Cathena Windows CE Laptop Available

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/entry/8288529185330486/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/entry/8288529185330486/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"It sure looks like a regular laptop, but the Cathena is definitely not a regular laptop, especially since it runs on Windows CE rather than on the full Windows OS. It’s sort of like that movie Big, just with a PDA that’s woken up in the body of a laptop instead of some forgotten child actor waking up in Tom Hanks’s body (and it’s also not a movie, but whatever). The specs won’t blow you out of the water (64MB of ROM, 128MB of RAM, a 12.1-inch LCD screen, 802.11b WiFi, and a CompactFlash memory card slot—but NO hard drive), but you do get an instant-on laptop that weighs under 3 pounds and that’ll work just fine for taking notes, sending emails, instant messaging, and accessing the web"</i> <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/8650123811267545.jpg" /> <br /><br />It's always good to see new Windows CE devices, espcially when they have built in keyboards. The problem as ever, is price. Engadget are correct in thier post. $799 is a lot of your earth dollars. :?

[Stephen Beesley]

No thanks - nice looking machine and all, but no hard drive, and I am guess no touch screen (going off the touch pad) with Win CE and probably a lack of compatible software. Then there is the price 8O ...

I think the idea of a laptop replacement using some version of the Win CE operating System would be very nice and certianly find a niche. But it would have to be innovative (I always liked the old Sharp/Vadam Clio) and most importantly come in at a price point considerably below a standard laptop. IMHO this offereing fails on both points.

[Darius Wey]

A quote from: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/wce/evaluate/palmfaq.mspx

5. What does the "CE" stand for?

"CE" doesn't represent a single concept, but rather implies a number of Windows CE design precepts, including "Compact, Connectable, Compatible, and Companion."

I hardly see this as "compact" when you can get a Pocket PC instead. The website even stresses its suitability for "Palm-Size PCs". Sorry...but I don't have Hakeem Olajuwon-type hands. :wink:

[jonathanchoo]

Although MS does not want to admit it, CE stands for Consumer Electronics.

Which include audio, digital imaging, gaming, home networking, mobile electronics and wireless devices.

[iant54]

I guess that it's an update to HP's Jornada 820, which I bought and have still got.

[Bajan Cherry]

I loved that Jornada 820 and Sharp mobilon. Ah, what happy memories playing with those HPC-PRO and HPC class devices! This device certainly brings back those memories. And I think to me, this is where the utility of this device is. For me, I am eagerly awaiting Flipstart and OQO...

[Shuushin]

Screw the keyboard.

I suppose just a touch screen that size would bring the price quite a bit higher.

Look, this is what I want:

A big fricken screen, like page size
instant on
stylus input/block recognizer
sd card
cf card
WiFi
3 hour battery life
enough HP to run full motion video in a four-inch window.

no hard drive, no keyboard, no cd or floppy crap - gimme thin and light.

And I want it to be $800 bucks; I'd pay that much.

Is that so hard?

[Jonathan1]

A quote from: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/wce/evaluate/palmfaq.mspx

5. What does the "CE" stand for?

"CE" doesn't represent a single concept, but rather implies a number of Windows CE design precepts, including "Compact, Connectable, Compatible, and Companion."

I hardly see this as "compact" when you can get a Pocket PC instead. The website even stresses its suitability for "Palm-Size PCs". Sorry...but I don't have Hakeem Olajuwon-type hands. :wink:

They are talking about the OS. Compaired to Windows 98, 2K, XP it is a Compact OS.

[Darius Wey]

A quote from: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/wce/evaluate/palmfaq.mspx

5. What does the "CE" stand for?

"CE" doesn't represent a single concept, but rather implies a number of Windows CE design precepts, including "Compact, Connectable, Compatible, and Companion."

I hardly see this as "compact" when you can get a Pocket PC instead. The website even stresses its suitability for "Palm-Size PCs". Sorry...but I don't have Hakeem Olajuwon-type hands. :wink:

They are talking about the OS. Compaired to Windows 98, 2K, XP it is a Compact OS.

