Next generation portable PCs - relevance to boating???

[Twister_Ken]

I haven't been following this very closely, but Microshaft is behind a new mini-pc format called Origami.

Prototype Origami kit has been unveiled at the Cebit Trade show in Germany.

The Samsung item (which looks remarkably like a plotter) was shown in navigation mode.

The deluxe versionof the Isus has built-in GPS

.

I wonder if these are pointers to the future on onboard computing?

 

[Gordonmc]

I read a review in the weekend comics and it appears battery life will be a big issue. The notch in the market is, apparently, the notch between tablet PC's and PDA's. I just wonder if the Origami is trying to be everything to everyone.
I think they should give me one to try out.

 

[Twister_Ken]

"it appears battery life will be a big issue"

Not if you can plug it into the girt big lead acid jobbies lurking in the bilge, I guess.

 

[temptress]

[ QUOTE ]
I.....

I wonder if these are pointers to the future on onboard computing?

[/ QUOTE ]

there are lots of things happening in this field - Mickysoft is actually a bit behind the curve here but as usual using their marketing power to say they were here all along. Wait a few months for developments inthe marketplace although rinning windows this should run all existing software but then that's only should.

CEBIT is the trade show where evcerybody says what they are going to do and shows off product some of which never makes it. there is nothing special about the new devices just re-worked tablets (and they never took off anyway)

IMO wait a few more months...

 

[Sybarite]

I read a report about a new hand held pc - NB not a pocket pc with (I think) a 20 GB disk and windows XP which weighs just 398 grammes!

The name is OXO (something) and it costs $2000 in the States.

John

 

[npf1]

hasn't this sort of stuff been around since 2003 since the advent of Tablet PC? eg Xplore rugged units came out in 2003, water resistance, can be sunlight readable and and can have a 5 hrs battery life. Not cheap though, although have seen 'em on eBay.

What's the differnce bettwen that and the above, other than (very slowly) coming down in price?

 

[rickp]

I think you mean OQO.

Rick

 

[Twister_Ken]

"What's the differnce bettwen that and the above, other than (very slowly) coming down in price? "

Dunno, I'm not a follower of these things. Bile Gates explanation is here but as usual it doesn't reveal much (maybe an emperors new clothes job?)

Intel is a little more revelatory. Err, I think I just made that word up. I claim copyright if so.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

I think you meant 'revelationalistic'.... which I claim copyright on.....

 

[zefender]

Surely revealutionary?

 

[Twister_Ken]

rev·e·la·to·ry
PRONUNCIATION: rv-l-tôr, -tr, r-vl-
ADJECTIVE: Of, relating to, or containing a revelation: “the distinction between Mrs. and Miss and its concomitant revelatory features” (Mario Pei).

Damn, there goes an ongoing royalties stream.

 

[Saguday]

At the risk of drifting off-thread and back on-topic I've been thinking for a while about getting a Tablet PC for Nav work on the boat. The main complaint against them seems to be they're too heavy to hold for long periods of time, but this is hardly relevant for a boat nav station. I like the idea of it lying flat like a chart and not needing a mouse. Would be cool to cut and paste chart segments and post in a log or website too. There must be a downside but can't think of one - anyone got any experience? Favs are either a small IBM/Lenovo ('cos they're so strong and have the best keyboards) or the new Gateway one, which looks excellent for $1200 here...

Neil

 

[tome]

Biggest challenges right now are screen brightness and cooling/power

IBM lenovo great indoors, but not suited to sunlight. Any solution with a fast processor will need a fan and ventilation - neither are good on a boat

Origami et al do little to address this, but present an alternative format to the PDAs

Minimum brightness for sunlight viewable is equivalent to about 2400 Cd/sq m. We're up to about half this with the system we produce, but still some way for the technology to go. Raymarine new E series is the best outdoor screen I've seen so far (better than our own model, boohoo!).

 

[Saguday]

Tome, I'm thinking of just using the PC for passage planning, logs, email etc and keeping it down below. Upload waypoints etc to the nicely marinised & outdoor viewable Raymarine (sorry) in the cockpit and use that for "real life" charting. Not too worried about sunlight viewable with this usage. Battery life? Pah, chuck another AGM or 2 in't bilges /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[tome]

Yes, they're fine for this. I use a laptop but it gets put away bafore we go to sea. Over here we are seeing more and more WIFI hotspots in marinas etc so we have an external high gain antenna, which allows me to use the laptop at the nav station when alongside

Don't apologise for the Raymarine - it's good and ours is only available to an internal market

 

[Twister_Ken]

"ours is only available to an internal market "

Ah, I see, not for external use, so no need to be glaringly bright.

 

[tome]

[ QUOTE ]
no need to be glaringly bright

[/ QUOTE ]

We try to make minimal demands on our users, you'd do just fine!