HTC Athena (X7500) Specs Confirmed and General Target Date

[Paul Martin]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20061225PD200.html' target='_blank'>http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20061225PD200.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Athena will have the following features: a Marvel 624MHz processor; Microsoft Windows Mobile Pocket PC operating system; a 5-inch VGA screen; a separate QWERTY keyboard which can combine with the screen to become a mini notebook PC; a built-in 3-megapixel phone camera with an 8GB hard disk drive; support for Wi-Fi, 3G, HSDPA (high-speed downlink packet access), Bluetooth and GPS (global positioning system), the sources pointed out."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/HTC_Athena_X7500_engadget.jpg" /><br /><br />The article also quotes industry sources as saying the soonest HTC would be offering the Athena is the first half of 2007. Since we're days away from that, it could be any day, but more probably on the far side of that estimate. It also appears HTC is aggressively pursuing the Ultra-mobile PC segment. As the specs began to solidify, the question remains: how much is it going to cost? At what price point would this be a reasonable tool for you, either for your company or personal purchase?

[Sven Johannsen]

Not sure if it is the reviewer or HTC that is treading some thin ice here.

"High Tech Computer (HTC), will offer its first ultra-mobile PC (UMPC), code named Athena........Microsoft Windows Mobile Pocket PC operating system.....As Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and 7-inch screens are mainstream specifications for UMPC models, Athena is different in these two respects, the sources noted."

Different? No, not a UMPC! I'd grant some leeway in screen size, but a UMPC must have a full sized OS. This is just an oversized PPC. As such I think it may have problems. Given the pricing of the closest thing that HTC produced before, the Universal, at around $1000 USD, I expect this to cost more. With actual UMPCs starting to fall below $1000, I think this will find a fairly limited market.

Granted it has some neat things in it's connectivity, and built in GPS, but that isn't that hard to add to an actual UMPC running a full Windows OS, and everything that runs. Not sure at what price this would interest me, but at the same price or more than a UMPC...pass.

[saru83]

i would gladly pay up to 1000 USD for this beast but not a penny more, i already have almost the same size device with full blown XP "OQO".. i would get the Athena as it would be a more responsive mobile PC i would say. i will still keep my OQO, but also i wont use this as my phone, never, that would be retarded but i would happily use it as a multimedia GPS &amp; surfing solution &amp; i can say that it would do that better than an actual UMPC. 8)

[Paul Martin]

...a UMPC must have a full sized OS.

Looking at the Microsoft website for the UMPC (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/umpc/about.mspx), it clearly says "combines the power of Windows XP with mobile-ready technologies that make it easy to access and use your software on the go," so I wonder if this indeed a little misspeak by the news reporter or an attempt to "broaden" the category by HTC?

[Paul Martin]

i would gladly pay up to 1000 USD for this beast but not a penny more, i already have almost the same size device with full blown XP "OQO".. i would get the Athena as it would be a more responsive mobile PC i would say. i will still keep my OQO

Generally speaking, what do you like and not like about the OQO as a functional XP device? Also, what leads you to think the Athena might be "more responsive", Windows Mobile?

[saru83]

Generally speaking, what do you like and not like about the OQO as a functional XP device? Also, what leads you to think the Athena might be "more responsive", Windows Mobile?

i love the fact that i can install standard softwares that i already have on my laptop/desktop on a device that i can put it in my pocket &amp; have it all the time &amp; thats why i got the "OQO", but unfortunately it cant handle most softwares due to the crappy processor &amp; very low vdo memory, besides the battery lasts 150min max.

So i got a UX50 which worked way better than the OQO, its fast very responsive &amp; feels better in the hand, but then i cannot put it in my pocket i have to hook it up to my belt or carry it around in my bag or something as its bulkier than an OQO. so there was always something about the UMPC's so far.

i have been using WM for almost 2 years now, its fast has tons of softwares &amp; the OS is definitely much lighter than XP, so with 624MHz processor &amp; 128MB ram i guess it should more than what i need to run my softwares.

&amp; like i said i will still like to keep my OQO as sometimes i would need some softwares on the go that i do not have on my PPC, &amp; then when i will use it ;)

to be honest with u, i would like to have a full blown PC not more than 400gms, 5" screen, 1.5MHz processor, 1GB Ram, GPS &amp; 6+ hours battery life, when a device like this comes out, i will happily ditch any extra PPC or PMP i have..

[Paul Martin]

Thanks for the update. I've not used the OQO but I've certainly run windows on an underpowered machine and I can sympathize there! 150min battery life? Yikes! Funny, but when I saw UX50, I first thought about the little Sony that runs the Palm OS. Love it when they reuse model numbers! So, from the pictures it's hard to tell; the UX50 is larger than the OQO? How does the battery life compare?