Haha. I know that. I was making my point about "Palm-size" PCs and how this one isn't really palm-sized for my hands. :D

[Jonathan1]

I don't think so. CE laptop devices inhabit that realm of computer device that no one wants to play in. They don't run PDA software. (Well by and large they don't. There are some exceptions.) They don't run standard Windows software so you are stuck there.
They are way propriatary so forget calling anyone for tech support. Example: Trying to get your cable modem to work with this device and you call up comcast for help.

While I'm sure this thing gets some insane battery life, has instant on, and is rugged as heck due to the lack of moving parts its still a closed system. MS's handheld PC initiative should have cluded these guys into the fact that these devices aren't sitting in a good position for sales.

That being said its always nice that someone tries something new. If we didn't have people that risked everything there might not even be a PDA market right now.

[Jonathan1]

Haha. I know that. I was making my point about "Palm-size" PCs and how this one isn't really palm-sized for my hands. :D

Sorry. Haven't had my caffein fix for the morning yet. Didn't catch :wink:

[dazz]

The Cathena is really not meant to be a consumer device at all. While it will probably be available to consumers it will be (and is being) marketed to the education vertical.

The idea is to use these in the classroom for students. Most likely Data Evolution is trying to become a part of the tech-buying grants offered up by Bill Gates to various states. Right now these states are mostly buying palmOne device (sorry Bill!!).

While these seem expensive they are not so expensive if you factor in support. If schools had to support laptops for the students it would probably become a huge job. In contrast, the Cathena is a relatively easy unit to support. What's that worth per unit over a 2 or 3 year term?

Personally, I think this is a good idea, whether it flies or not. ;) The price is higher than a PocketPC but not overly high compared to a laptop. Students are going to use these for specific tasks and don't need all of the power of a laptop. In fact, I would guess that is a BIG selling feature for schools. Students won't be installing a ton of games or file sharing programs on these.

What I am really looking forward to is the new Clio coming from Data Evolution. It will be much updated and will include wireless components, fast processor, lots of memory but still maintain the cool swingarm design for the screen. It will probably be able $999 but that is still a LOT less than Psion Teklogix's NetbookPro! :D

[JongJungBu]

The problem with that is they are going to be unable to install just any educational software they see. They won't be able to install hardly any at all (the teachers mind you). There are a lot of educational applications for standard PC that would makeup for the ability of students to do "additional things they shouldn't" on a PC. There's not much a student can learn through a CE device unless it is by way of a CE-friendly website. If it is a computer course, as opposed to another subject providing a different form of learning, then you really have a problem. A CE device isn't going to help them learn how to use Excel or Word all that well.

A Dell Inspiron (Home or Business) laptop would cost the school less than $800 a pop. And not have the limitation of proprietary software.



JJB

[silver99]

Just a compact flash slot - no SDIO? With that size you should be getting a lot of extras.

Besides, the size of the Pocket PC is what makes it great. If I'm going to carry something that size I'll get a laptop.

There's still A LOT of room for improvement within the handheld specs (screen, battery, I/O ports, memory) that to change the size of the device would be useless.

[Jason Dunn]

Guys, this isn't aimed at the consumer market. It's an enterprise/vertical play. Think of it this way: for $799 you get a device with no moving parts, great battery life, and one that's immune to all of the nasty viruses/spyware around right now. You install a custom-built .Net application on there for your workers, and that's it. From an IT perspective, think of how easy it would be to support 100 of these - no one trying to install Doom 3 or other non-work software. I think $799 is actually quite reasonable - the Clie was selling for $999 in it's heyday, so this is more in the ballpark.

[Kati Compton]

Psion made very nice machines in this vein - how did they do? They were also not for consumers, etc. They were smaller than this, I believe.

[ctmagnus]

Cathena sounds too much like something you get stuck up one of the lower ends of your digestive system in the hospital. Yuck.

[Darius Wey]

Cathena sounds too much like something you get stuck up one of the lower ends of your digestive system in the hospital. Yuck.

Actually, it reminded me more of "catheter" - but I won't go into its uses for the sake of innocent minds floating around on this forum. :lol:

[ctmagnus]

That's what I was referring to. ;)

[Darius Wey]

That's what I was referring to. ;)

Oh! :D

Well it's not just used for the digestive system. :P

[Jonathon Watkins]

Facinating as this discussion is guys, can I ask that we ... :nonono:
Ta. :wink: