Building An Ultraportable Desktop

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkontherun/2004/11/complete_deskto.html' target='_blank'>http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkonthe...ete_deskto.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"I have previously written how I incorporate the diminutive Sony U-70 into my daily workflow and I am still convinced it is the best computer for me. The news that Sony is going to bring an updated version of the U-70 to the US market is welcome and means we will likely see a lot more of the little workhorses in the near future...I did a lot of research on what was available that might fit my needs and settled on the Billionton Bluetooth (CF) card, the Stowaway Bluetooth Keyboard and the Bluetake BT500 portable Bluetooth mouse. These three components take up almost no room in my bag yet provide a completely functioning desktop, all without wires or hassles. This also gives me the opportunity to use the Motorola v710 Bluetooth phone for high speed connectivity when WiFi is not available."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20041112-PortableDesktop.jpg" /><br /><br />James Kendrick has assembled a truly drool-worthy setup with his U70 Mini-PC, and has written up a very nice review of it. At first, I started thinking how I could start saving up money for a similar arrangement, but then it occurred to me that I might as well do it with my Toshiba e805, a CF BT card for it, and the <a href="http://www.thinkoutside.com">Think Outside</a> BT mouse and keyboard. Throw <a href="http://www.softmaker.de/tm_en.htm">TextMaker</a> in, and I've got a complete wordprocessing solution! The e805 can handle landscape as well, so that's not too bad. The only thing is, I couldn't do Java development using <a href="http://www.eclipse.org">Eclipse</a> or C++/C# development with Visual Studio .NET... anyway, do any of you have a similar setup using your Pocket PC?

[aliensub]

I couldn´t imagine using VS.net on such a little screen, I´m getting annoyed when using it on my notebook which is 15.1" and 1280x800....

But for a texteditor setup it could do.

But then again with this stuff you need a bag, so maybe you would be better of with a subnotebook or something similar. With this setup you could also have a 3G pcmcia card in it and have a mobile 384k/b connection. That one would be nice :) And would be appr. the same price as the other

[serpico]

I agree, a sub-notebook would be a better solution. Not sure if battery drain would be the same since running all those bluetooth devices would certainly drain a PPC battery. But it is very cool to look at ... going to go and read the article now.

[lapchinj]

definitely a very cool setup 8)

Jeff-

[drrichard]

I note you say you connect your U-70 with the internet via the 710 bluetooth. Really! I've tried and tried and have been told that in order to do so I must wait for a software update from Motorola. If it is possible now, how? Or, where can I go for instructions? I've been to Verizon and to Mortorola with no success. - Rich

[Gen-M]

A very cool setup.

However, Tnkgrl over at Handtops.com has published (http://tnkgrl.handtops.com/show/blog/6) this picture of an even smaller desktop:

http://www.kithology.org/images/oqo/images/PB110023.jpg

[Jeff Rutledge]

definitely a very cool setup 8)

Definitely. I love this kind of stuff. It wouldn't work for me (at least right now), but it's great to see what can be done.

[Kathy_Harris]

I couldn´t imagine using VS.net on such a little screen, I´m getting annoyed when using it on my notebook which is 15.1" and 1280x800....

Wow, I used my 15" notebook at 1600x1200. I just got a 20" LCD yesterday and 1600x1200 looks absolutely huge!

Just a few more years and I'll be saying - "yeah, those good old days when my eyes worked."

But for now, bring on the 4" screen at SVGA :)

[davidb67]

I agree, a sub-notebook would be a better solution. Not sure if battery drain would be the same since running all those bluetooth devices would certainly drain a PPC battery. But it is very cool to look at ... going to go and read the article now.


It amazes me that people still seem to harp on about battery drain with bluetooth.
One of the advantages of Bluetooth was it's low power requirement - making it suitable for small, mobile devices...
I leave b/t switched on permanantly on my 3970, my SE T610 and my Moto V600 because, to be honest, I cannot tell the difference (because it's sooo negligable) in battery times between b/t "on" and with b/t "off".

the battery-life I get out of my b/t gps, and 2 b/t headsets is equally fine.

[Darius Wey]

It amazes me that people still seem to harp on about battery drain with bluetooth.
One of the advantages of Bluetooth was it's low power requirement - making it suitable for small, mobile devices...

Well... with an even lower power drain in BT2.0, things can only get better.

