Which device spec do you prefer: price, small size, storage capacity or other?
With the trend of notebooks getting smaller and lighter, I figure now is a good time to ask this question. The Asus Eee PC clearly started a trend towards both a low price and a small size; the compromise was in terms of performance. Not that the performance is bad, but relatively speaking, it is lower than higher-priced notebooks. Now I see that Acer is planning a low-cost 12.1-inch device that will top out around $450. That unit is expected to complement their 8.9-inch device which should start around $300.While most mobile users want it all (great performance, tons of storage, portability, connectivity and, oh yes, a low, low price), I’m not sure we’re there just yet. So my question to you as we continue down this trend of smaller, lighter and cheaper is: what do you value most in a device like this? Put another way: if you have to compromise on price, storage capacity, performance, or size / weight, which would you choose? Just curious…. I realize that everyone’s needs and requirements are different of course.
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considering these machines will primarily be used as secondary devices, i would say performance. i’m not looking to run games or HD movies on it. low price is obviously critically for a secondary machine, so is size/weight to carry with you as your “little buddy”, i also like HP’s storage approach with cheap, fast, 2.5″ HDD’s.
Price: this is an issue. I cannot put 1500$ for a companion PC.
Power: That’s less critical to me on the road. I just want to write a few mails, talk to my wife and son (voip), take a few notes and show a few slideshows.
UI: I want a nice integration. Things must be smooth.
Size: If I can I would use a pocketable mini computer. The MIDs are pretty interesting.
i meant to say BIG (storage wise), cheap, & fast 2.5″ HDD’s.
oh yes, for the love of god manufactures. PLZ all use 6-cell batteries in your devices, it usually nets 6-7hours of battery life instead of 3-4 like 3-cells do. i dont care that it adds .3lbs to the weight, these are not vertical market tablet devices so a little extra weight isnt as important.
I use an Eee Pc daily. When I say daily, I mean all day, everyday.
To me, the biggest compromise of the Eee Pc is the screen size/resolution, which requires an awful lot of scrolling.
I really like the Eee Pc. However, in the future, I don’t know that I’d compromise on the LCD again.
I’m eagerly awaiting the next wave of ULCPCs, or whatever it is they want us to call them this week.
I’d give up on performance first, then price.
First off, I need a device that can go anywhere with me, at any time, to the same extent that my cell phone is always with me.
This means that first and foremost, it must be pocketable. If it’s not pocketable, it’s going to be left at home/at my desk. My Nokia 770 just about fits that bill, but it is sloooow.
Next up, it must be able to last all day. My Sony TX can just barely do that. My UX, on the other hand, doesn’t come close, and neither does the Nokia 770. I’m willing to sacrifice some performance to that end, so good aggressive power management can make up for a lot of this.
Finally, it must have enough storage space for all of my data. If it’s a pocketable device, it’s going to take up space that I’d otherwise have reserved for an iPod, a camera, or maybe a BT keyboard for my phone. Since these can’t come with me, I’d better be able to shunt my photos onto it, carry my music and video on it, and have my documents available. That’s going to eat up around 20 GB of raw storage, and I *still* would need some scratch space.
If there was one device that could do all of this, and do it quickly (not at top speed, of course,) I really wouldn’t care about the price or the performance. Can it use a tethered phone? Can I add a 3G radio? Does it have WiFi? Can it run MS Office (or compatible) apps? Can I view PDFs with fluid panning and zooming? Can I launch a Terminal Services client? Can I play MP3s while websurfing? Can it handle Flash video?
I don’t need it to compile code at lightning speed, or perform 3D modeling work. It doesn’t need to play Crysis, though Quake 3 would be nice. It just needs to be slightly more powerful, and slightly thinner than the Raon Everun, especially with that kickass zooming feature. Stretch that screen as close to the edge of the case as possible, and maximize that screen real estate, and then you can absolutely sign me up at damned near any price.
(Oh, and a slider keyboard that doesn’t suck would be very nice, too.)
this thread is clearly about small laptops hence “with notebooks getting smaller & lighter” & the comparisons to EEE. yet here come the OQO zealots to rebuff their tired old ideals. face it, for now at least handtops are dead. OQO is flopping, Sony hasnt updated the UX in 2 years, Intel has completely abandoned the platform for MIDS.
if you want to desire your handtop devices thats fine, but please do it on the appropriate websites & forums. stop hijacking these instead, the big boys who make decisions are not going to change their minds based on a tiny few internet zealots (unless you plan to front the millions in R&D).
