Comments on: OQO seeks buyer. (Updated)

By: Opus

Opus — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:44:38 +0000

Sad about OQO, have my 02 since April 2007, works great for on the go mobile computing, period. Between the thumb keyboard & track mouse, can do anything a laptop can with Windows Vista or XP plus tablet. Plus I can run almost any full-blown Windows software including MS Office & MS Visual Studio.

If I need to do some heads down typing or work, I can plug in or go wireless with a full size keyboard & mouse, plus plug into a full size monitor. Burns CD’s, haven’t tried DVD except watching a movie, hooked up my 02 to a projector and did a presentation at work. Also do the Internet via WiFi or my Sprint wireless broadband when out of WiFi range.

Perfect form factor for what it was designed for and it works great for me, barring a few improvements to its features the 02+ almost provided (would like higher native resolution), too bad we will not see it…

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:11:14 +0000

James and AL. Just my opinion. But I think UMPC means Ultra “MOBILE” personal computer. IF you need to type at desktop speeds, UMPC’s are NOT designed for desktop typing speeds. I don’t see how you don’t understand typing speeds for UMPC will never match and were NEVER MEANT to match desktop typing speeds.
BUT if you open your minds a little, you can carry a full size foldable keyboard to meet that demand. This should answer your keyboard concerns for the last 100 posts.

By: Gloria

Gloria — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 01:19:41 +0000

thank you, james, for this info….

in the website that you mention, some people say that they got not only their machine back but also in working condition… i am still hopeful that they will send it to me.

By: ssagg

ssagg — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:14:32 +0000

And there you go again

By: James

James — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:49:37 +0000

try oqotalk.com I think they said that some ex OQO employees were going to help make repairs? I think they outsource the repairs and their message for sevice says they can not provide repairs at this time?

I think they are just about dead as I also read others saying that they drove by and found nobody home? If you can get it repaired great but it is probably time to start looking for a future replacement if I were you.

They really screwed themselves using the thumb keys like the old HP 200LX instead of modeling it using say an HP Jornada 720 type size computer. People just do not want a full PC without a keyboard.

By: Gloria

Gloria — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:09:13 +0000

i sent my oqo for repair in february and after multiple calls i have not got my machine back; i suspected that something was going on with these guys and it is not surprised that they are out-of-business….could you give some advice on how to have my oqo returned to me even if it is not fixed?

thanks,

By: Al

Al — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:59:30 +0000

To me the OQO’s thumb keys are not what I would call a normal keyboard. I do agree that pen input if that is what you mean by touch screen is also not ideal as the sole way to use a computer. It is nice to have so that in a small screen and computer you could use the touch screen in stead of a mouse.

For me I would like to see a clamshell computer that is about 7″ x 4″ x 1″ so that it is long enough for a decent touch type keyboard yet still slim enough to carry in a jacket pocket. If a UMPC had that size it would to me be better than an OQO as it would appeal to more people. It would be a computer that could actually replace a laptop for those highly mobile people whom do not want to lug a laptop around. One design back in the 90′s was the Psion 5mx; that type of keyboard is what I would recommend. That keyboard enabled me to type about 85% of desktop speeds as the keys were easy to feel. I would increase the size from 6.9″ long to say 7.4″ and increase the width from 3.6″ to 4″ and make it as slim as possible. That would provide a keyboard better than any computer ever made for such a pocketable small size.

By: Phil

Phil — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:09:27 +0000

Last response to Al. A Keyboard does exist on OQO. Touch screen and clamshell keyboards (IMO) are both poor designs for pocket sized devices. (5-7″) screens by reducing screen realestate, and reducing mobility. Al, please help include brighter discussion besides price and sales. I still think it would be interesting if someone can help provide a better designed UMPC example then the OQO.

