Ultra-cheap ultra-mobile laptop comparison matrix - Page 2

Bob Russell · 06-10-2007, 08:13 AM

Most consumer laptops seem to have the touchpads, not eraserheads. But I have the same problem as Mogui with my Palm or other things touching the touchpad while I'm typing. It's terrible. In a Word document or email, for example, it means that I'm typing every now and then in random places, messing up my own document. I don't mind having them there, but I wish there were easy options to turn them off when there is an eraserhead on the laptop also.

The other problem I have with touchpads is that it sometimes registers my finger as a tap when I'm still dragging. But most people do like the touchpads, so obviously Mogui and I must be in the minority.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

I see what you're saying, mogui, but gah, I hate those stinkin' things.

Clearly, they must work better for others than the do for me, or they'd've stopped putting them on laptops by now.

branko · 06-10-2007, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mogui

Why do manufacturers think we like touchpads?

Because we do? I have tried both the touchpad and the eraser thing, and with the latter moving my mouse pointer feels like moving tar around. I need my laptop for more than just looking beautiful, so I very much prefer the touchpad.

Having said that: the projected uses for these new sub-notebooks are probably vastly different from how I use my laptop. When I take my laptop with me, I also bring an extra mouse, the power brick and whatever other gadget I think is necessary to recreate the desktop experience.

But these new sub-notebooks are probably intended to be entirely self-contained: you only bring the sub-notebook along. And in that case the mouse input needs to be as user friendly as possible for as many people as possible. So what would be a good solution? Touch screen?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mogui

This article suggests the Eee will support Skype -- my dream come true!

What! You mean it will support some kind of networking, have a microphone and speakers, and will let you run the software of your choice?!

Kidding aside, a fellow freelancer on the project team I am now on complained the other day that Skype took up a good 80 MB of his memory, so apparently it is quite a feat to get it running on such a small footprint.

NatCh · 06-10-2007, 02:25 PM

Truth to tell, I don't really like the touch pads all that much either (though I don't have the accidental use issue with them

), they're just not much use for delicate work. I'm hoping that the Tablet form-factor will make a difference there.

yvanleterrible · 06-10-2007, 04:32 PM

I don't know the techno behind touchpads but sometimes my fingers won't even register on them, or they'll do it part time...arrrgh! I'd rather have a micro trackball, or better yet a micro mouse. I have one that's about 2" by 1.75". It's real easy to find it some space.

NatCh · 06-10-2007, 04:49 PM

It's an induction change approach, I believe.

I actually had (come to think of it still do, it's in storage somewhere) a laptop from the early '90's ('92~'93) that had a built in mini-trackball ... it didn't work all that well. The rollers (pre-optical, so it had rollers like an old mouse) gunked up pretty quickly, and it was a bit hard to control finely due to its small size, not to mention collecting bits and fragments of mystery substances. I don't know if adding optical technology would improve matters or not.

nekokami · 06-10-2007, 08:50 PM

The touchscreen on my PowerBook works ok as long as my hands are dry.

I tried one of those eraser things on a laptop my employer provided, a while back, and noticed tendon strain almost instantly, so I stopped using it. I also used to bang into it while typing, so I had to disable it. But this clearly varies for different people.

mogui · 06-10-2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by branko

What! You mean it will support some kind of networking, have a microphone and speakers, and will let you run the software of your choice?!

Yes. It has apparently been a hassle to get Skype running on various portable devices. When I traveled to the Great West this April, I wanted to buy a Nokia N800, but they hadn't gotten Skype running on it. Perhaps it works now on the N800 and the Pepper Pad 3 and more. Where I live, VoIP is a very handy thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

I actually had (come to think of it still do, it's in storage somewhere) a laptop from the early '90's ('92~'93) that had a built in mini-trackball ... it didn't work all that well. The rollers (pre-optical, so it had rollers like an old mouse) gunked up pretty quickly, and it was a bit hard to control finely due to its small size, not to mention collecting bits and fragments of mystery substances. I don't know if adding optical technology would improve matters or not.

