Sparkfist wrote:I'm thinking of a device that fits those very well, isnt it called the Nintedo DS?
The NDS isn't bad, and it's certainly attractive to me in many ways. But development on that device isn't exactly open — some people have managed to hack out some exploits, and Nintendo isn't as draconian about closing them as (say) Sony, but it's still not something you can just write software for that normal people will then be able to use.
It also lacks usable WiFi (though this is mainly a software problem, but see above about who can fix its software problems). So no web browsing, no reading/writing email, etc.
Its pen input area is also only half of its available screen space, which is rather a PITA when, for example, you're trying to edit text — moving the cursor around or selecting text using a d-pad is
not fun, compared to using the pen. I think this is why there are no PDA apps for it.
Sparkfist wrote:Comon if the fact you dont have a keyboard bother you there are tablet PC/laptops.
Maybe you misunderstood: I don't
want a keyboard. Any device with a keyboard is too big to take with me everywhere. I already have such a device, and it sits on the shelf unless I go on a trip, at which point it spends most of its time in the bag under the seat in front of me, being too much hassle to get out.
Sparkfist wrote:You take the screen pull it up swivel it around and then back down and its a tablet otherwise its a laptop. Best of bother worlds right.
Not at all. Now I have something two big to serve as my go-everywhere, always-with-me device with which I surf the web, play videos, read ebooks, edit documents, use as an alarm clock, keep my calendar and to-do list, and occasionally play games. It's just a laptop with an extra trick (but not one I've ever needed).
The whole point of a pen interface is that it frees you from the keyboard. Having it in a device that's bolted to a keyboard (swivel or not) is rather pointless IMHO.
Sparkfist wrote:You guys need to remember something about this, technology isnt to the point were we have the means to make something perfect for use.
Nonsense. Nokia could have made the 770 perfect (for my needs, at least) by including a couple of buttons and a d-pad. There is NO technological reason why they couldn't have done that; it wouldn't even have added significantly to the cost.
Sparkfist wrote:Compramise, you want a keyboard, but want it small put in a small keyboard then.
I don't want a keyboard, and you'll note I didn't put one in the design.
Sparkfist wrote:You want it powerful and just the right size... good luck.
I didn't say I wanted it powerful, either. I
do want it just the right size. It only needs to be powerful enough to do what it does: play videos, emulate the SNES, edit memos, surf the web. I think (though I'm not sure) that the 400 MHz Gumstix could do this just fine, and costs under $150.
That's amazing!
