Author Topic: I Think I Found A Z Replacement- Clamshell (Read 10070 times)

maximusz · « **on:** July 05, 2007, 08:34:57 pm »

Lets start off with a BIG MINUS - Windows Mobile 6

There are wayyyyyy to many positives to get angry!!!

HTC OMNI
It was about a year ago that the first rumors began circulating about a device from HTC called the Omni, which was supposed to be the successor to their "Universal" clamshell design. Since then, so little has been heard that it was presumed the Omni was canceled in favor of the Advantage tablet and the Shift UMPC. However, if a new report is correct, the Omni may be coming out this fall, with an impressive list of specs.

A small site called Unwired View claims to have gotten a hold of a 2007 HTC roadmap presentation, which it says includes limited specifications and renderings of the Omni.

As seen in the rendering, the device has a clamshell design, full QWERTY keyboard, and a sleek visual style. The most notable feature listed is a 4-inch, 800-by-480-pixel Widescreen-VGA display. This is backed by both TV and VGA outputs, and something described as a "sub-display" -- possibly a small OLED built into the outer casing, but nothing is said or listed to confirm this.

Other hardware includes:
internal GPS receiver,
UMTS/HSDPA (bands unknown),
Windows Mobile 6,
Bluetooth,
802.11b/g Wi-Fi.

The device's memory specifications seem to include a typo, but they appear to mean that the machine will carry 256 MB of ROM and 128 MB of RAM, as well as a microSD card slot. No mention is made of whether microSDHC support is included, but HTC units being released now support it, so presumably the Omni would as well, enabling cards of 4 GB and above.

No information was included in the report about the brand or speed of the processor, what GPS chipset was used, or projected selling price. Previous reports have associated the Omni will both a 400 MHz Samsung CPU and the Qualcomm MSM7200, also 400 MHz.

Lastly, the reported size of the Omni is 5.1 inches long, by 3.18 wide, by 0.63 inches thick. Unwired View says that the Omni hasn't yet been assigned the name it will be marketed under by HTC, but it is expected to launch this October.

Size of Zaurus SL-C1000/3X00
124 x 87 x 25 millimeter

Size of HTC OMNI
130 x 81 x 16-mm

The thing that scares me the most is that all the features look too good to be true - I guess we have to wait until October to see - - - and then we can pimp this with Linux! [ Invalid Attachment ]

HoloVector · « **Reply #1 on:** July 05, 2007, 09:57:16 pm »

If it doesn't run Linux out of the box and isn't a pocket sized tranformable clamshell with touch screen; it is not a Zaurus replacement for me.

maximusz · « **Reply #2 on:** July 05, 2007, 10:09:58 pm »

Quote

If it doesn't run Linux out of the box and isn't a pocket sized tranformable clamshell with touch screen; it is not a Zaurus replacement for me.
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Good point - the photo shows a rather large hinge - no way that can flip over like a Z .... I guess I wouldnt know how much I miss the touch screen until its gone..........

gr8ful · « **Reply #3 on:** July 06, 2007, 11:21:34 am »

I saw this yesterday and I must admit a bit of drool formed in the corner of my mouth. Very nice specs indeed and I especially like the clamshell form factor and 4 inch screen.

As for Linux, there is a strong possibility that the OpenMoko (Linux open-source) phone software will be ported to this device. I read that some enterprising developers already had some of the OpenMoko software running on the HTC Universal and it looks like the Omni will be using the same Samsung chip as the OpenMoko Neo1973 phone that will go on sale in October.

Who needs an iPhone? You can have an iPhone on steroids and HGH and still have the beloved keyboard we all love so much. I definitely hope HTC produces this device and offers it at a decent price. It really does look like the upgrade path many on this forum have been hoping for, me included.

scott_franklin · « **Reply #4 on:** July 06, 2007, 02:21:53 pm »

Losing the touchscreen is a big minus, although it's only a "rendering" so the hinge might be different. Wifi & VGA out are great, but the keyboard looks flat, though. I wonder how easy it is to type on (even more important if no touchscreen).