I had one too. It was called a SubNote. Very nice to use, but it got gunked up fairly quickly and the trackball finally quit working altogether. I have an optical Logitech Trackman Marble that is flawless. It never needs cleaning -- always works well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nekokami

The touchscreen on my PowerBook works ok as long as my hands are dry. I tried one of those eraser things on a laptop my employer provided, a while back, and noticed tendon strain almost instantly, so I stopped using it. I also used to bang into it while typing, so I had to disable it. But this clearly varies for different people.

You are right. There is strain with the eraserhead, and the glide pad gives me fits. I have never used a touchscreen on anything but my Palm devices, but I intuit that reaching up to the screen frequently would give me bursitis. I would have to hold the screen to use it.

JAcheson · 06-13-2007, 10:38 AM

I favor the eraserhead over the touchpad, because I was constantly hitting the touchpad when I typed.

OTOH, if I've got any choice in the matter, I plug in a USB mouse.

Thanks for the comparision table! I just want to see more hard data on the Foleo. The screens on the other two are too small for my tastes.

wallcraft · 06-13-2007, 11:30 AM

As discussed in the Eee thread here, there will be a Eee 1001 with a 10" screen - probably for $299 and perhaps available as early as November. Pay extra to upgrade to at least an 8GB flash drive, and still come out ahead price wise. There may be some unique software on the Folio, but any OpenSource Linux software would most likely run equally well on both providing the Folio has an x86 compatible CPU (as all the others in the table do). If it has an ARM CPU (say) then there will be significantly less pre-compiled Linux application software available.

mogui · 06-13-2007, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

As discussed in the Eee thread here, there will be a Eee 1001 with a 10" screen - probably for $299 and perhaps available as early as November. Pay extra to upgrade to at least an 8GB flash drive, and still come out ahead price wise. There may be some unique software on the Folio, but any OpenSource Linux software would most likely run equally well on both providing the Folio has an x86 compatible CPU (as all the others in the table do). If it has an ARM CPU (say) then there will be significantly less pre-compiled Linux application software available.

The comparison matrix in the wiki has been updated. The CPU is reported to be a 900MHz Intel Dothan based Pentium M.

BTW, Fry's carries a USB flash drive called the Kaser Portable Vault. They are about the size of an American cigarette package but half as thick and an inch longer. I bought the smallest one, 15G, for US$65. It is easy to carry and would be a good companion for the Eee. Here is a page on the 30G version which has the same physical dimensions. Here is the 20G version. In the ads they don't express that this is a solid-state flash device. There is apparently a www.kaser.com, but I can't bring it up.

Nightwing · 06-13-2007, 08:51 PM

Hate those darn pads also... And Get frustrated with the joystick ones also.

I always recommend to clients getting a new laptop splurge for a small mouse and a pad... They usually say they are glad they did that.

NatCh · 06-14-2007, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mogui

There is apparently a www.kaser.com, but I can't bring it up.

Try: http://www.kasercorp.com/

mogui · 06-14-2007, 01:08 AM

Boy am I embarassed

After following the link NatCh provided, I saw my Portable Vault drive on the Kaser website. I had wondered why people were describing this device as a mechanical drive. Kaser does too, and they make the drive. Maybe they know something. So I did an error-check on the drive and held it to my ear. Click click click. I think that is a major clue!

This is actually a 1.8" hard drive. It is very light, and quiet enough to fool me for two months! And to think I only paid $65 for it!

Nightwing · 06-14-2007, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

Try: http://www.kasercorp.com/

Not a bad price....

May want to add this... You can get a 2.5" hd case for around 20 from frys... Add in a cheep drive from Frys, Geeks Newegg and can have at least 80 for around the 30 price... Would probably require external power... They also have a premade unit 80GB for 99..