By: Al

Al — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:23:50 +0000

OQO has had 8 years to sell it and they still have yet to generate any real significant sales. The lack of a touch type keyboard reduces the value as it is thus not very functional as full PC software and OS is meant to be used with a keyboard. Thus it is a PC with a size and shape most people do not want to use nor buy. It is overpriced for that very reason as it is more of a toy as it can not be your only PC. Most people do not want multiple PC’s.

If it provided a touch type keyboard and was still small enough to fit in a jacket then it would be a good design and result in strong sales. OQO did not innovate and address the problem with their lack of a keyboard so they are going out of business.

By: Al

Al — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:19:13 +0000

The UMPC market not been very popular as the sales thus far have been very small even after all of this time. I do like the idea of a pocket size full PC computer but I just feel that so far all of the UMPC designs do not provide a touch type keyboard and that is what I and most others want out of a full PC computer. I would like to see a simple touch type clamshell full PC UMPC. A clamshell can be very portable as the old handhelds in the 1990′s proved that. They were about 7″ x 3.6″ x 1″ so they would easily fit in a jacket pocket. If you have a full PC OS and software they are not ideal to use those softwares without a touch type keyboard and are not the type of programs made for standing and using two thumbs to input. The reality is that most people do not want a full PC limited to thumb input.

By: Sokonomi

Sokonomi — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:25:39 +0000

It just means its grocely overpriced for what it really is?

By: ssagg

ssagg — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:47:35 +0000

I totally agrre with Phil. I would add that nobody says that the Oqo is a perfect design. It certainly can be improved. But I think that it’s design is the best up to date and that it should be a reference one.
BTW I’m not sure about that success in sales should be taken as a validation of a good design. I actually think, for example, that a Tesla is a far better car than any other and their poor sales doesn’t mean the opposite. Or, to give another example, the most succesfull pictures are not always the best ones, wright? So good sales doesn’t necessarilly imply a good UMPC design.

By: Phil

Phil — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:42:13 +0000

Al I dissagree. Your second paragraph, to me, doesn’t quite make sense, and it disproves the UMPC market and this website. So unless you’re againt the UMPC market, you’re statement is incorrect. There is as market and interest for UMPC’s, that’s what this site is for.
touch screen and clamshell devices.
Touch screen, i think is a poor design for UMPC’s. Becuase if you notice a touch Screen keyboard takes up screen realestate, which is very valuable to a 5″ screen.
clamshell, I agree with Sokonomi, if you need a hard surface/tabletop to type, it’s not as portable. Remember how these mobile devices were called “Palm tops”, not “Desk tops” or “Lap tops”

By: Sokonomi

Sokonomi — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:31:18 +0000

“If a clamshell pocket UMPC with a touch type keyboard were created it would sell very well.” Well I woulnd want one for starters. Whats the point of buying an expencive miniature computer if you need a tabletop to use it properly.

What UMPC’s really need is a good shell. Desktop windows just isnt designed for small screens and touchscreens. A more UMPC oriented version of mediacenter would do alot nicer then a bare desktop enviorement. Linux with its many GUI’s could steal the market if it wasnt so incredibly pesky to install and maintain. Adobe Air could still provide a windows platform with a wonderfull GUI overlay though. (Viliv S5 is running its cube menu on it I believe)

By: Al

Al — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:13:40 +0000

OQO has 8 years of marketing and attempts to gain interest in their design and it has not worked yet. The fact is that real Vista desktop programs are just not very useful with thumb input so people do not want to buy an OQO. No matter what they were to ever do in marketing would not change that basic fact. Technology will not change people’s behavior to go with something more difficult to use.

UMPC’s all have been a bit of a failure as UMPC’s yearly have had terrible sales in the 350K/year range worldwide including every brand. None of the UMPC’s inlcuding the OQO are very useful nor popular to most people so it would not be appropiate for umpcportal to ever use one as a benchmark to compare others.

While the few OQO owners love their OQO, the market has already spoken, most people do not share that view. Full Windows is meant to use a keyboard so most people would rather see a mobile UMPC with a touch type keyboard. If a clamshell pocket UMPC with a touch type keyboard were created it would sell very well.