(note: I appear to have been linked from Transmeta stock forums. I have no idea why. Sorry to those who ended up here unexpectedly.)
There’s some news out today which relates closely to the Carrypad idea.
Fujitsu are showing this concept design at the latest Triennale di Milano exhibition. It goes against the current Origami grain and integrates a keyboard which, I say again, is critical in a portable device in order to allow for advanced and efficient input of emails, blogs, reports and the like. Its nice to see design houses testing this ground when the focus is on touch-screen interfaces and would be very interesting to see feedback.
I’d like to see that screen slide along and lock somewhere in the middle of the keypad and even slide completely off for a keyboard-free experience in order to achive the best keyboard-screen integration possible!
Do you think a keyboard is a requirement for a ‘UMPC.’? Place your vote here.
Remember, as far as i’m concerned, an UMPC is any ultra-mobile PC. From a Nokia 770 to a Motion LS800. My list of UMPC’s is here.
Original story from The Register.
April 5th, 2006 at 1:03 am
I voted “no”, but I want to qualify that… so long as a keyboard can be attached (via Bluetooth, USB, PS/2, whatever) I’m happy without an integral keyboard. Most of my “on the move” needs would be served by the touchscreen and/or DialKeys (I think…) and I’d only need a full keyboard for the heavyweight stuff; and for me, that can wait until I’m somewhere stable.
— Steve