11-16-2004, 10:00 PM
|
|
Magi
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,186
|
|
Phoenix FirstWare Assistant 2004: Turn Your Laptop into a PDA...?
"Phoenix Technologies Ltd. announced Phoenix FirstWare Assistant 2004, a software in the "Pre-OS" category. FirstWare Assistant 2004 gives users instant access to their Microsoft Outlook functions without having to wait to "boot" the PC, making it ideal when a user needs quick access to PIM details available on Microsoft Outlook. With this software, users can access e-mail, calendar appointments, task lists and contacts within seconds of hitting the computer start key or a pre-programmed button that launches the application. The software kicks in before the operating system (OS) and other applications boot up. The process takes roughly 10 seconds."
While the idea is certainly intriguing, I just can't picture myself suavely whipping out my T40 to impress the ladies with my PIM data. It's not exactly fast, either, as it takes a full 10 seconds for the information to pop up. That's enough time to turn on my 4150, check my appointments and start playing The Secret of Monkey Island. Still, there could be something I'm missing here. Is there? Convince me, people. 
|
| |
|
|
|
11-16-2004, 10:08 PM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23
|
|
If you don't have a PDA, then 10 seconds to get your PIM info is pretty good...
|
| |
|
|
|
11-16-2004, 10:12 PM
|
|
Thinker
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 434
|
|
This is the killer app (if well done) for the OQO, Sony U series, and other ultra-portable computers. I have requested an evaluation of the program so we'll see.
__________________
James Kendrick* ...using mobile devices since they weighed 30 lbs
|
| |
|
|
|
11-16-2004, 10:13 PM
|
|
Ponderer
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 65
|
|
Don't forget the time it takes to unzip your notebook case and unstrap the unit. Laptops will never be as convenient as PDAs. Try standing and working on a laptop/notebook (practically impossible).
Convergence is good on somethings and terrible on others. It's nice to see quicker boot times or the idea of instant on on a PC but it's still a ways off.
|
| |
|
|
|
11-16-2004, 10:23 PM
|
|
Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 559
|
|
Pat, where'd you find Monkey Island for PPC? 8O
|
| |
|
|
|
11-16-2004, 10:25 PM
|
|
Magi
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,186
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Ryan Joseph
Pat, where'd you find Monkey Island for PPC? 8O
|
If you own the original software, you can copy the files to your PPC and play them with the SCUMMVM emulator. :mrgreen:
|
| |
|
|
|
11-16-2004, 10:27 PM
|
|
Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 559
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Pat Logsdon
If you own the original software, you can copy the files to your PPC and play them with the SCUMMVM emulator. :mrgreen: |
Dude, you just made my day. I can't wait to get home and try that! Awesome.
|
| |
|
|
|
11-16-2004, 10:30 PM
|
|
Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 468
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by jkendrick
This is the killer app (if well done) for the OQO, Sony U series, and other ultra-portable computers. I have requested an evaluation of the program so we'll see.
|
I agree! For something like the OQO, this could nicely bridge the gap between PC and PDA.
However, I would imagine that with the OQO, I'd suspend or hibernate it more often than shut it down. When I turn it back on, I wonder if this software would come up, or would it work only before a cold boot?
I hope you'll share with us the results of your evaluation. It sounds like they're positioning the software for PC manufacturers moreso than individual users, so if it ends up working well, I hope they make it available in the retail channel.
|
| |
|
|
|
11-16-2004, 10:31 PM
|
|
Theorist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 301
|
|
I am all for this! I've become convinced that the PPC will NEVER become what I am hoping for - a true notebook replacement. Microsoft has clearly limited the functionality of the PPC with the obvious intent of making sure it cannot even get close to being a threat to WindowsXP license sales. The PPC will ALWAYS be a "dumb little brother" of a desktop OS, as Microsoft envisons it. Always a "partner device" and never a computer in it's own right.
So I'm one who would love to see XP shrink to OQO, U70, Antelope devices. One API, one set of apps, one set of data file formats. (Death to .pwi to .doc conversion! Death to .pxl to .xls conversion! Give me REAL .xls, .doc, .mdb access! I want PhotoShop on my PDA!
Since this will never happen by the PPC "growing up" (as MS won't allow that) we'll only get there if XP "shrinks down" (as in OQO.)
And of course the laughable instability of XP's supsend/resume means that we need another solution. Way to go Phoenix!
Put this on an OQO and I'm ready to take it for a spin! 10 seconds is long, but this really is a 1.0 release right? That should go down...
|
| |
|
|
|
11-16-2004, 11:05 PM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 18
|
|
A PPC takes a lot longer to boot then 10 seconds from a soft reset or hard reset. Because of this long boot time PPC puts the CPU/device in standby. Standby consumes a small about of power but allows an instant on affect for the device. For the last 4-5 years laptops have been doing the same thing. Laptops today can come out of standby in less then 1 second and stay in standby for more then 30 days at a time. I do not understand the market they are going after. Maybe devices that are powered off for months at a time and need to boot fast. A PPC is not good at that either.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
