dhicks Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 Hello All, This review from the Sunday Times, via the TES forums: http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/personal_tech/article3374812.ece Few technical details around - comments posted on various forums found via Google say: - The keyboard is "rubbery" like the XO (which I personally found horrible to type on, but then I don't have child-sized fingers), but USB ports should be available to plug an external keyboard in so who cares. - Don't know if it includes a Eee/laptop style VGA port to plug an external monitor in too. - Screen folds somehow to "tablet mode", sounds like XO, bet you the screen isn't quite as snazzy. No stylus-input, too expensive. - Processor is "old", more than 7 years old. Some 1Ghz Pentium? Actually, we have a bunch of old HPs that would seem to have fanless motherboards, maybe the "new" VIA fanless motherboards aren't all that new after all! - 1GB of storage for the OS, solid-state I assume. - Linux OS of some kind. - No idea about battery life. - Price is £99. Yes, really. - Lots of interest - Elonex's website kaput today! -- David Hicks
localzuk Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 I doubt it has an 'old' chip, as no-one manufactures them any more. It more than likely uses a Via fanless chip, as they are low power and low heat (even lower than the celeron used in the eeepc). As soon as I can, I'll be snapping up a couple for testing alongside the eepc's we already have. See how they compare. I'm a bit confused about the purpose of the tablet mode if there is no touch screen though... Seems a bit pointless.
dhicks Posted February 17, 2008 Author Posted February 17, 2008 I doubt it has an 'old' chip, as no-one manufactures them any more. Not necessarily - the 1975-era 6502 is still manufactured! I'm a bit confused about the purpose of the tablet mode if there is no touch screen though... Seems a bit pointless. Looking at the photos available, it seems that the screen is actually completely detachable - for use as an e-Book perhaps? Maybe the screen section actually contains the motherboard and suchlike, the keyboard section is literally just a keyboard? Maybe the screen just has forward and back buttons or something? -- David Hicks
dhicks Posted February 17, 2008 Author Posted February 17, 2008 Finally got to read the press release - couple more things: - Battery life is quoted as around 3 hours. - Does this thing actually include a wired network connection at all, or just wireless? -- David Hicks
localzuk Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 Not necessarily - the 1975-era 6502 is still manufactured! I was referring to 'PC' grade chips. Ones that can run modern operating systems and software... Looking at the photos available, it seems that the screen is actually completely detachable - for use as an e-Book perhaps? Maybe the screen section actually contains the motherboard and suchlike, the keyboard section is literally just a keyboard? Maybe the screen just has forward and back buttons or something? Still seems a bit odd. Kinda like over engineering it really.
Dos_Box Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 Something else form the Elonex site which would be a good bedroom accessory: http://www.elonexdirect.com/product-6451.wtl
torledo Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 one thing that alarms me from the website is the mention of a 'rubber' keyboard. That could be bearable or hideously awful to use depending on how rubbery the keys are. If you don't get decent enough feedback on the keys it could be awkard to type on... I also notice Elonex have made the same mistake as asus by going with a 7inch screen. Should be interesting though, if they can sell it for less than £100 and it be usable at the same time..would be worth buying just to have a play at that price.
fafster Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 I also notice Elonex have made the same mistake as asus by going with a 7inch screen. Please elaborate.
plexer Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 I had a look at an EEEPC and thought the screen was just that little bit too small to be very usable. Ben
localzuk Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 The 7" screen prevents the device from being usable for much. It is perfect for use as a console to plug in to switches when you wander around, and perfect for use at the end of a lesson for kids to type up their work, or to pop online to do research. But anything more would require a bigger screen. However, 7" is a size that is being mass produced for a variety of uses now - car screens, picture frames and these mini computers. There aren't that many 10" devices, so the price of that size would be higher wouldn't it?
fafster Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 A bit of tinkering with font sizes and other settings means the screen size isn't that much of an issue. Browsing the web, word processing, some SCUMMVM etc. What more would you want it to do?