I don't find BT to be all that bad to be honest. The old BT specification may have lacked in range and speed when compared with other wireless technologies, but the new BT2.0 specification may really amplify the use of BT in handhelds in the near future. That...and wireless USB (perhaps). :mrgreen:

[lapchinj]

Definitely. I love this kind of stuff. It wouldn't work for me (at least right now), but it's great to see what can be done.
Me too but could you imagine just sitting in a meeting with one?

Jeff-

[ricksfiona]

I just need the mouse and my iPAQ 5550 will do just fine. I haven't used my laptop in over a year. Wait till I get the Dell X50v!

[Jonathan1]

Here is the thing I don't get with that setup. Lets drop the cell for a second from this setup. You still are talking about a mouse, keyboard, and device, then possibly even another battery. Then the case to carry it all. When its all said and done you are looking at enough crap to be aprox the side of something like this:

http://www.sonystyle.com/intershoproot/eCS/Store/en/imagesProducts/250x250/x505.jpg
http://tinyurl.com/58s2f

It makes no sense since this device as small as it is still doesn't fit in the pocket. Its not going to hang from the belt. Its going to be carried in a case. IMHO this is a serious W?BIC! item. The geewiz factor is really high and that's about all that its accomplishing. UNtil one of these devices can literally fit in the pocket all I can ask and say is: why?

[Marcel_Proust]

Here is the thing I don't get with that setup. Lets drop the cell for a second from this setup. You still are talking about a mouse, keyboard, and device, then possibly even another battery. Then the case to carry it all. When its all said and done you are looking at enough crap to be aprox the side of something like this:

http://www.sonystyle.com/intershoproot/eCS/Store/en/imagesProducts/250x250/x505.jpg
http://tinyurl.com/58s2f

It makes no sense since this device as small as it is still doesn't fit in the pocket. Its not going to hang from the belt. Its going to be carried in a case. IMHO this is a serious W?BIC! item. The geewiz factor is really high and that's about all that its accomplishing. UNtil one of these devices can literally fit in the pocket all I can ask and say is: why?


Yes. But you don't have carry it all. You can use as a pocket pc when you wish.

[Jonathan1]

Yes. But you don't have carry it all. You can use as a pocket pc when you wish.


Not really because it still requires a case does it not? There isn't a belt hanger for it and obviously its not going to fit in your pocket. So we are back to either a carry case for it or a man purse. We are talking a space savings of what? Around 50% when its stand alone. And maybe 10-20% with its accessories. Again I don't get it. Do I think its cool? Oh heck yah. Would I turn one down if I was offered one? No way. But I think compared to some of these subnotebooks the bennifits from an ultra portable are negligible. This IMHO is why the subnotebook never really took off. It had neither the power of a laptop nor the portability/pocket-ability of a PDA. These devices will always cater to some people (Niche market.) but overall most are either going to go with a PDA or a thinline laptop.

[Jason Dunn]

Very cool thread. That's one of the things I love about mobility: there are so many cool solutions, and you can mix and match options to get what works best for you. I have a wee 10.6" screen laptop, a massive 17" screen laptop, a Smartphone, and a Pocket PC - and each is useful to me in different ways.

MOBILITY RULES! :mrgreen:

[Zidane]

Yes. But you don't have carry it all. You can use as a pocket pc when you wish.


Not really because it still requires a case does it not? There isn't a belt hanger for it and obviously its not going to fit in your pocket. So we are back to either a carry case for it or a man purse. We are talking a space savings of what? Around 50% when its stand alone. And maybe 10-20% with its accessories. Again I don't get it. Do I think its cool? Oh heck yah. Would I turn one down if I was offered one? No way. But I think compared to some of these subnotebooks the bennifits from an ultra portable are negligible. This IMHO is why the subnotebook never really took off. It had neither the power of a laptop nor the portability/pocket-ability of a PDA. These devices will always cater to some people (Niche market.) but overall most are either going to go with a PDA or a thinline laptop.
I don't think it would be that big of a deal. I've had cases in one form or another for all of my PocketPCs and they've all been quite pocketable (in my front left pants pocket, even). Stick the wireless keyboard in your back pocket and you've got the two largest parts taken care of. And, if you wear Old Navy painters jeans, you have an additional pocket nearly at the knee on your right leg that is the perfect size for a cell phone. The only thing I wouldn't know how to carry is the mouse.

[Underwater Mike]

The 505 is beautiful, but it's just TOO expensive. Not that the 750 is not, but $3K on a notebook ain't gonna happen at my house.

