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Compaq Airlife 100 puts Android OS, Snapdragon CPU, and an SSD behind 10.1-inch touch

Postby FG Lurker » Sat Feb 13, 2010 12:45 pm

Compaq Airlife 100 puts Android OS, Snapdragon CPU, and an SSD behind 10.1-inch touchscreen
Engadget.com, February 12, 2010
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HP's mobile computing unit appears to have decided that the term smartbook refers to putting a smartphone's components inside a netbook's body -- which kind of makes sense -- so they've built their Airlife 100 atop an Android OS platform, underpinned by a Snapdragon CPU (unconfirmed, but highly likely), a 16GB SSD, 3G and WiFi connectivity, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen display. We really can find no cause for complaint -- in fact this is the most excitement a Compaq-branded product has caused us... ever. HP touts a rock solid 12-hour battery life for the Airlife, which stretches out to a mighty 10 days of standby [...]

(Full Story)

For me this is a far more interesting device than the iPad. Airlife + unlimited 3G data plan + Android RDP app = great platform to get real work done outside the office... Plus, it's Android and won't be locked down like the iPad will be. I'm getting mighty tired of Apple's control freak culture. :(
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Postby Doctor Stop » Sat Feb 13, 2010 2:28 pm

FG Lurker wrote:For me this is a far more interesting device than the iPad.
But it doesn't even look like real product. HP Spain?
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Postby FG Lurker » Sat Feb 13, 2010 3:54 pm

Doctor Stop wrote:But it doesn't even look like real product. HP Spain?

Not all products get released in the US first.

For now I have a Dell Mini 10V with two batteries and my iPhone as a 3G modem via PDAnet. It works very well, especially if I have a fast 3G connection.
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Postby Doctor Stop » Sat Feb 13, 2010 5:27 pm

You'll get more done with your Mini 10V than that vaporous Compaq.
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Postby maraboutslim » Sun Feb 14, 2010 10:12 am

Not to mention the fact that you can run Mac OSX on the Dell Mini 10v. (if you're into that sort of thing...)
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Postby FG Lurker » Sun Feb 14, 2010 12:57 pm

maraboutslim wrote:Not to mention the fact that you can run Mac OSX on the Dell Mini 10v. (if you're into that sort of thing...)

Did that, posted about it on FG too. It's back running XP again and much better for it. :)
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Postby FG Lurker » Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:32 pm

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Postby Adhesive » Wed Apr 07, 2010 3:16 am

Played with my friend's iPad yesterday, the $799 version. I was very impressed by the speed of the device. There was zero slowdown when scrolling through hundreds of pdf pages, and everything was super responsive. It was a bit heavier than I'd imagine it to be, considering the lack of hardware. Also, the screen, at whatever brightness he had it set to, would be absurd to use as an e-reader. I couldn't imagine actually getting comfortable holding that glaringly bright plate of glass for any sustained period of reading.

Overall, I was sold on it being a cool little device if and when it gets a front facing camera, 3G (his didn't have it, although I thought they came on the more expensive models?), flash support (or the universal adoption of html5), and expanded memory support.

Unfortunately I couldn't play any games because my buddy was having wi-fi issues. I've seen video of some cool looking games, but again I can't imagine holding that thing out and using the gyrometer as a controller for any considerable amount of time.
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Postby Mulboyne » Fri Apr 09, 2010 4:22 am

I found this response to Cory Doctorow's criticism of the iPad interesting:

I'm a mac aficionado and I am a PC tech for a living. I'm one of the few who actually understands both inside and out. I use a mac at home for the obvious reasons that it simply works. Stable, no viruses, reliable. I do however use a PC as well only to keep up with the latest trends and to experiment with software and games, etc... as I consult for many businesses as well.

I have to say that I was also an iPhone aficionado for about a year and a half, although I probably dropped calls a minimum of 10 times a day, every day, as I drive a lot and the thing can not handle jumping tower to tower according to an Apple tech at their tech support phone number. Understand that I had hacked my iPhone in every way to play with it (this had zero to do with dropped calls) and I've seen all that it can be capable of. Long story short, I was forced to switch the the Android phone to get on another network so my business would not continue to suffer from dropped calls.

I would say in my honest opinion, that I expected to step backwards going to any other phone, however I now feel the Android OS is probably 50 times better than the iPhone OS for a plethora of reasons including speed, intuitiveness, and most of all the ability to get apps from any developer through their web sites. I think anyone who still loves their iPhone simply hasn't had a chance to play with a Droid for a few hours, or doesn't really want to spend the money to switch which is understandable and is also why most PC users hate macs. They cant afford them or dont understand them. Its funny how now Apple has become to the phone and the iPad what Microsoft was to Apple users in the know.