torledo Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 A bit of tinkering with font sizes and other settings means the screen size isn't that much of an issue. Browsing the web, word processing, some SCUMMVM etc. What more would you want it to do? i find web use slightly awkward, for instance when watching youtube vids the video plus player controls cannot be viewed entirely and you have to scroll. For some sites i find i have to scroll to the right so it doesn't display the full width. Not sure adjusting font sizes would help in either instance, and i'd expect an extra inch or two to the screen size to resolve both issues. I would imagine it may be a cost issue, but there's certainly no design issue with accomodating a larger screen because there's a fair amount of space that is left unused.
fafster Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 i find web use slightly awkward, for instance when watching youtube vids the video plus player controls cannot be viewed entirely and you have to scroll. For some sites i find i have to scroll to the right so it doesn't display the full width. Not sure adjusting font sizes would help in either instance, and i'd expect an extra inch or two to the screen size to resolve both issues. I would imagine it may be a cost issue, but there's certainly no design issue with accomodating a larger screen because there's a fair amount of space that is left unused. By screen size you in fact mean resolution? I agree that an extra 100 pixels on the side would be nice but it hardly cripples the device. You can use the mousepad to scroll horizontally and vertically and I'd rather put up with the 7" screen than pay an extra £50 for a larger one.
torledo Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 By screen size you in fact mean resolution? I agree that an extra 100 pixels on the side would be nice but it hardly cripples the device. You can use the mousepad to scroll horizontally and vertically and I'd rather put up with the 7" screen than pay an extra £50 for a larger one. i don't like using the mousepad, the scrolling is very hit and miss. And a larger screen isn't going to command a £50 premium on the existing price.
CyberNerd Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 Theres an interesting hack to sort eeepc screen resolution: http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=14588 and a touchscreen mod: http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=6572 1
torledo Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 (edited) Theres an interesting hack to sort eeepc screen resolution: http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=14588 and a touchscreen mod: http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=6572 cybernerd, that touchscreen mod looks like a lot of fun :-) something to try perhaps on one of our unused eee's. eee hacking should definitely be on the ICT curriculum at GCSE level. Edited February 18, 2008 by torledo
CyberNerd Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 It does look pretty cool but I don't trust my soldering skills on brand new school kit - looks like I'll need to invest in one for myself
mighty.grey.eagle Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 If the pictures are correct it is really this. The site also contains more technical details. Out of interest, when did Elonex reappear? I thought they had gone bust. 1
torledo Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 If the pictures are correct it is really this. The site also contains more technical details. Out of interest, when did Elonex reappear? I thought they had gone bust. good work eagle, but.... arghhh!!! it has got a rubber keyboard, i know i'm gonna hate it.... will end up ripping it off and diy attaching a more usable keyboard. In which case why waste £100 quid on something thats gonna look like a dogs dinner. Looks like cheap rubbish - reminds me of that PDA-come-UMPC with the fat body and angled keyboard but runs pocket pc...i think it's the ubiquio or something. Anyway the elonex looks similarly rubbish... think i'll stick to the eee.
localzuk Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 300Mhz processor?? I think I'll stick with the eeepc if it is!
dhicks Posted February 18, 2008 Author Posted February 18, 2008 Hmm. Unable to find any reviews from people who've actually used one. 300MHz does sound slow, but I figure for a just-a-web-browser machine it might do okay. It's basically a photo frame with a keyboard tacked on the bottom. Might work quite nicely wall-mounted and USB keyboard and mouse added - should certainly function okay as a thin client like that. -- David Hicks
Obiwan Posted March 4, 2008 Posted March 4, 2008 I've had a brief play with a pre-production model of the One. First impressions weren't good I'm afraid. The keyboard does detach but as it's not touch screen it has limited functionality without it attached. When you do want it to stay attached it tended to drop off the models I saw. The connection looked extremely vulnerable. As well as build quality the One lacks many of the nice features of the Asus Eee. There is no camera, SD card slot, monitor out port or built in mic. The software interface is not as polished as on the Eee. We are considering using the Eee for a variety of projects but have yet to invest in large numbers. When we heard of the One our ears pricked up but unless significant improvements are made before launch they are no competition for the Eee. There is cheap, then there is cheap.
PeterW Posted March 4, 2008 Posted March 4, 2008 For when a 7" is just a little too small http://www.hkepc.com/?id=842&fs=c1h
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