January 8, 2007

Wireless Broadband from OQO

Just about every notebook computer you buy, you can opt to have wireless broadband from Sprint, AT&T or Verizon built in, no need for a PC Card. OQO, maker of the very tiny, but fully powered mini-computers (imagine a deck of playing cards) will have a new model with built in wireless as well, via Sprint.

The OQO press releases reads that the new OQO model 02 ultra mobile PC is a full-featured Windows XP computer that gives mobile professionals the total productivity they need to fulfill their professional and personal requirements. In addition to integrated wireless broadband, the model 02's features include a 1.5GHz CPU, 1GB RAM, 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, an ergonomic backlit keyboard, and a rugged magnesium chassis with a shock-mounted hard drive and drop detect technology -- all in the only truly mobile form factor in the industry.

For my work, the OQO is way too small. The keyboard would be similar to writing a 500 word article on a Blackberry (I'd rather do Fear Factor) and the screen is like watching a movie through a telescope.

I'm sure there are many vertical applications where the OQO makes sense - especially for those who simply MUST have a full featured computer, but MUST have it very small.

One use of the OQO could for those who are POWER Smartphone users and find that they really need a full PC for much of the work that they are doing. When they are traveling, the OQO's size would come in handy. At the hotel they could plug in an external set of keyboards, mice and monitor. But who's going to want to lug that stuff around or call a hotel to make sure there's a monitor in the room or rent one?

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