Back in May, we first heard about smartbooks. Qualcomm tipped us off on these upcoming devices and started up a smartbook website to explain how they’d be powered by Snapdragon processors. Here’s what Qualcomm says makes up a smartbook:
- Instant On Access — no boot up time or waiting for email to download
- 3G Connectivity — get mobile broadband speeds with your wireless network carrier
- Ultra Portable Design — less than 20mm thick and less than two lbs.
- All Day Battery Life — 8 to 10 hour charge, plus week-long standby
- Built in GPS — location-aware, to get you there faster and easier
- Customizable Interface — intuitive, one-touch navigation to your favorite applications
The company even suggested that we might see smartbooks by the fall of 2009. Isn’t that right about now? So far, all we’ve seen are some prototypes and a scant few devices that loosely qualify as a highly portable, low-powered Linux smartbook.
I’m beginning to wonder if this device class is really going to take off. I’d like them too, believe me. I’m all about working in a good web browser all day long, wherever I’m at. But it seems like the Snapdragon is destined to power smartphones right now, not smartbooks. Essentially, it shouldn’t be too difficult to build a smartphone platform without the voice stack and with a larger display and keyboard. None of the usual suspects have done that though. I’m thinking of companies like ASUS, Acer and Samsung here — they all seem focused on their full-sized computers, netbooks and smartphones these days. Given the recent launch of Microsoft Windows 7, I suppose that makes sense, but what happens next? After the Windows 7 hoopla dies down, I have a feeling that smartphones will be the focus.
Is it just me that’s interested in seeing a solid smartbook or two hit the market this holiday? I tend to go for niche devices — my three Samsung Q1 UMPCs are a testament to that — so maybe it is just me. I can’t help thinking that a lightweight, power efficient Android device with usable keyboard and widescreen display would keep me happy all day. Won’t anyone make one?
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