Bottom line here.... the iPad has the same drawbacks as the iPhone most iPhone users don't know about yet or understand. I have seen android OS tablets on the way, and anyone who is about to shell out money should wait and take a look only to understand.... faster, smarter, and unlimited by a controlling company will truly free you.

I'll take this with a pinch of salt because, in neverending war between Apple fans and doubters, it's not unknown for both sides to pose as "converts". However, the comment about the iPhone becoming the PC of smartphones is interesting. From Apple's perspective, I wonder whether that's a bad thing.
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Postby 2triky » Fri Apr 09, 2010 8:37 am

Adhesive wrote:3G (his didn't have it, although I thought they came on the more expensive models?)


You are right. 3G is available on the more expensive models but the Wifi only models were the only versions of the iPad available at launch. The 3G versions will be available for purchase later on.
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Postby Catoneinutica » Fri Apr 09, 2010 11:22 am

Adhesive wrote:Played with my friend's iPad yesterday, the $799 version. I was very impressed by the speed of the device. There was zero slowdown when scrolling through hundreds of pdf pages, and everything was super responsive. It was a bit heavier than I'd imagine it to be, considering the lack of hardware. Also, the screen, at whatever brightness he had it set to, would be absurd to use as an e-reader. I couldn't imagine actually getting comfortable holding that glaringly bright plate of glass for any sustained period of reading.



If you look at some of the tech sites like gizmodo, there are fanbois a-plenty strenuously arguing, in all seriousness, that reading a book on a backlit LED screen is no harder on the eyes than the on an e-ink tablet or the printed page. The Kool-Aid is Everclear strength. It must have some Absinthe in there too.

When Apple does a reiteration of the iPad with an e-ink reader, I'll jump. Stylus or some kind of pen-based input - that'd be nice too.
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Postby Coligny » Fri Apr 09, 2010 11:54 pm

Mulboyne wrote:I found this response to Cory Doctorow's criticism of the iPad



Doctorow is the posterchild of web2.0 attention whore... I would'nt listen even if he was stating water was wet...
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Postby 2triky » Sat May 01, 2010 5:45 am

[yt]5SkltRqOF5k[/yt]
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Postby FG Lurker » Mon May 10, 2010 3:29 am

Looks like Japan prices have been released.

The base WiFi model will be 48,960 and the base 3G model is 58,320. If these prices include consumption tax then that makes them pretty much identical to the US prices. Not bad (compared to the US prices), but I'm not dropping 60,000 yen for a 16GB device that requires a separate data plan and is very limited in functionality. The little netbook I am typing this on does everything I need and can be tethered to my iPhone for 3G access without yet another data plan. Hey, it can even manage Flash. :p
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Postby Coligny » Mon May 10, 2010 9:31 am

Yeah, not too bad... I'm already in the kitchen for tonight's diner in order to beg for it even more pitifully than usual...

Ipod is 3g...
Iphone... nope...
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Postby IkemenTommy » Mon May 10, 2010 5:44 pm

Lets see how many computer jocks are already making lines outside of the apple stores?
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Postby Coligny » Mon May 10, 2010 7:14 pm

IkemenTommy wrote:Lets see how many computer jocks are already making lines outside of the apple stores?


I think without reservation you can sleep wherever you want... as for nerds... amazon.co.jp already have quite some grey market ones...
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Postby GomiGirl » Mon May 10, 2010 8:14 pm

Note to all: iPad 3Gs will be SIM locked. Lots of people are complaining about this as there are no discounts for being locked into 2 year softbank contracts.

mobileinjapan.com has some interesting discussions on this.

(Note - I may be the keitai goddess but I know next to nothing about pricing or contracts etc. Now apps on the other hand - if you have any questions - I am your girl.)
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Postby FG Lurker » Mon May 10, 2010 8:56 pm

GomiGirl wrote:Note to all: iPad 3Gs will be SIM locked.

This is a very strange move really, especially since the US models aren't SIM locked and are the same price. If I was iPad inclined I'd buy a US model and have it sent over.
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Postby Coligny » Mon May 10, 2010 9:15 pm

FG Lurker wrote:This is a very strange move really, especially since the US models aren't SIM locked and are the same price. If I was iPad inclined I'd buy a US model and have it sent over.



even stranger seeing how the J-gov seems to be moving for legislation against these kind of lock-ins...
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Postby FG Lurker » Mon May 10, 2010 9:56 pm

Coligny wrote:even stranger seeing how the J-gov seems to be moving for legislation against these kind of lock-ins...

