We got tons of 20gb Mp3 players/portable hard drives.
We got tons of pda’s that can handle a whopping 512mb of data.
What compnay will get off their arse first and combine these two products into one??
Any guesses?
Most probably the folks at Oqo will be the first to market with this concept.
Already here.
No, the Ipod is not a pda. You cannot input text directly. You cannot connect it to a keyboard. You have to attach a fragile add on to do voice recording.
It is getting close, but still nowhere near as useful as a true pda.
April 16, 2002 was the day oq announced this ultra portable computer and it is still vaporware. I wouldn’t give them odds over someone like Dell who makes PDA’s and 20GB mp3 players and just needs to combine the two products.
I am talking about a simple pda with full pda functionality with a 20 gb hd. The above two examples are hybrids and halfbreeds.
Who is going to be the first to make a real one?
Guess it depends on your definition of “useful”. I don’t have one, but for the size having access to your calendar and address book as well as the other functions is all I would need. I have a laptop for everything else. IMO the data entry for “real” pda’s including those gimmicky keyboards isn’t worth the trouble.
I’ve been thinking this as well - can you get any pocket PCs with hard drives. I guess once they release the second generation, lower cost versions then they’ll eat into a chunk of the hard drive based MP3 player market.
I would love to be able to carry around an integrated phone, pocket PC (for running work presentations and my personal portfolio on a projector or LCD screen), MP3 player, camera, GPS, photo album, games machine, web browser - with a nice 40GB of storage so I can take files to and from work. Geeky, I know, but I already carry a phone and a laptop - and I only use the laptop for presentations. .
Keep an eye on the CES show in January- I’m sure it’s coming.
Is there any sign of the IBM CF microdrives reaching that kind of capacity.
Regrettably, I’m with ready29003 on the oqo - it looks a fantastic concept, but when I buy one, I’ll drive there in my Moller Skycar to get it.
www.compactflash.org 's recent press releases indicate that microdrives have reached (at least) 4GB, and CompactFlash CARDS have reached 3GB.
I think it’s amazing that something that small can hold so much information. Where’s the limit? Is there one?
What constitutes “full PDA functionality”? IMHO, my Fujitsu S80B notebook PC has the bare minimum of CPU, keyboard and display to make full use of a 20 GB HDD. It weighs 2 lb and about the size of a hardcover book, small and light enough that I can (and do) use it while standing on a subway.
Pda running latest Palm or Windows PDA software.
PDA form factor.
20gb mp3 player form factor.
Basically the size of an IPod…but a PDA.
It is a simple step from where we are now…but noone is doing it for some reason.
scr4 can’t find a real link to the Fujitsu S80B notebook. Do you have a link??? I would like to see it.
Something the size of an iPod, but with a keyboard and a screen good enough for various Windows apps? One day, sure, but right now I’m having flashbacks to everyone who thought WAP would revolutionise mobile technology.
Your respond as if you are describing some far off technology. You just described pda’s and many cell phones that have been sold this year. I am merely wondering when someone will add a 20 gb hard drive.
Oh, I know the technology is feasible. I’m more concerned with the usability of it. If I could get Word, Excel etc to run on something the size of an iPod I’d be interested - and that’s what I thought you were getting at. I just don’t see how it can be truly usable and mobile at that size. If you need plug in keyboards and screens, even these flexible ones I’ve read about, you’re still not a million miles improved from powerbooks and laptops.
Sorry, it turns out to be a Japan-only model. Here’s a Japanese link. It’s very similar to the US model Fujitsu Lifebook P1000, but with the TrackPoint-like pointing device instead of a touch sensitive screen.
It’s a slow computer and has a small screen, but it’s very useful as a second computer. I use it for taking notes in meetings and conferences, and I do all my e-mail on it.
Why doesn’t someone just simply release a dedicated bluetooth hard Drive caddy? Then you could have a laptop, desktop, digital camera and PDA all share the same storage space.
Cool idea…seems to be on the way…
Looks like Archos will be the first to do this. PDA and blue tooth hard drive all in one package. I would put a link, but I am getting javascript errors.
http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/337/C2626/
Archos AV500.
Very cool.
Actually, Lexar currently have a 4Gb compact flash card, and their own website has an image of a New 8Gb 40x card, which, according to this site, will be available in May this year.