[saru83]

Thanks for the update. I've not used the OQO but I've certainly run windows on an underpowered machine and I can sympathize there! 150min battery life? Yikes! Funny, but when I saw UX50, I first thought about the little Sony that runs the Palm OS. Love it when they reuse model numbers! So, from the pictures it's hard to tell; the UX50 is larger than the OQO? How does the battery life compare?

The battery on the UX lasts a lil longer than the OQO but with much higher performance, which means the UX is much more battery efficient..

Yes, the UX is bigger &amp; bulkier, the OQO is all sleek &amp; ideal cuboid, where the UX has all extra stuff coming out of everywhere, but performance wise the UX beats the OQO easily.

Here is a link for some comparison pix, UX &amp; OQO side by side, u will know what i mean when u check them out. :)

http://meansquare.info/UXReview/vsOQO2.html

[Paul Martin]

Thanks for the link. I see what you mean. Personally, I think I like the looks of the Sony just a little bit better. But, it's probably the Star Trek geek in me. :lol:

[saru83]

Thanks for the link. I see what you mean. Personally, I think I like the looks of the Sony just a little bit better. But, it's probably the Star Trek geek in me. :lol:

Agreed, same here :twisted:

[JesterMania]

I wonder what the actual dimensions of this thing is. Technology (impressive) aside, I think it looks pretty ugly :lol: . If they placed the guts of this into an HTC Universal form I'd instantly get it but by the snapshot, the size looks close to a real UMPC (in which case I'd get the UMPC hands down). I also have a hard time picturing myself putting this to my ear as a phone, the HTC Universal is pushing the limits but I can't picture myself using the Athena as a phone.

[alese]

Athena is not intended to be a phone. Like others said it, Universal was already pushing it as a very large and heavy phone.

As for comparation to UMPC - I'm afraid that it's price will be an issue. Yes it offers a lot of features for a WinMobile device, but it still lacks compared to any UMPC and that's just hardware. Even bigger problem is software.
You can use Athena as light Notebook replacement, but you'll have to make a lot of compromises when it comes to software. I have tried the same thing with my Universal for the last year and it's frustrating...

So for me, Athena should be priced from 700-800 USD at best to be in the consideration, and even that price is just because there are some other PPCs with lover specs priced at 600.

[ricksfiona]

You'd pay $1000 for that? Heck, you can get a UMPC from TabletKiosk for $1400 AND you 'd get XP, 1GHz Proc, 60GB HD and 1GB or RAM..

For THAT formfactor, it SHOULD be an XP machine... For that, I would pay $1000.. That would be pretty sweet.

[packetstorm]

You'd pay $1000 for that? Heck, you can get a UMPC from TabletKiosk for $1400 AND you 'd get XP, 1GHz Proc, 60GB HD and 1GB or RAM..

For THAT formfactor, it SHOULD be an XP machine... For that, I would pay $1000.. That would be pretty sweet.

I have a Sony UX180P and a Hermes TyTN. Not much new here from the Athena that would make me jump on it at this point. Guess I'll have to see when it is finally released. Only thing that is of interest is the built in GPS in the Athena. And yes it will be smaller than my UX but with a 5" screen and WM5 compared to the the UX's 4.5 incher with XP/Vista (Soon), I wouldn't consider the Athena very pocketable or powerful no matter how "thin" it may be.

Not going to dismiss the Athena just yet but I can't see the point.

[iscogd]

This device reminds me old PSION unit, same size, and weight operated by old Symbian OS.

I think this unit is targeted into pro-users, like transportation (each truck driver install such unit having GPS and daily task list, something like that).

It is hard for me seeing someone buy this unit for standard use, big and bulky.

[Marcel_Proust]

So far this is somewhat disappointing, as I was hoping for a Universal upgrade.
This is more of a different category. And hard to see how it fits anywhere, as it this nonpocketable size, umpc makes more sense.
If they took the Universal, upped the specs here and there, trimmed some of the fat to make a little smaller, they'd have a big hit.
like iscogd said, might be targeted at vertical markets at this size, but it doesn't look like a vertical market machine, too delicate and pretty looking, not ruggerized. this is no trucker machine.
also, chicklet keyboard with no number row?

[SteveHoward999]

The specs sound great. I's rather ugly, in a "I was designed in 1983" kinda way.

Clean it up a little and I might pay $600 or $700 for it.

Give me the same deviced in a Universal-type design and I might pay a little more.

However, I do like the idea of an easily-detachable keyboard. If the styling was more modern I could be swayed - but it would have to lose at least a little size. I am happy with a 4 inch VGA screen - I'd rather see the screen, and thus the device, a little smaller. I'm sure it would sell better with less bulk.

