Synosphere Blue Dock Turns Pocket PC Into Desktop

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.synosphere.com/">http://www.synosphere.com/</a><br /><br />"Synosphere’s Blue Dock™ is the world’s first docking station to allow Pocket PC handhelds to function as a primary computing platform in a work place environment, without the need for an additional workstation or laptop. Easily dock compatible handhelds and productively create, modify, and edit data on a full sized monitor, with optimized and projected full screen video, using a full size keyboard and mouse. Once docked, experience instantaneous access to Email, the Internet, and network resources (file servers, printers, and other shared workstations). Additional data storage is provided through a mobile Secure Digital flash card interface." <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2004/20040129-synosphere.gif" /><br /><br />Features include:<br /><br />• SDI Interface <br />• SVGA (640 x 480, 800 x 600) <br />• PS2 Keyboard and Mouse <br />• Network Interface Port <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2004/20040129-synosphere2.gif" /><br /><b>Pocket Excel at 800X600 on an external monitor</b><br /><br />There is no pricing or availability yet. There is a <a href="http://www.synosphere.com/Images/Media_full.wmv">WMV video here</a> with lots of word and music you can dance to, but not much information.

[Kevin Remhof]

Am I the only one who feels like Tom Hanks in "Big" when I see this? In "Big", he took one look at the Transformer that went from skyscraper to robot and said "I don't get it". That how I feel about the Blue Dock.

It seems interesting but strange. PCs are so cheap right now that I think it's cheaper (and easier) to have a desktop PC with plenty of horsepower instead of a (relatively) low-end Pocket PC. I'm sure this could find a niche market but that's about it. PDAs are great as Personal Digital Assistants, not as desktops.

[Kati Compton]

My guess is the monitor, etc. would be shared between the PDA and a "real" computer. This really would be for hard-core users that are going to run productivity software on their PDAs. Data entry with keyboard and monitor is much faster (and comfortable) generally than doing it on the PDA itself...

But really, more than the keyboard (as there are keyboards for PDAs), it has to be the monitor connectivity that's the draw here.

[DaleReeck]

Not to mention that you can use your existing computer and a $30 copy of PocketController Pro to get the same effect.

[popabawa]

Is it vapourware day today? :lol:

[Perry Reed]

Not bad, and certainly interesting. Adding the big monitor, full size keyboard and mouse(!) to the Pocket PC would certainly make using it at your desk much easier.

But would anyone really trade in a full Windows XP desktop for this? I would think the relatively low-computing-power and feature-lite applications of the Pocket PC would be a significant drawback. I certainly wouldn't want to do without all of my PC apps.

Although I suppose that could be compensated for with the third-party word processor (I forget what it's called) that has all of the features missing from Pocket Word, and to some extent a better browser like the Thunderhawk. And I guess, you could always use the Remote Desktop Client to connect to a regular PC when the need arises. Of course, if you have a desktop to use, why not just use it all the time?

I'm sure this dock would be fun to play with, or to replace the regular dock when I'm at my desk (to be used purely as a secondary machine), but I just don't see getting rid of my PC in favor of one.

[jkendrick]

If you go to their website and look at the photo of the entire setup (Ipaq, keyboard, and monitor) stop and look at it for a minute. The monitor shows a spreadsheet, the Ipaq in the dock is rebooting, and the other Ipaq in the foreground in someones hand is actually running the spreadsheet.

[DrtyBlvd]

Earlier thread here:
http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/for...hlight=bluedock

[lowair]

Their 'surfing the web' example shows the PalmOne site?

Hmm, I just don't what to think about that.

Heh 8O

[ricksfiona]

That's a pretty slick design. Something like this could work for students or someone on a budget. I think this would become even more attractive as Pocket PC's performance increase.

[fgarcia10]

This would be really usefull if it can replace a Wise terminal. I have coworkers still using a Franklin planner :roll:

[Janak Parekh]

Earlier thread here:
http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/for...hlight=bluedock
Yup, told Ed... although it's not worth nuking the thread now. They tried a couple of searches by the company's name, but the apostrophe confused phpBB. :(

--janak

[24va]

This would be great for the road. When I travel to different sites, we have what we call 'Hot Desks' where there are monitors, keyboards and LAN; everything except a computer. So now all I would have to carry is my iPAQ and BlueDock.

Of course, only if it is real! :|

[dorelse]

Am I the only one who feels like Tom Hanks in "Big" when I see this? In "Big", he took one look at the Transformer that went from skyscraper to robot and said "I don't get it". That how I feel about the Blue Dock.

No you're not. I don't get it either. :|

(A great movie...wish I could say 'I don't get it' and become the new VP of Toy Development.)

[eustts]

If their were web based services such as PIM functions, email, fax, etc. along with a device like this it would be more marketable.

Just being able to surf the web isn't enough.

[dmacburry2003]

I'd take an iPaq computer over my Windows 98 desktop any day. Much more reliable.

Also, I could use this dock as an ethernet card (since I can't get any SDIO ones anyway).

[possmann]

I had that first impression too - OOOOOO Cool!

