So what do you really want on a PPC?

[martin_ayton]

All the new product releases in the past few days and weeks have got me thinking: what do I really want in a PPC? Can I get past the thrill of the new and decide what my ideal device would include? That question makes the OS irrelevant for the purposes of this discussion - I don't really care what flavour the OS is as long as it delivers what I need. I have also tried to avoid stuff like PIMs etc. which are software, rather than hardware, issues. I have put my list below, do share yours.

Martin.


I want
A touch screen
A converged device, with a quad-band 'phone that works at least as well as a stand-alone 'phone.
Bluetooth implemented so that I can use my headset to voice dial and voice control the PPC
I need to be able to control the thing with one finger (not a stylus)
Bluetooth keyboard / mouse profiles as standard
Something with good WiFi signal acquisition and seamless transfer between WiFi / GPRS / 3G etc.
A clear, bright VGA screen which doesn't 'wobble' in daylight
A standard USB / mini-USB connector
GPS built in
A speaker with enough volume to allow hands-free (speakerphone) conversations wilst I am driving
A built-in, solid, see through, screen protector which can act as a sunshade or be neatly stowed away where it doesn't get in the way.
A removeable battery
An OS which can multitask
Memory which doesn't lose my data when the battery fails
It has to be no bigger or heavier than my current PDA2k, and preferably a little smaller and lighter
Something tough enough to withstand the rough / careless treatment that I will inflict on it
Something fast enough to be able to handle database work or big spreadsheets whilst streaming audio at the same time
Something I don't have to soft reset except when I install new software

I would like
A standard 3.5mm headphones jack
Bluetooth stereo music streaming
The ability to plug in a larger monitor
A decent camera, but the lens would need to have a cover and the camera button would need to be where it doesn't get continually knocked.

I don't need
A built-in keyboard / thumb-board
A crappy camera

[jhennig]

You have a lot on your list there... not quite likely to be released soon as it would be a beast.

Since we are going crazy though, here's what I want in my next POCKET PC. :wink:

My list:
-4 GHz Athlon 64-bit processor
-5" SXVGA Screen
-2 Gb RAM
-20 Gb Hard Drive
-512 Mb Video Card
-SD + Mini SD Slot
-Bluetooth and Super WiFi
-6+ Hr battery life
-A slightly larger but slimmer case than the Asus A730w
-All my fav FPSs on SD or mini SD Cards or for download

if only dreams could come true...

[Patrick Y.]

You have a lot on your list there... not quite likely to be released soon as it would be a beast.

Since we are going crazy though, here's what I want in my next POCKET PC. :wink:

My list:
-4 GHz Athlon 64-bit processor
-5" SXVGA Screen
-2 Gb RAM
-20 Gb Hard Drive
-512 Mb Video Card
-SD + Mini SD Slot
-Bluetooth and Super WiFi
-6+ Hr battery life
-A slightly larger but slimmer case than the Asus A730w
-All my fav FPSs on SD or mini SD Cards or for download

if only dreams could come true...

WOW! How big is your pocket PC going to be? 8O

[martin_ayton]

You have a lot on your list there... not quite likely to be released soon as it would be a beast.
Oh :( - I was rather hoping that a lot of this was in the realms of possibility. The Universal doesn't hit it (too big) but the ETEN 600 looks like it might come somewhere near...

Since we are going crazy though, here's what I want in my next POCKET PC. :wink:

My list:
-4 GHz Athlon 64-bit processor ...

That is crazy. But fun :lol: . You didn't mention the power plant for that processor. Or the heat sink. Hey, yours might be the first PPC design to incorporate a hotplate for keeping your coffee warm! :clap:

[jen71]

All the new product releases in the past few days and weeks have got me thinking: what do I really want in a PPC? Can I get past the thrill of the new and decide what my ideal device would include? That question makes the OS irrelevant for the purposes of this discussion - I don't really care what flavour the OS is as long as it delivers what I need. I have also tried to avoid stuff like PIMs etc. which are software, rather than hardware, issues. I have put my list below, do share yours.