[Janak Parekh]

MOBILITY RULES! :mrgreen:
And costs tons of money. :cry:

Jonathan - I've been keeping my eyes on that Sony for quite some time. If somehow it drops below about $2,100, I'll be picking it up. :)

--janak

[lapchinj]

... When its all said and done you are looking at enough crap to be aprox the side of something like this: ...
No No Stop Stop - this is the wrong place for that type of talk. The only thing mobile about that brick thinggy in the picture is that it's carried around as luggage in the trunk of a car. On the other hand these COOL setups you see here fit perfectly into a Scotts vest and are true the meaning of mobility. :mrgreen:

I give these a rating of 5 cools 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

Jeff- :wink:

[powder2000]

That picture just makes me drool. :jawdrop: For my budget though, I think I could replace the computer with an e800 or such vga ppc. Still, man that is sweet!

[jkendrick]

Definitely. I love this kind of stuff. It wouldn't work for me (at least right now), but it's great to see what can be done.
Me too but could you imagine just sitting in a meeting with one?

Jeff-

I get interrupted in Starbucks at least once every time I use this there. Which is a lot. For meetings I stick with just ink and the Sony so as not to be distracting.

[jkendrick]

Very cool thread. That's one of the things I love about mobility: there are so many cool solutions, and you can mix and match options to get what works best for you. I have a wee 10.6" screen laptop, a massive 17" screen laptop, a Smartphone, and a Pocket PC - and each is useful to me in different ways.

MOBILITY RULES! :mrgreen:

This is exactly the right point, Jason! Everybody is different, our work routines are different, even our locale can affect what makes a good tool for us. I love mobile tech. :D

[jkendrick]

I note you say you connect your U-70 with the internet via the 710 bluetooth. Really! I've tried and tried and have been told that in order to do so I must wait for a software update from Motorola. If it is possible now, how? Or, where can I go for instructions? I've been to Verizon and to Mortorola with no success. - Rich

I have been doing this from day one with the v710. Why won't yours work? The Bluetooth s/w on both my laptop, PPC, and Sony U-70 set up the DUN connection which works perfectly.

[Perry Reed]

That's just about the setup I want! Although I think I'd go with the OQO since it's a bit smaller and it has a built-in keyboard for those times when it's not practical to break out the Stowaway.

Now if only I could get my wife on board so she'd let me spend the $$$...

[Stephen Beesley]

That's just about the setup I want! Although I think I'd go with the OQO since it's a bit smaller and it has a built-in keyboard for those times when it's not practical to break out the Stowaway.

Now if only I could get my wife on board so she'd let me spend the $$$...

Yep this setup would do me just fine...

Over the last few weeks I have been using my Toshiba e755 with a Targus IR Keyboard during my morning coffee to do some web browsing and MSN chatting with mates back home in Oz - all from the comfort of a Dublin Pub.

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/media/users/1931/mobile.jpg
(excuse the grainy camera phone image - but it gets across the idea)

Now I am not trying to pretend that this is anywhere near as sweet (or as powerful) as the setup James has, but it shows that at least for me this is the type of setup that would work very well. Hey even going back as far as the days when my Newton was my constant companion this is the type of setup I was trying for - if you think jKendrick's setup is to big, try this for size:

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/media/users/1931/Newton.gif


I guess the point I am trying to make is that for me the flexibility of being able to use the main device (be it a Newton, a Pocket PC or something as cool as the Sony U-70 as a standalone device, but have the ability to add a keyboard and whatever else is needed to make it a handy desktop replacement. For me, and of course everybody is different, carrying around a keyboard etc is not too much of a hassle as my trusty courier bag goes pretty much everywhere I go.

Bottom line - if I had the readys then this is almost certainly the path I would be following...

[serpico]

I agree, a sub-notebook would be a better solution. Not sure if battery drain would be the same since running all those bluetooth devices would certainly drain a PPC battery. But it is very cool to look at ... going to go and read the article now.


It amazes me that people still seem to harp on about battery drain with bluetooth.
One of the advantages of Bluetooth was it's low power requirement - making it suitable for small, mobile devices...
I leave b/t switched on permanantly on my 3970, my SE T610 and my Moto V600 because, to be honest, I cannot tell the difference (because it's sooo negligable) in battery times between b/t "on" and with b/t "off".

the battery-life I get out of my b/t gps, and 2 b/t headsets is equally fine.

Sorry bud, I don't use Bluetooth so wouldn't know, it's just from what I have read. IR was the same thing when it was big, and even in product manuals it would state to turn it off when not in use to conserve battery.