Comparing it to an UMPC is silly since it does not have UMPC features. However we should never lose sighht of the fact that PPC devices can be PC replacements for those with relatively unsophisticated needs. But anypne with remotely advanced PC needs or who require specific PC software tools canot use a PocketPC instead.

... Hopefully that is going to change over time.

Oh - sorry to keep rambling, but one more comment. Still only a 624 MHz chip? That is very disapointing!

[netboy]

SHREAK THE DAMN THING TO FIT IN MY POCKET!
i willing to pay 1500$ for a 3.5 VGA pdaPhone with tri-band HSDPA (850/1900)

[GiODi]

As far as holding this thing up to your ear: I'm assuming that anyone who would buy this would have a bluetooth headset, or even use the wired one it would probably come with. I think they're going for the fact that it's actually a phone and not just a mini pc being a huge selling factor. This would be perfect for using office apps and surfing the web.... not saying that I am gonna buy one.

[Sven Johannsen]

Comparing it to an UMPC is silly since it does not have UMPC features.Only did that because the original article called it a UMPC, which it is not, and because I fully expect the price to be higher than at least entry level UMPCs. Not sure what this will do for anyone except give them an even less pockatable Universal at a higher price (I expect).

All I can see that sells a PPC at that size is the instant on features typical in a WM device. It would be interesting if some UMPC maker would work up some flash based hibernate mode, so that a UMPC could come on in under a second or two. AFAIK they don't do that, but I think that would narrow one usability gap betwen a giant PPC and a miniature PC.

[virain]

It seems HTC responds to our complains and wishes for WM device manufacturers to take a closer look at Nokia design. So they come up with Nokia 770 Internet Tablet competitor. :twisted: But that is not what I had in mined. :|

[bnycastro]

I sold my Universal cause I couldn't take the size/weight anymore. So I will probably pass on this device, I'm happy with my 12inch notebook, htc tytn, and htc s310 for the moment.

[rlucky]

I can see how many people think that there is not a niche market for these devices. I think the success of this device will not only be its form-factor but also its price. As for the possibility of anyone using this form-factor, I'd say that there would be a definite demand as I have seen it not only with the HX4700 (which I currently use) but also with the large Nexio S160 community I used to support and write reviews on. There were a large number of Nexio users who wished that they would seemlessly run Windows Mobile software on their Nexio devices, and the Athena fits that profile. Will it be pocketable? I was able to carry around my Nexio (which also had a 5" screen) in my office slacks without any issue since it was thin and light. It appears that the Athena will be even smaller since the 5" screen of the Nexio was surrounded by a much larger border than what is displayed in the Athena shots (given that the Athena has a 5" screen the same size as the Nexio's).
Another good point for a device this size is the fact that it would have a larger screen for GPS use as opposed to the smaller WMP options that are currently out there. This device definitely has the guts and power for a multimedia/GPS type device.
As a web browsing device, the Athena would be ideal too since I much rather browse on my HX4700 screen rather than my Cingular 8525 or 2125 (I only use WAP or phone-optimized sites for these devices).
As for phone use? Not too sure about that, but at least the Athena has the option; especially if the user wishes to use a bluetooth to avoid using the entire device next to their face... I would initially use it paired with a WM Smartphone as a starter...

More power to HTC if and when they release this device, though I will be keeping a close eye on the price... Please keep in mind that Nexio users were willing to pay 600-800 users for their devices.

Oh and for those who read tons of PDFs and eBooks, VGA is the only way to go on WM devices!!! I read a LOT of books in PDF and for us folks who have visual impairments, you know how much easier it is to read in VGA.

Please share your thoughts!

cheers.

[jlp]

...

to be honest with u, i would like to have a full blown PC not more than 400gms, 5" screen, 1.5MHz processor, 1GB Ram, GPS &amp; 6+ hours battery life, when a device like this comes out, i will happily ditch any extra PPC or PMP i have..

What you want is here (http://www.oqo.com).

It's a new pocket sized device with a very bright 5" LCD screen, available with 1.5GHz CPU, 60GB HDD, and 1GB RAM, and is even Windows Vista Capable...

http://www.oqo.com/images/press/press_11_thumb.jpg

[Nurhisham Hussein]

What you want is here (http://www.oqo.com).



I've been drooling over that ever since the news broke - what a hot little machine! Shame it's EVDO instead of UMTS.

[alese]

What you want is here (http://www.oqo.com).



I've been drooling over that ever since the news broke - what a hot little machine! Shame it's EVDO instead of UMTS.

EVDO is optional, so you don't have to get it.
Also if they can make an EVDO option for 188 milion users (from their site) then I guess they could make UMTS option for the remaining 1+billion...