Then I thought about it and asked myself - why? When would I use this? I'm still thinking about that one. Seeing it has no price point either... it makes you wonder. Dell is prompting a full PC for under $600 - close to the high end pocketpc... so why would you feel the need to spend your money on this, a monitor, a keyboard and mouse?

It is cool though...

[JonnoB]

Their 'surfing the web' example shows the PalmOne site?

Hmm, I just don't what to think about that.



It is designed to run on a Palm device as well. I assume they will have one for each PDA platform. Also note that the parent company is the one behind the virtual keyboard product.

[David C]

This would be good if it is intergrated in to cars. I don't know if it has a stero output or not. If it does, it can be used as an MP3/Video/Email device that I can stick on the dashboard, and take with me when I leave.

[orinoco]

But it is missing a USB host capability (hook up an external HD) :D . When it this available??? Price???

:?:

Fernando

[dean_shan]

Yeah this will never take off. I could just use the Toshiba expantion pack and do the same thing for less.

[hockeydude]

This does look pretty cool. I see one problem though, If this thing is made for each individual device, what happends when you buy a new device. I mean your not gonna want to sell this and buy a new one each time you buy a new device. They should make some type of universal connection system. Thats why I would never buy an access. that is not universal. (only exception is my Axim Titanium Hardcase :D )

[GoldKey]

That's a pretty slick design. Something like this could work for students or someone on a budget. I think this would become even more attractive as Pocket PC's performance increase.

Really though you can go by a new eMachine with a monitor and a printer at Best Buy for $399 after rebates. You would spend at least that on a PPC and whatever this costs and would have nowhere near as much.

[Colorado]

I think it is a pretty good idea. True pc's are getting cheaper all the time but why have more junk. We are going to be moving to a smaller home and are trying to get rid of extra stuff. Currently we have 2 complete computer, monitor, printer setups, but we don't want to share just one computer. Since I can do 90%+ of my computing on my PDA the option of having a small LCD and wireless keyboard & mouse on my desk with no CPU taking up space is pretty appealing. I use my iPaq far more than my desktop and I'd rather spend the money on getting a new iPaq instead of a new desktop.

[dorelse]

Alright...I've thought about it some more, I could see a use for this...only question though is looks like they need a seperate model for each PPC/Palm connector device...

So are they going to make like 5 different models then? (The one benefit PalmSource has with their UC, the Garmin & Upper ended Palms could all use the same BlueDock.)

[Thinkingmandavid]

perry wrote
I would think the relatively low-computing-power and feature-lite applications of the Pocket PC would be a significant drawback
This is true, I do not see how a ppc near reaches the functionality nor power of a desktop or laptop. For me there is going to have to be more than just adding a monitor.

hockeydude wrote
I see one problem though, If this thing is made for each individual device, what happends when you buy a new device. I mean your not gonna want to sell this and buy a new one each time you buy a new device. They should make some type of universal connection system
If they make them unit specific, then it will make it tough when those units are no longer sold by the manufacturers as well. A good example of this is with Toshiba's e740, 750, 355, etc. AS time goes by these models wil become less available. More importantly than that, when anyone of us wants to upgrade to the latest and greatest, what happens to the money we spent on a unit specific device?

For these reasons alone I will not be a purchaser of this product.

[JonnoB]

I don't see this as a viable alternative to a desktop PC... however - this coudl be a good viable solution for a terminal in many corporations. Think of the many web-deployed applications and vertical apps that could be designed for the Pocket PC. Not now, but at some point, I can see the value in having a PDA docking solution. Basically, it is like the idea that Sun uses with its terminals and smart cards that access central data. Instead, you take the data with you and it still works in a mobile setting.

[CaptRiker]

The corporate setting is what I was thinking of as well. You could run the mail client on the ipaq and then use the built in Terminal Services client to run standard applications. The user could then take everything with them to any office/cubicle/home and just plug in and go. A VPN client on the PPC and one of these at home would mean instant corporate PC without the laptop.

Still niche maybe, but useful. I can see it being popular in a hospital/manufacturing environment. Exchange 2003 also has some blackberry type functions in it too so that would be neat for road warriors.

[jimski]

I started talking about this concept about six years ago when I got my first Palm (and I wonder if someone from Synosphere once overheard me in an airport lounge).

Create a docking station for a PDA, with a keyboard, trackball, 800 x 600 monitor, expanded memory capacity (with a hard drive or now, flash memory). Include modem, printer and network support. Then make universal adapters (little 3/4" long plugs) that would allow any PDA to connect directly to the docking station.

You could set these dumb workstations up in airports, cafe's or anywhere. I would have added a couple of these in each of our offices to allow visitors (either corporate or clients) to use the dock while they were there. This could eliminate the need for carrying the bulky laptop everywhere and truely make the PPC a Pocketable PC.

If I had a million or so for development, you would not have had to wait so long. As far as this idea goes, I think it's best opportunities have past, but who knows. They may find a niche market that I haven't yet considered.

[johncruise]

OEM should really start investing more on USB host integration on their Pocket PC. Casio, Toshiba and Mitac already are benefitting from this. Casio and Mitac just need the VGA card for the monitor hookup. Keyboard, mouse, and HDD's are plugged through the USB port. Toshiba has integrated the VGA on their USB adapter as well (cheaper in that case).