MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Computer companies can not get the form factor right

brecklundin · 01-20-2008, 04:34 PM

the biggest issue I have with these UMPC's and handhelds is they all seem to insist on adding a phone to the device. This puts the devices in a useless configuration for me. It not only affects the power use but also form factor. Also it almost forces a [potential] user to decide if paying extra for functionality they will likely never use is worth the premium.

I simply do not understand why there is not a standard modular slot to allow the user to decide which connectivity they will use. This is especially significant today as data only MBB plans become more widespread. I have fallen in love with my EVDO via an small ISP called Millenicom (the sell Sprint Network access). I get tremendous service and in just two weeks know I would be lost w/o it.

My device is a USB dongle that has all the software on-board of it's USB drive memory. No installation really, a few moments on first connection. It even comes with support for Mac OSX, XP (not sure about Vista) & Ubuntu (Linux). I have read others have found ways to get it working under Linux variants because the EVDO device works/appears as a dial-up device vs. a true network device. So it uses basic AT & AT advanced command sets.

Beyond form factor connectivity options beyond simple wifi are needed. Especially as wifi can be problematic most places. But MBB seems to be almost everywhere. It's not all EVDO RevA but at least there is something almost everywhere.

When the connectivity is hardwired into the system it limits more widespread appeal. Even is they [the connectivity cards] are mini PCI cards, some system flat refuse to work with devices with a different internal device_id other then the brand on the box itself.

I have been looking at UMPC's simply because they offer standard USB host connections. I have yet to find a PDA type device which allows this even if they have a mini-usb port. Or at least I have yet to read that PDA's, even the two new iPaq's (the 110 & 220 series) will actually allow use of a USB dongle. And there are no CF or SD EVDO cards yet that I have run into. BTW, I find that the Franklin CDU680 device I have uses far less power than my built-in wifi...maybe an extra 20-25 minutes work time on battery for my laptop.

Oops...I meandered kinda off topic...sorry...but no the form factors are not right yet nor are the costs near reasonable. Put them in the range of the iPaq 110/220's and we can talk. But until then well, they are beyond my comfort level.

01-20-2008, 04:34 PM	#12
brecklundin Banned Posts: 1,906 Karma: 15348 Join Date: Jun 2007 Device: mine	the biggest issue I have with these UMPC's and handhelds is they all seem to insist on adding a phone to the device. This puts the devices in a useless configuration for me. It not only affects the power use but also form factor. Also it almost forces a [potential] user to decide if paying extra for functionality they will likely never use is worth the premium. I simply do not understand why there is not a standard modular slot to allow the user to decide which connectivity they will use. This is especially significant today as data only MBB plans become more widespread. I have fallen in love with my EVDO via an small ISP called Millenicom (the sell Sprint Network access). I get tremendous service and in just two weeks know I would be lost w/o it. My device is a USB dongle that has all the software on-board of it's USB drive memory. No installation really, a few moments on first connection. It even comes with support for Mac OSX, XP (not sure about Vista) & Ubuntu (Linux). I have read others have found ways to get it working under Linux variants because the EVDO device works/appears as a dial-up device vs. a true network device. So it uses basic AT & AT advanced command sets. Beyond form factor connectivity options beyond simple wifi are needed. Especially as wifi can be problematic most places. But MBB seems to be almost everywhere. It's not all EVDO RevA but at least there is something almost everywhere. When the connectivity is hardwired into the system it limits more widespread appeal. Even is they [the connectivity cards] are mini PCI cards, some system flat refuse to work with devices with a different internal device_id other then the brand on the box itself. I have been looking at UMPC's simply because they offer standard USB host connections. I have yet to find a PDA type device which allows this even if they have a mini-usb port. Or at least I have yet to read that PDA's, even the two new iPaq's (the 110 & 220 series) will actually allow use of a USB dongle. And there are no CF or SD EVDO cards yet that I have run into. BTW, I find that the Franklin CDU680 device I have uses far less power than my built-in wifi...maybe an extra 20-25 minutes work time on battery for my laptop. Oops...I meandered kinda off topic...sorry...but no the form factors are not right yet nor are the costs near reasonable. Put them in the range of the iPaq 110/220's and we can talk. But until then well, they are beyond my comfort level.