Completely screwing up any categorisation I ever used in the mobile computing space is the Wistron PurseBook (aka PBook and what we highlighted incorrectly as the ‘FirstBook’ last week.) Take a look at this video from Engadget and then consider some of the specs, especially the weight which comes in at an impressively light 800gm.
- Snapdragon Platform: 1Ghz ARM V7 CPU
- Hardware video decoding
- 3D-capable GPU
- Integrated 3G, Wifi, BT, GPS
- 11.1” screen (resolution unknown. Touch unknown)
- 800gm
- Linux OS (Thundersoft and Xandros possibilities)
- ‘Full size’ keyboard
- Optical Mouse
- $299-$499 estimated price range.
- 8hrs battery life
- Full specs and info.
The 11.1” screen size is quite misleading as it’s a super-wide aspect meaning it would be something like 1024×480 resolution, less pixels than many 8.9” netbooks. Update: ‘Kola’ spotted a pic (see comments) that shows the resolution as 1280×545. My guess on the size is about 280x150x25. [See comparison image below] The processor isn’t going to give you netbook browsing speeds either but it’s going to be way better than we’re seeing on smartphones. 8hrs battery life with instant or ‘always-on’ means you’ll save time when opening it just to make a quick check on email or a web page and it also means you could leave IM, Skype, Tweetdeck running all the time.
Specifications (unofficial) and links are in the database.
Size comparison:
April 6th, 2009 at 11:23 am
More info on the Wistron PurseBook. Info page now available. http://cli.gs/sMqET6
April 6th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
the thing about the snapdragon is that its not quite cortex, yet its not quite the older gen either.
not sure i like that they are partnering with xandros. thundersoft im more unclear on, but it looks very much like midinux. something that do not fill me with joy when it comes to ease of community interaction or involvement.
touchbook, openpandora and nokia’s next tablet is whats on my radar right now.
turn_self_off Reply:
April 6th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
crap, i poked around a bit more and thundersoft basically is midinux.
why oh why do they keep partnering up with the worst choices?!
Chippy Reply:
April 6th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Snapdragon, AKAIK, uses an ARMv7 core, the same as Cortex A8. Performance is unknown but should be a significant step forward for ARM-based devices. Especially at 1Ghz.
turn_self_off Reply:
April 6th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
dug up this:
http://www.dspdesignline.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=204700527
it seems snapdragon is ARMv7 compatible (in the same way AMD CPU’s are X86 compatible) but are not based on the cortex designs.
Chippy Reply:
April 6th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Thats correct. Cortex is ARM’s own design based on ARMv7. Snapdragon uses Qualcomms own design based on ARMv7
Wishmaster Reply:
April 6th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Qualcomm snapdragon uses Scorpion CPU which is a custom made processor based on ARMv7 instruction set. http://www.insidedsp.com/Articles/tabid/64/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/238/Qualcomm-Reveals-Details-on-Scorpion-Core.aspx here you will find some more informations.
According to this snapdragon should offer better performance than the standard cortex A8 at slightly lower powers consumption.
April 6th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
One Word: Android.
April 6th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Looks like it has 1280 x 545 screen resolution.
http://www.engadget.com/photos/arms-stash-of-netbook-oddities-and-a-windows-mobile-6-5-mid-1/1375339/
Chippy Reply:
April 6th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Hey, well spotted. I was a bit worried about the 480 vertical so it’s nice to see this. Have updated the product page.
Steve
April 6th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
too big, too underpowered, mobile OS, more confusion, lack of standards, etc
why is it fullsize OS’s are moving into the mobile market, and mobile OS’s are moving into the fullsize market? are these guys just bored? a mobile OS in a non-handheld is about the stupidest idea to come around in a long time & will fail miserably.
*this does not count custom linux builds for toasters & vibrators of course, i mean “consumer” mobile OS’s.
turn_self_off Reply:
April 6th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
i would say that such a separation is at best artificial.
a os in its simplest form is just a abstraction layer between hardware and the apps performing the tasks the user wants performed.
animatio Reply:
April 6th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
well, ubuntu just released it’s 9.04 beta in a special version for arm cpu’s.
April 6th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
800gr?It is not that very heavy?
April 7th, 2009 at 8:06 am
@ARMMblComputing Here’s some more detail on the Wistron Pursebook:- http://bit.ly/6MLLQ
April 9th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
I think this is the first netbook I’ve seen that has “linux” and “integrated 3G” on the same model.