optical desktop. Has anyone had any experience with it?


Since I think the keyboard/mouse discussion is worthy of it's own thread, I have moved it here... (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=11679)

Steven Cedrone
Community Moderator

[jlp]

Many companies work on such concepts:
- The IBM Metapad has been licenced by Antelope Tech (http://www.antelopetech.com/apps.html) who will buid it. Only weak point is that the screen is separate from the CPU, adding bulk, weight and price to the pocketable part. Of course this setup's weakness also has its strengths
- OQO (http://www.oqo.com/gallery1.html) (as mentionned by bdegroodt) this seems to be the closer to release; former IBM Thinkpad and Apple Titanium lead engineers have been working on this device since 2000; working prototypes exist since at least June 2002
- Tiqit (http://www.Tiqit.com/) is developing something like the OQO but larger because it integrates a small keyboard
- Toshiba and Intel are reported to work on pocketable TabletPCs as well (http://msn-cnet.com.com/2100-1005-996962.html?tag=lh)