That's why I said "Not sure" in my first post. :wink:

[hitchman]

I've been using sub notebooks and PPC's with external keyboards and gprs cell phone connections for a couple of years now. Why, because the Nine pound lappy with giant bag with that nice 15"-17" screen in the back seat, left in the office, sitting in the conference room during lunch, the motel room during the day while out, the list goes on and on..... are "SCREAMING, STEAL MY LAPTOP"!! I'd suspect that many of us are frequent travelers and have lost some hi tech device to theft during the last few years. I'm willing to sacrifice some screen size and keyboard space just so I can quickly shove the thing in the pocket or Man bag and hit the road. Knowing that unless they want to take me on, the thing will be with me through out the day with all of my data close at hand. Backups are great, but if it's in your laptop bag when stolen, you are still SOL. If it is at home you may be left in a lurch when making that deal of the year presentation in the morning. Long post, sorry, but this is a real concern and I'm going to keep looking for the perfect combo as long as my tech budget can support the habit. The pictures shown in this thread are fantastic and inspire me to keep looking for the perfect combo. I can take a pic of my current portable set up (e755,expansion pack,IR keyboard,SiPix Ir Printer, 20gig Xdrive, BT GPS, Nokia 6230b Edge phone, in car set up if you want to see it with all of the upgrades) The following is from a post I did on Brighthand over two years ago, but you can get the idea.

http://discussion.brighthand.com/showthread.php?s=bccdc96b2785d754b3fbafc7fa780392&threadid=61176

[gpspassion]

Nice, very nice, but having just wasted 2 hours trying to fix the horribly garbled audio passed on by the Billionton CF BT card to my BT headset on my Fujitsu T70J, I think it's worth mentioning that this card is not headset compatible as explained by Billionton support here (http://www.billionton.com/website/forum/topic.asp?topic_id=649&forum_id=9&Topic_Title=CF+Card+complaint&forum_title=Bluetooth&M=False&S=True) so the only option I've found is to go with the Billionton PCMCIA BT card that has enough bandwidth for audio. The Billionton mini USB dongle works ok, but it's not exactly convenient to have a that dongle sticking out ;-)

I've got the Socked BT CF too, but that one doesn't even offer a BT Headset profile as far as I can tell :-(

[bob1919a]

LOL. Everyone here is complaining about $2000-$3000 being too much...I can barely afford a refurbished X5 (if I can even buy that). Wow people are just too rich these days. Heh, I would love to have a Pocket PC, but I can't even look at the U 70. It burns my eyes. :evil:

[Janak Parekh]

LOL. Everyone here is complaining about $2000-$3000 being too much...I can barely afford a refurbished X5 (if I can even buy that). Wow people are just too rich these days.
Not necessarily true. I work in technology, so these devices are my bread-and-butter, and help me to make money. Almost every electronic gadget I buy pays for itself ultimately.

--janak

[Len Egan]

I have a similiar set-up using a Axim x50v, a thinkoutside BT keyboard, and a Motorola V710. My axim screen is slightly smaller than Toshiba, but having had both, it is a bit crisper.

It occured to me though, after all is said and done, Fujitsu has ultra-portable laptops that are tiny and pack a lot of punch. While us Pocket Pc guys like to laud the ways in which we can "miror" a desktop set-up, there are many notebooks that do a better job of it!

[Kowalski]

I have a wee 10.6" screen laptop, a massive 17" screen laptop, a Smartphone, and a Pocket PC - and each is useful to me in different ways plus you have a desktop, right?
so how do you manage to sync them all?

[Stephen Beesley]

I have a similiar set-up using a Axim x50v, a thinkoutside BT keyboard, and a Motorola V710. My axim screen is slightly smaller than Toshiba, but having had both, it is a bit crisper.

Well that is good to know - the x50v is the current hot favourite to replace my toshiba when the desire for VGA goodness finally over rides the fact that I have only had the tosh for about 4 months!

One of the things I really like about the Toshiba over my previous Jornadas is the bigger screen - having extra room is particularly important if, like me, you use Calligrapher as one of your main input methods - and I really did not want to go down to the 3.6inch screen of the Loox.


It occured to me though, after all is said and done, Fujitsu has ultra-portable laptops that are tiny and pack a lot of punch. While us Pocket Pc guys like to laud the ways in which we can "miror" a desktop set-up, there are many notebooks that do a better job of it!

