Comments on: Planning the thin blogging kit (slate experiment)

By: Christianmaniac

Christianmaniac — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:36:19 +0000

The iGo Stowaway Keyboard is ok, but the Palm Bluetooth Keyboard is much better. You don’t have to deal with those stupid function keys like on the iGo. Also, the Palm Bluetooth keyboard looks and feels more like your standard QWERTY keyboard. My TBK consists of:

1. The Viliv S5; amazing device.

2. The Palm Bluetooth Keyboard.

3. The HP Rechargeable Bluetooth Mouse.

I also keep an external Tekkeon laptop battery on hand, but it’s only for emergencies as the devices have very good battery life. The only thing I’d like to see in the future would be a rechargeable miniature Bluetooth keyboard.

By: alslayer

alslayer — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:03:42 +0000

Ahh Mike when will you stop hating on the Nokia 770.

By: Mike Cane

Mike Cane — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:27:58 +0000

I did this with a Finnish device I won’t name because Let’s Not Go There, OK?

Today, I’d try it with an Archos 5 Internet Tablet and an Apple Bluetooth keyboard and an undecided-yet Bluetooth mouse. The Apple KB would be the largest item, nearly the size of a netbook itself. Until Apple releases a truly portable one for its iTablet.

And yes, I’d want an iPhone too — for the photos.

But for just blogging, I think I could get away with using just the Archos 5 setup. No need for Windows.

By: Vakeros

Vakeros — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:52:49 +0000

Having read your edit – the point is how thin can you be. The problem is you have made out as it they filled the same area but only the thickness of the thickest part – 17mm. The reality is It should be the 16mm (from slate) + 17mm (from keyboard) + 5mm (from mouse) = 38mm. This is just as thick as the netbook you don’t want to take. Also this excludes any protective pouches you want to put the relevant bits in. Potentially the mouse could be moved so that it is next to something else – but 33mm still isn’t thin.
So I guess you must be saying it isn’t a question of volume or area, but that you have a certain thickness you need to fit into. For my life volume is the key question as long as it fits within a certain length and width then the thickness varies as my pocket will stretch a certain amount – less width/length and a bit more thickness is possible.

By: animatiio

animatiio — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:26:33 +0000

well it depends a lot of the main mode ben would like to use this asset. if e.g. 70-990% will be the tablet only and for the rest to have a decent possibility to use a keyboard and mouse – this configuration will be perfect. if tablet mode to keyboard mode drops to 50:50 or less, certainly a convertible like the t91 or even something smaller might be a better choice. btw a small 4 outlet usb port replicator would not take much space but come in very handy.

By: teh.sean

teh.sean — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:12:50 +0000

While I can’t defend Ben’s choice of a 9 inch slate, I think with a 5 or maybe a 7 inch slate this becomes a much more useful ‘On the go’ platform. The big benefit of taking a small slate with you is that for quick tasks, the thing is out and on in seconds compared to longer with a netbook. Then, if you absolutely MUST bang out a long email you have the ability with the extra hardware. Most netbooks require their own case, but with a small slate, you could get away with stuffing most of the stuff in your bag / purse / various pockets.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:39:15 +0000

Also, consider something like a 9″ Tablet convertible like the Fujitsu P1630.
http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P1630
I am also drawn to the ideal of a slate since I do alot of reading on my laptop and would be nice to do without the keyboard and mouse for when I am on a plane. The thinness of the Archos9 is very attractive. I have thought long and hard about the S7, but have not pulled the trigger.

By: John Q. Public

John Q. Public — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:19:30 +0000

Get a netbook, dude. You’re just duplicating everything one netbook has in three separate devices. I don’t think you’ve thought this out too well.

By: Realty

Realty — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:01:39 +0000

Ben,

I think I may agree with some above. If you are going with a 9 inch device, then why not jump to a netbook? All in one design, easy to set up, only have to charge one device, little to loose. How does your keyboard compare with the keyboard on a T91?

I think your set up would be more interesting if you were going with a 5 or 7 inch device as there is no netbook equivalent.

Just my thoughts.

By: Steve Renner

Steve Renner — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:39:07 +0000

Planning the thin blogging kit | UMPCPortal – Ultra Mobile … http://bit.ly/4w6DH

By: marcel

marcel — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:53:02 +0000

I also think the archos 9 is to be used as a book, you’ll get where you want and can do anything with it, that’s the idea, to use it with keyboard and other implements used in the usb and bluethoof for, to go out with him and make note there is no need keyboard or mouse, I think the idea of the apparatus is the mobility that he could provide, easy access to media, what is missing for me is a much more powerful battery, I that 10 hours would give mobility ideal for use all day, I am very interested in it

By: NobbyNobbs

NobbyNobbs — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:33:36 +0000

I don`t really get this.
Why take four devices if a single device can provide the same at even less weight? And with your kit you have to keep an eye on the charge of four devices! Ok, you won`t have to change the battery of the bluetooth devices very often, but still.
Why not just a sony vaio p? With the high capacity battery it`s still only ~800gm and last 5-7 hours. And it has an ecellent keyboard?
Or take the viliv s7?

By: Epizephyrii

Epizephyrii — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:26:57 +0000

The only reason I see to go with a setup like this over the netbook is if there is some advantage to using the Archos 9 tablet separately from the keyboard and mouse. The problem with that is that the 9 is way too big to pocket which kinda renders it useless (in this case) compared to a 9 inch convertible netbook. Keep in mind all the extra crap you are going to have to carry around per device. Extra cables/batteries to charge the mouse and keyboard, protective pockets for each so they don’t rub up against each other, and as mentioned by others the setup time would be rather annoying.

I think my preference would be along the lines of the demo video setting up an Archos 5 with RDP. The Archos 5 is small enough to take out of the kit and use separately for other things (media viewing, schedule checking, etc).

By: Glenn Jostad

Glenn Jostad — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:26:48 +0000

Planning the thin blogging kit | UMPCPortal – Ultra Mobile … http://bit.ly/FFEoB

By: Blogs-O-Matic

Blogs-O-Matic — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:01:31 +0000

Planning the thin blogging kit | UMPCPortal – Ultra Mobile … – http://bit.ly/13qcmT