Price point will also be important. If it's <$1,000 and has a touchscreen, though, it'll be hard to pass up regardless of the flat keyboard.

scott

maximusz · « **Reply #5 on:** July 06, 2007, 02:57:34 pm »

Quote

Losing the touchscreen is a big minus, although it's only a "rendering" so the hinge might be different. Wifi & VGA out are great, but the keyboard looks flat, though. I wonder how easy it is to type on (even more important if no touchscreen).

Price point will also be important. If it's <$1,000 and has a touchscreen, though, it'll be hard to pass up regardless of the flat keyboard.

scott
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=164464\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

My gut is telling me this will cost $1000 + with or without a touch screen, I want to be wrong!!!

zmiq2 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 06, 2007, 05:54:19 pm »

I'm getting tired of waiting for the next linux thing in zaurus-format; if there's no such a product, I'm better moving to another platform for this form-factor, and live with it.

I'm a linux user, but I'm seeing some co-workers with nice winmobile phones

- with integrated keyboards
- full featured (hsdpa,bluetooth,mini-sd,touchscreen,long battery)
- good media capabilities (windows media player)
- with skype, sling choosing this platform as their preferred one
- easily programmable using visual basic! (I'm not saying VB is a programming language, so let's not focus on this)

So time has brought me to being more what-can-I-do oriented than it-must-be-linux oriented.

It's not perfect, but zaurus neither is yet ...

adf · « **Reply #7 on:** July 06, 2007, 11:29:57 pm »

Quote

I'm getting tired of waiting for the next linux thing in zaurus-format; if there's no such a product, I'm better moving to another platform for this form-factor, and live with it.

I'm a linux user, but I'm seeing some co-workers with nice winmobile phones

- with integrated keyboards
- full featured (hsdpa,bluetooth,mini-sd,touchscreen,long battery)
- good media capabilities (windows media player)
- with skype, sling choosing this platform as their preferred one
- easily programmable using visual basic! (I'm not saying VB is a programming language, so let's not focus on this)

So time has brought me to being more what-can-I-do oriented than it-must-be-linux oriented.

It's not perfect, but zaurus neither is yet ...
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=164475\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

point well taken. my aversion to wodows is on a large part political/philosophical. I'll liive without skype if I must to avoid sending any more money to corporate thugs who disdain our laws except in caes where they can be used against us. I can't avoid this entirely, of course (since I drive, have cable tv, insurance and a cell phone), but I can make a point of not supporting MS anymore.

T3_slider · « **Reply #8 on:** July 06, 2007, 11:33:14 pm »

Yes, some of these Windows Mobile smartphones/PDAs are nice, but they don't compare to the Zaurus, and it's basically because of Linux. It's not Linux itself that makes the Z great, it's the flexibility that Linux allows. With these WinMob devices, there's no way in heck you could flash an alternate ROM as easily as on the Z -- plus the Z is nearly idiot-proof (ie any software oopses can be corrected).

I love Linux, but if there was a PDA/smartphone that was as flexible as the Z running another OS, I'd probably get it. But there isn't. These WinMob devices have great hardware and can do tons of things -- but they're nowhere near as flexible as the Z (I was told by a prominent Palm hacker that Firefox could never run at a reasonable speed on such a slow processor. I'm currently typing this in a full [ie not crippled like minimo] version of Firefox on my Z, which uses the same processor as my Palm that would never run it. Plus there's a lot more going on in the background on my Z than ever goes on on my Palm.)

Nothing will ever replace the Z unless the system's internals are as open as the Z's. Period.

gr8ful · « **Reply #9 on:** July 07, 2007, 12:08:07 am »

Quote

Yes, some of these Windows Mobile smartphones/PDAs are nice, but they don't compare to the Zaurus, and it's basically because of Linux. It's not Linux itself that makes the Z great, it's the flexibility that Linux allows. With these WinMob devices, there's no way in heck you could flash an alternate ROM as easily as on the Z -- plus the Z is nearly idiot-proof (ie any software oopses can be corrected).

I love Linux, but if there was a PDA/smartphone that was as flexible as the Z running another OS, I'd probably get it. But there isn't. These WinMob devices have great hardware and can do tons of things -- but they're nowhere near as flexible as the Z (I was told by a prominent Palm hacker that Firefox could never run at a reasonable speed on such a slow processor. I'm currently typing this in a full [ie not crippled like minimo] version of Firefox on my Z, which uses the same processor as my Palm that would never run it. Plus there's a lot more going on in the background on my Z than ever goes on on my Palm.)