Indeed the Pocket Pc and accessories approach is never going to be a good at replacing the desktop as an ultra light notebook. For me though, I like being able to just slip my PPC into my pocket and have most of my daily computing needs along with me or, if I want something more, to have my keyboard etc at hand in my courier bag.

It is all about finding the compromise that suites you.

[gpspassion]

It occured to me though, after all is said and done, Fujitsu has ultra-portable laptops that are tiny and pack a lot of punch. While us Pocket Pc guys like to laud the ways in which we can "miror" a desktop set-up, there are many notebooks that do a better job of it!

Since you mention Fujitsu, I just broke down and bought the Loox T70H (http://www.geekstuff4u.com/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=31&language=en) that indeed packs in pretty much everything with a good battery life of 3+ hours in intensive use. It only lack Bluetooth (see prevous message above) really.
Still the 10,6" W in 1280x768 is really the limit I'd say to work for any length of tims, probably still prefer my 12" Z505 for the time being. I compared it side by side with a U50 and man that was even smaller characters, smaller indeed than an E800 in VGA resolution I'd say, could be wrong though.

Whil I LOVE PocketPCs, I haven't been able to do anything intensive (writing reviews, updating spreadsheets) with one even with an IR keyboard attached. The power just isn't there, it's the killed device for simple PIM ...and GPS though ;-) In terms of battery life it seems the 6315 finally fixes that problem, so I'll be looking at one closely very soon to complete my setup!

[Perry Reed]

Over the last few weeks I have been using my Toshiba e755 with a Targus IR Keyboard during my morning coffee to do some web browsing and MSN chatting with mates back home in Oz - all from the comfort of a Dublin Pub.

That setup is not appreciably different from mine. I've got an old Jornada 568 and a Stowaway keyboard I attach to it and a Socket Wi-Fi CF card. Unfortunately, my cell phone (Sanyo 8200 from Sprint) can only connect to a USB host, so I cannot use it as a modem.

I have a Newton and keyboard for it as well... :)

[jkendrick]

Man I loved my Newton! What an innovation for its time and I believe really opened people's eyes to the potential for PDAs in general. I wrote a piece a while back on jkOTR about a guy in the EU (if I remember correctly) who is working on a Newton emulator for the Linux based Zaurus.

[lapchinj]

I get interrupted in Starbucks at least once every time I use this there. Which is a lot. For meetings I stick with just ink and the Sony so as not to be distracting.
Yeah I know what you mean. I'm also a pencil pusher at meetings except the real big ones with 30 people or more. That's when I like to sit in the back and pull out my PPC and other gadgets.

Jeff

[midili]

The original article paired a portable winXP machine with a BT mouse. Can you pair a mouse with a pocket pc? I'd love to put this setup together with my ipaq 2210.

Jeff

[jkendrick]

The original article paired a portable winXP machine with a BT mouse. Can you pair a mouse with a pocket pc? I'd love to put this setup together with my ipaq 2210.

Jeff

Stowaway should be shipping their BT mouse for PPCs this December.

[midili]

The original article paired a portable winXP machine with a BT mouse. Can you pair a mouse with a pocket pc? I'd love to put this setup together with my ipaq 2210.

Jeff

ok, I see the ThinkOutside mouse which isn't available yet. Will the Bluetake BT500 mouse work with a pocket pc? I'm assuming drivers would be needed to enable 'mouse-like' capability, or is that built in?

Thanks,
Jeff

[jkendrick]

The Bluetake mouse doesn't have PPC drivers, unfortunately.

[mattsmith0622]

Janak,

What software are you running to make the time appear on the desktop? I just purchased the U750P, and I'd like to have the time visible like that.

[jkendrick]

Janak,

What software are you running to make the time appear on the desktop? I just purchased the U750P, and I'd like to have the time visible like that.

Actually that's my desktop in the photo. The time is the Fullscreen clock widget in Konfabulator.

[Vidge]

I just purchased the U750P.

Welcome to the club! I've had mine since 12/18 and I love it! :D

[mattsmith0622]

Janak, where did you purchase your Billionton card?

[Vidge]

Janak, where did you purchase your Billionton card?

You do realize that the setup shown is not Janak's, right? See the posts above!

Regarding the Billionton card - I got mine from Semsons &amp; Co online for $34.99 plus shipping.

[Ratel10mm]

Talking of building an ultraportable desktop, I once saw a website offering what looked like an OQO - sized motherboard for sale. Now that would be a cool project, if only I could find that website again!