Martin.


I want
A touch screen
Bluetooth keyboard / mouse profiles as standard
Something with good WiFi signal acquisition and seamless transfer between WiFi / GPRS / 3G etc.
A clear, bright VGA screen which doesn't 'wobble' in daylight
A standard USB / mini-USB connector
GPS built in
A speaker with enough volume to allow hands-free (speakerphone) conversations wilst I am driving
A built-in, solid, see through, screen protector which can act as a sunshade or be neatly stowed away where it doesn't get in the way.
A removeable battery
An OS which can multitask
Memory which doesn't lose my data when the battery fails
It has to be no bigger or heavier than my current PDA2k, and preferably a little smaller and lighter
Something tough enough to withstand the rough / careless treatment that I will inflict on it
Something fast enough to be able to handle database work or big spreadsheets whilst streaming audio at the same time
Something I don't have to soft reset except when I install new software


For the most part, I'd like to see the same things you mentioned. I don't need the built-in GPRS, but it is important to me to be able to pair the device to my cell phone through Bluetooth. I've had a PPC Phone, and I prefer to keep my phone and PDA separate.

Otherwise, I agree that a 3.5mm headphone jack would be useful, and dual slots are nice to have. I have an x50v, and it's almost exactly what I'm looking for at this point, though USB would be nice to have occasionally. Other than that, it's just a matter of fine-tuning and improving the features that are already there.

[jhennig]

Since we are going crazy though, here's what I want in my next POCKET PC. :wink:

My list:
-4 GHz Athlon 64-bit processor ...

That is crazy. But fun :lol: . You didn't mention the power plant for that processor. Or the heat sink. Hey, yours might be the first PPC design to incorporate a hotplate for keeping your coffee warm! :clap:

Heatsinks? Those are aged... i want it liquid cooled! 0X

[martin_ayton]

I've had a PPC Phone, and I prefer to keep my phone and PDA separate.
I envy you people who can keep track of two devices. One is enough for me. Particularly in the car. Two cradled devices (and the GPS receiver stuck to the windscreen) would drive me nuts.
Otherwise, I agree that a 3.5mm headphone jack would be useful, and dual slots are nice to have.
8O How could I have forgotten the memory slots? I don't have any CF cards, and the list of things I want built in means I don't really feel the need for a CF card slot, but a joint SIDO / MMC slot is a 'must have.'

[martin_ayton]

Heatsinks? Those are aged... i want it liquid cooled! 0X
Well, since you are clearly going to need a bionic arm to carry the thing, why not just go the whole hog and have it built-in to your body? Screen interface to your optic nerves allowing full 3D display and overlays on real-time images. Audio inputs via your own ears plus, of course, audio interface to your aural nerves allowing sound which would just blow any Dolby 5.1 system off the planet. Powered via blood sugars so no batteries to replace. One question: where would the memory card slot go? 8O

[Tye]

Ultimate Machine for me:
SD slot (or 2)
5+ hr. battery life
WiFi
Bluetooth
5" widescreen like the PSP. Hey we're listing wants here. (with a good third party full screen keyboard).
Physical footprint no larger than my 4705. That's as big as I can handle. No Universal for me.
Camera (decent)
Good Text to Speech app built in. Not something minimalist.
Pointing stick like IBM laptop or my sony phone on one side. Four buttons on the other side. Maybe four buttons across the top too. I know, a lot of buttons but would be useful for landscape or portrait use.
3.5 audio jack with mic in

Would be nice:
CF slot
USB Host
External monitor support
Bluetooth keyboard and mouse profiles
Removable battery

Don't Need:
Touchpad
Built in hardware keyboard. (I would actually consider this, but the design would have to be outstanding and the device still not too large. I'm pretty fast with Calligrapher 8 or Full Screen Keyboard).[/b]

I only listed things that I think are relatively realistic. Except for WM supporting widescreen, I know that can't happen, everything else should be possible.