The Advantage is a spectacular device, but I have to be honest to myself – the keyboard is kinda hard to use. I was already testing the HTC Athena (now known as the HTC Advantage) before the rumours of it came out on the web, and though I can adjust on the way I type on it, I thought an ordinary user may not find the keyboard friendly to their fingers.

It’s been months since I’ve held the Athena, but I’m still being lured to get one. Problem is I don’t think I’ll be able to utilize it since I always bring along a Kohjinsha UMPC.

The inclusion of the OLPC is only showing how what’s behind the machine is completely escaping them. They have no idea what they are talking about here. They did the same thing when they pushed the “New Economy” expression more than ten years ago. They were so aggressive and defensive about it that many academics and journalists started to question the motives behind Wired’s editorial decisions.

Here’s what Wired has to say about OLPC: “Nicholas Negroponte’s do-good project to equip the world’s poor with tough, low-tech computers hasn’t quite worked out. The machine itself is a triumph: dual screen modes for working in the sun; a tough, cute body; next-gen mesh networking; and a simple, open source OS. The trouble is that it took too long, and politics set in. By the time it entered production, most of the original buyers (heads of state) had been deposed or retired, and the price crept on up. The $100 laptop became the $200 laptop, while real, full-featured PCs got cheaper. Even Intel took a crack, entering the PC market with its savvy Classmate PC. Result? Nobody really cares anymore.”

Seriously, is that a good analysis of the situation? The nasty politics surrounding the XO is coming from “grinch” companies who saw the XO as a threat to their own IT agenda for the developing nations (Hello Microsoft and Intel!) and not an intrinsic problem with the OLPC organization. The XO is being shipped out all over the world, the project is finally taking off. Wired has decided that the whole OLPC enterprise has failed and that nobody cares anymore. It has only just begun! Again, I can only question the motives behind such a drastic and biased editorial judgment.

I can connect to a WPA TKIP secured wireless network with my X7500

James, I have to agree with you on the OLPC. It may be a disappointment for those of used to better tech. But I think, after using one just a bit, that it is a great device for a child in a developing country.

I have to disagree with you about the Kindle, however. $400 for a device that makes you pay for what you’d get free on a normal PC? $400 for a device that displays text on it? I can make PDFs and put them on my Q1 fairly easily, thank you very much!

Woadan

well i use google maps with the gps, works well; the camera is ok, but slow, i dont have any sync probs and bluetooth works well, i especially love the bluetooth stereo headphone capability.. but, that being said, it is a unique device with what is probably a unique target audience..

Not surprised by inclusion of the HTC Advantage 7501. I nearly bought one on the strength of your review, but googling others suggested a lot of dissatisfaction. It may be that you have some special expertise with WM6 or gadgets in general—others seem to like the feature mix but aren’t able to use them effectively, e.g., subscription GPS, poor-performing camera, sync probs, bluetooth headset probs.

Don’t get me wrong, I still think 7501 is the most promising device for its size (which is part of the reason for the disappointment), but hoping for revision / refinement.

i was a little peeved and surprised as well when i saw the advantage on that list.. i use mine all the time, and in many cases i take it instead of a laptop when i travel… it is a great machine!