I’m sure I’ll be in the minority on this, but I would compromise on price before any of those other items. I tend to look at my mobile devices as an investment towards productivity and I’d rather spend more on something that is going to meet my needs well enough for fairly heavy use over a reasonably extended period of time. I tend to think that an over-focus on price could ultimately cost me more as I keep upgrading to the “latest and greatest” or keep trialing new devices in an attempt to find the one that works best.
When I recently purchased my Vye S37, I certainly gave serious consideration to the Eee PC, which offered a very similar form-factor for less than 1/3 the price that I paid. In the end, I just decided that I couldn’t live with the major limitations in storage space, performance, etc. Spending more money probably means I’ll keep my system longer than I would have otherwise (I used my eo v7110 for nearly 2 years), but I don’t really think that is a bad thing.
Size, weight, speed and price are all important.
Having used laptops as primary computers for almost 10 years now (including for gaming), I would say feature and price are a definitive relationship.
I always had small but fast laptops for my primary devices.
Generic (Gericom) laptop
Dell Latitude x300
Lenovo x60 Tablet
I would never go above 3.5 lbs for my primary laptop and do not want a screen bigger than 12″ (I have a nice multi-monitor setup at work).
As a secondary computer I would definitely want something even smaller, lighter and cheaper.
THIS I would buy:
along the following lines:
2 lbs or less
8″ screen
don’t care what OS (linux, XP_ but needs to be FAST and open to install programs (none of the proprietary crap)
less than $200
I would disagree about being a secondary toy or device. For UMPC’s to create a real market they must be functional enough to be the primary device when mobile. If they had the features below it would easily sell millions for a price up to $1500. Sure cheaper would be nice but I think it would easily sell at least $250 to 500 or more than a basic laptop due to the increased mobility.
Here is what kind of UMPC the mainstream would buy:
1. It should have a clamshell form factor about 3.6″ x 7″ x 1″ That would enable it to differentiate between any laptop or computer too large to carry in a jacket pocket.
2. It should have the largest possible keyboard with not one millimter wasted between any keys or the boarder. The world uses touch type keyboards for inputing in full Windows so that is what will sell and what people want. They do not want thumb input or pen only and the results of UMPC’s thus far prove that.
3. It should have the largest screen also given that size with virtually no space wasted on the boarders. Screen should be touch type to avoid need for a mouse.
4. It should have full desktop Windows OS so that it can run any third party softwares needed for most mobile business users.
5. Battery life should be no less than 3 hours and obviously more the better with a removable battery so one could swap a fresh one easily.
6. I know most of the comments will likely be from tech people whom will have a micro view on the internals but really mainstream only cares that it has adequate power to run the OS and 2-3 programs opened at once, should have input for connecting to external screen and projector for powerpoints, ample removable additional memor slots, whatever is the current wireless.
Ideal device to build upon would be the shape of a Psion 5mx but with current technology on the inside running full Windows. That device proved that a jacket size clamshell could provide a touch type keyboard that one could input near desktop speeds.
My ideal lightweight PC is essentially a commuting device. I have to be able to hold it in one hand while standing up (lightweight and compact), however it does have to be usable with two hands for typing and doing some work (keyboard is a must). Being in such a small size screen around 5in, which means fewer people looking over my shoulder. I’d also rather have a high-res screen and zoom inside my apps rather than having to constantly scroll around. Battery life is less of an issue as long as I get about two hours out of it; I’ll charge it once at work or back at home. It’s got to be Windows as all the productivity software is on that platform and I don’t have the time to worry about compatability and formats. It has to fit in a jacket pocket and shouldn’t weigh much above 500g. I’m a bit more forgiving about speed as long as video is properly accelerated all the way up to HD (media one of the primary uses of the device); of course, faster is always better. Storage isn’t my primary concern as I’ll keep a much larger library back home and just copy what I need for the day/week. The upcoming LG and the current OQO fit this bill pretty well.