Nothing will ever replace the Z unless the system's internals are as open as the Z's. Period.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=164479\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Well said. The Z is such a versatile and unique device that it is difficult finding just one device to replace it. I for one will hold out for a Linux device because I love open source and the variety it affords me. Plus there is some very exciting development taking place that I believe will really come together and satisfy many of our desires (Angstrom, OpneMoko, Midinux, and Ubuntu Mobile/Embedded).

With all the iPhone hype and news I find myself craving a new device or at least a software update.

gr8ful · « **Reply #10 on:** July 09, 2007, 05:52:43 pm »

Quote

Quote
Losing the touchscreen is a big minus, although it's only a "rendering" so the hinge might be different. Wifi & VGA out are great, but the keyboard looks flat, though. I wonder how easy it is to type on (even more important if no touchscreen).

Price point will also be important. If it's <$1,000 and has a touchscreen, though, it'll be hard to pass up regardless of the flat keyboard.

scott
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=164464\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

My gut is telling me this will cost $1000 + with or without a touch screen, I want to be wrong!!!
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=164468\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Gizmodo is reporting that the HTC Advantage (unlocked) is listed for pre-orders on Amazon for $850. The Advantage is the bigger brother to the Omni.
Advantage specs:
624mhz cpu
256 ROM, 128 RAM
8gb hd, mini sd
5 inch lcd
gps
umts/hsdpa, quad band gsm/gprs/edge
wifi, bt
usb
3mp camera
TV/VGA out
Windows Mobile 6

I hope this means that the Omni with similar specs but only 4 inch lcd, no hard disk, and slower cpu will run $150-$200 less. $600-$650 would not be a bad price for a device with these specs, especially seeing as the SL-C3200 is selling for $500 on Conics.

Capn_Fish · « **Reply #11 on:** July 09, 2007, 06:30:45 pm »

Quote

Quote
Yes, some of these Windows Mobile smartphones/PDAs are nice, but they don't compare to the Zaurus, and it's basically because of Linux. It's not Linux itself that makes the Z great, it's the flexibility that Linux allows. With these WinMob devices, there's no way in heck you could flash an alternate ROM as easily as on the Z -- plus the Z is nearly idiot-proof (ie any software oopses can be corrected).

I love Linux, but if there was a PDA/smartphone that was as flexible as the Z running another OS, I'd probably get it. But there isn't. These WinMob devices have great hardware and can do tons of things -- but they're nowhere near as flexible as the Z (I was told by a prominent Palm hacker that Firefox could never run at a reasonable speed on such a slow processor. I'm currently typing this in a full [ie not crippled like minimo] version of Firefox on my Z, which uses the same processor as my Palm that would never run it. Plus there's a lot more going on in the background on my Z than ever goes on on my Palm.)

Nothing will ever replace the Z unless the system's internals are as open as the Z's. Period.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=164479\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Well said. The Z is such a versatile and unique device that it is difficult finding just one device to replace it. I for one will hold out for a Linux device because I love open source and the variety it affords me. Plus there is some very exciting development taking place that I believe will really come together and satisfy many of our desires (Angstrom, OpneMoko, Midinux, and Ubuntu Mobile/Embedded).

With all the iPhone hype and news I find myself craving a new device or at least a software update.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=164480\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Try a new Linux distro (You do use Linux on your desktop, right?). It usually works for me.

T3_slider · « **Reply #12 on:** July 10, 2007, 04:32:48 pm »

Quote

Try a new Linux distro (You do use Linux on your desktop, right?). It usually works for me.

lol, I guess that's the cheapest way to satisfy a nerd craving!

speculatrix · « **Reply #13 on:** July 11, 2007, 08:27:19 am »

I don't know if aki news' photo is rendered or real:
http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news-14303...sal+Killer.html

ogrefish · « **Reply #14 on:** July 11, 2007, 10:10:05 am »

looks like fun in photoshop to me.... Still looking forward to its release.

News:

Author Topic: I Think I Found A Z Replacement- Clamshell (Read 10070 times)