Any specs on power requirements??? Max via USB is around 1/2 amp at 5 volts.. And some of these take a bit more.

Nightwing · 06-14-2007, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mogui

Boy am I embarassed

After following the link NatCh provided, I saw my Portable Vault drive on the Kaser website. I had wondered why people were describing this device as a mechanical drive. Kaser does too, and they make the drive. Maybe they know something. So I did an error-check on the drive and held it to my ear. Click click click. I think that is a major clue!

This is actually a 1.8" hard drive. It is very light, and quiet enough to fool me for two months! And to think I only paid $65 for it!

Probably the same drive in a A2 or iPod style player...

Are there any info on power consumption...

06-14-2007, 01:08 AM	#28
mogui eNigma Posts: 503 Karma: 1335 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Philippines Device: HTC G1 Android FBReader	Portable Vault Boy am I embarassed After following the link NatCh provided, I saw my Portable Vault drive on the Kaser website. I had wondered why people were describing this device as a mechanical drive. Kaser does too, and they make the drive. Maybe they know something. So I did an error-check on the drive and held it to my ear. Click click click. I think that is a major clue! This is actually a 1.8" hard drive. It is very light, and quiet enough to fool me for two months! And to think I only paid $65 for it!

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06-10-2007, 02:25 PM	#18
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Truth to tell, I don't really like the touch pads all that much either (though I don't have the accidental use issue with them ), they're just not much use for delicate work. I'm hoping that the Tablet form-factor will make a difference there.

06-10-2007, 04:32 PM	#19
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	I don't know the techno behind touchpads but sometimes my fingers won't even register on them, or they'll do it part time...arrrgh! I'd rather have a micro trackball, or better yet a micro mouse. I have one that's about 2" by 1.75". It's real easy to find it some space.

06-10-2007, 04:49 PM	#20
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	It's an induction change approach, I believe. I actually had (come to think of it still do, it's in storage somewhere) a laptop from the early '90's ('92~'93) that had a built in mini-trackball ... it didn't work all that well. The rollers (pre-optical, so it had rollers like an old mouse) gunked up pretty quickly, and it was a bit hard to control finely due to its small size, not to mention collecting bits and fragments of mystery substances. I don't know if adding optical technology would improve matters or not.

06-10-2007, 08:50 PM	#21
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	The touchscreen on my PowerBook works ok as long as my hands are dry. I tried one of those eraser things on a laptop my employer provided, a while back, and noticed tendon strain almost instantly, so I stopped using it. I also used to bang into it while typing, so I had to disable it. But this clearly varies for different people.

06-13-2007, 10:38 AM	#23
JAcheson Tech Writer Posts: 211 Karma: 1745785 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Philadelphia, PA Device: Palm TX, Nook Color, Nook Simple Touch, Vizio Tablet, Nexus 10	I favor the eraserhead over the touchpad, because I was constantly hitting the touchpad when I typed. OTOH, if I've got any choice in the matter, I plug in a USB mouse. Thanks for the comparision table! I just want to see more hard data on the Foleo. The screens on the other two are too small for my tastes.

06-13-2007, 11:30 AM	#24
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	As discussed in the Eee thread here, there will be a Eee 1001 with a 10" screen - probably for $299 and perhaps available as early as November. Pay extra to upgrade to at least an 8GB flash drive, and still come out ahead price wise. There may be some unique software on the Folio, but any OpenSource Linux software would most likely run equally well on both providing the Folio has an x86 compatible CPU (as all the others in the table do). If it has an ARM CPU (say) then there will be significantly less pre-compiled Linux application software available.

06-13-2007, 08:51 PM	#26
Nightwing Addict Posts: 303 Karma: 541 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Cowon A2 Dell x3i, Sony Reader & Eee PC!	Hate those darn pads also... And Get frustrated with the joystick ones also. I always recommend to clients getting a new laptop splurge for a small mouse and a pad... They usually say they are glad they did that.