The title of the smallest full-featured Windows PC is still held by OQO, the tiny pocketable computer that has been around for a few years. I spent a good half hour with the newly announced Model 02+ early this year, the latest model that OQO was getting ready for release. That new model has not hit the market yet and rumors flying around a major OQO enthusiast web site have me wondering if it will ever be released.
We reported late last year that the CEO of OQO stepped down and was replaced by one of the company founders. While the reason given for the resignation was to “pursue other ventures,” when a departure happens at such a high level, speculation always sets in about the company.
According to a moderator on OQOTALK, the company is facing financial difficulty and times are rough:
I have been told by a few people in the know and also just from watching whats going on with OQO from reports on this forum. OQO is attempting to sell the company. It lacks the funds to keep going, cash is tight and work hours have been reduced. One has to wonder if it can still meet warranty claims as it starts to buy stock to build the 2+. I’m sorry to say this, but the 2+ might be the last OQO we see made. I don’t even think we will see it.
These are members of the community closest to OQO so this carries more weight than these sorts of comments ordinarily carry. I was wondering why the newest model was taking so long to get to market, especially given that OQO is basically a one-product company. They can’t afford to sit on sales of old products as they have been for at least a year now.
Looking into the company’s current situation further finds that European retail giant Expansys has stopped carrying the OQO devices due to a high return rate, according to what they are telling some customers. They are sending this email in response to customer inquiries about their canceling preorders of the new Model 02+:
Dear Customer,
Unfortunately eXpansys has taken the decision, due to uncertainties
to stock availability of the OQO Model 2+, to remove the OQO model
from our web site.While we try to keep the information on our web site fully up to date
with the status of each product, inevitably in some cases we are not
informed that a particular item is no longer available until after we
have orders for it.We apologise for any inconvenience.
RegardsOrder Processing
eXpansys
Things don’t look rosy for OQO, but while we have blasted them for high return rates in the past we find the handheld computer to be extremely cool. We hope this is just a temporary situation for them and they continue to produce nice little PCs. Thanks for the tip, Dave!
That’s a bummer. OQO is a good product and the people I interacted with there, while at Sling, where good people too. We did a joint case study with Sling+OQO to support HBO’s Entourage and I manned a booth with them at some NYC event in late 2007 or early 2008.
Not sure that articles like this one are going to help OQO stay in business…. ;-)
It’s a damn shame if true. Even after 2 years nothing comes close to replacing mine (except the +2) even with its yellow screen and having to be held together with black tape!
Well, that explains why I couldn’t find any online reviews by people who had purchased the 2+. Apart from being cool, there isn’t anything that small you can carry around that has full computer functions, including video out and tablet functions.
You mean aside from the fact that the 2+ is not available for sale yet? (The earliest estimates were that it’d be available in May.)
Apple, buy OQO with engineers and make it the best pocketable Mac ever. After all, the OQO was founded by ex-Apple executives.
They weren’t executives, they were Apple engineers who tried to get Apple to make an OQO-like device. When Apple said no, they founded their own company and made the OQO. Apple will never make an OQO-like device because of the overlap between laptops and iPhone/iPod touch it will create.
They have good technology but I predicted that if they do not change the form factor so that it provides reasonable touch type input they will go bankrupt which looks like a real possibility?
If they used the size and shape of the HP Jornada 720 series handhelds as an example that would provide about 35% more increased volume than their current size and it would have a touch type keyboard. That size would still be small enough to fit in a jacket pocket but the longer size with touch type keyboard would attract many more business users. I would buy one if they changed it that way and would consider it a value as it would then be able to be a true laptop replacement for millions.
BUT when you look at the OQO now with a thumb input that is a HUGE negative aspect regarless of price. I know die hard OQO users love the pocket size and would hate to see a larger version but I feel that is the only way that they could be profitable. It would be great if they could add a touch type keyboard version as a second model to keep everyone happy but as a small company maybe that is not possible?
My prediction is still the same, they need to either add a second model or change their current model so it is a touch type keyboard size and shape like a HP Jornada 720 series or Psion 5mx size device or they will go bankrupt if not this year very soon.
Maybe the reason they’re having problems is because they are OUTRAGEOUSLY OVERPRICED!
Exactly, lower the sticker price & pull an ASUS/Acer or even Gigabyte & WiBrain price points. A low end/low cost model (in spec only) would’ve balanced OQO. $900-$,$$$+ sticker prices are a dying fad in this economy for any computing device, weither it be portable, mobile, touchscreen or even stationary.
There is no chance OQO would have ever made any money trying to sell a powerful computer that forces you to not use a keyboard but rather hunt and peck with two fingers? That is the most retarded logic that I have seen.
If they would have used a clamshell design then they might have had a chance but I think it is way too late as it sounds like they are ready for a fire sale.
Yes, this is a bit late considering the reports from many of us posted on OQOtalk about our devices being held hostage by the repair center because of a shipping issue. If they go under the 1+ years remaining on my unit will be worthless.