That has unfortunately been shelved for now. Unsurprisingly Softbank complained very loudly about it so the gov't has backed off a bit. :(
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Postby Coligny » Tue May 11, 2010 11:35 am

FG Lurker wrote:That has unfortunately been shelved for now. Unsurprisingly Softbank complained very loudly about it so the gov't has backed off a bit. :(


So much for free market self regulation...

fuck you kapitalism...
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Postby FG Lurker » Tue May 11, 2010 12:29 pm

Coligny wrote:So much for free market self regulation...

fuck you kapitalism...

From what I have heard Docomo was very supportive of the idea but Softbank freaked totally as it would mean they would lose control over their most popular handsets -- iPhone, for example.

I think the gov't is "recommending" that handsets be unlocked and is going to wait and see what happens. Perhaps Softbank SIMlocking the iPad when even AT&T isn't will push the gov't back towards forcing unlocked phones... One can always hope!
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Postby IkemenTommy » Tue May 11, 2010 2:38 pm

FG Lurker wrote:From what I have heard Docomo was very supportive of the idea but Softbank freaked totally as it would mean they would lose control over their most popular handsets -- iPhone, for example.

I think the gov't is "recommending" that handsets be unlocked and is going to wait and see what happens. Perhaps Softbank SIMlocking the iPad when even AT&T isn't will push the gov't back towards forcing unlocked phones... One can always hope!

As soon as Docomo provided service, you know everyone would make the switch. I really see no advantage of Softbank over Docomo other than their loose policy of allowing foreigners to sign up contracts without the actual alien registration card (you just need a copy of the temporary certificate). Other than that, it's an absolute dog shit of a service.
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Postby FG Lurker » Tue May 11, 2010 2:46 pm

IkemenTommy wrote:As soon as Docomo provided service, you know everyone would make the switch. I really see no advantage of Softbank over Docomo other than their loose policy of allowing foreigners to sign up contracts without the actual alien registration card (you just need a copy of the temporary certificate). Other than that, it's an absolute dog shit of a service.

Softbank in Tokyo is horrible, especially in busy areas on weekends. They don't have the coverage to support their user base. In Osaka I don't have problems as such, but out on the island the coverage is again bad. Docomo has much better coverage on the water and the data performance from the cottage is way better with docomo than softbank.

Docomo is allowing overseas phones onto their network now but it takes a bit of know-how to get them working. You can use the 13,000yen/month PC Direct data plan for unlimited packets and any voice plan you choose. Once my Softbank plan is up I could move my unlocked iPhone to Docomo, or just buy an unlocked next-gen iPhone from NZ or HK and use it on Docomo. Expensive but if it gives much better performance then it's worth it.

The only things Softbank has going for it are good phones (iPhone and some nice Japanese dumbphones) and cheap rates, especially for calling other softbank phones.
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Postby Mike Oxlong » Tue May 11, 2010 3:27 pm

Once I switched to my iPhone (on Okinawa - was using Docomo before), the reception went down noticably. Poor coverage, easily lost signal in some buildings, things I never had any trouble with previously. Love the phone; find the provider crap.
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Postby Taro Toporific » Fri May 28, 2010 3:13 pm

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Japan's iPad Frenzy Signals a Sea Change
WSJ.com MAY 27, 2010
....Mitsuru Yoshii, who works at a music school in Tokyo, sent a message to Softbank Chief Executive Masayoshi Son saying that the iPad was the "21st century's black ships."
In response to the historical reference to the U.S. Naval fleet that opened up Japan to the West in 1853, Mr. Son, who aggressively sought out Apple to bring the iPhone and now the iPad to the carrier's network, wrote back: "Indeed!"
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Postby Coligny » Fri May 28, 2010 4:25 pm

Still waiting for mine... :-(

I hate you kuroneko yamato (for now)...

Oups... truck just stopped...


might be it...
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Postby Coligny » Fri May 28, 2010 4:32 pm

Coligny wrote:Still waiting for mine... :-(

I hate you kuroneko yamato (for now)...

Oups... truck just stopped...


might be it...




yippeeee... got it (wifi not the 3g one), with a strange Softbank wifi 2 year contract (!?)
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Postby Taro Toporific » Fri May 28, 2010 4:57 pm

Coligny wrote:yippeeee... got it (wifi not the 3g one), with a strange Softbank wifi 2 year contract (!?)
Hey, tell us how that strange Softbank wifi contract works out. Softbank's WiFi is priced kind of high but SEEMS to have good coverage and speed in downtown locations.

http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/service/3G/wifi/
wicked fast!
--Up to 54Mbps, about 7.5 times the 3G3
unlimited packet!
--Monthly 4,410 yen (including tax) flat fee, Wi-Fi communications and packet unlimited use
--bunch of crappy J-mags

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