If you have read my previous posts, like this one, or my other gadget collection posts, you would know that I love collecting gadgets. In fact I should probably be a full time reviewer from the number of gadgets I collect.
I love collecting small electronic devices, with these criteria:
-The device should be usable for many years. It should not rely on any data servers that might be outdated. For example, the Tmobile Sidekick relied on Danger’s servers for data, else it was a paperweight. I want devices that are just as usable 10 years ago as now.
-It should be really portable, and the screen size <= 7 inches. 7 inches is probably the maximum.
-weighs under 2lbs
-It should have something special or unique about it, either hardware wise and/or software wise. For example, if the tablet looks just like any other tablet out there, then its not going to be as desirable as say, a tablet that can turn into a laptop or has a slide out keyboard.
-Unique software is always a plus. For example, if the device runs Maemo, or Linux or MeeGo or Firefox OS.
-Reasonably obscure and rare. So, an iPhone wouldn’t really score as high as a Nokia N9 for example.
With that in mind, let’s look at the some of these devices:
Price: $65 on eBay Device type: Palm sized PC Special features: touchscreen, special build of Windows CE 3, easily hackable OS: Modified Windows CE 3.0 related: Casio Cassiopeia Pocket PCs, HP Jornada Pocket PCs
Price: $100 on eBay Device type: netbook Special Features: the original and first netbook ever, runs Windows CE .NET OS: Windows CE 4.2 .NET Related: HP Jornada Handheld PCs, Toshiba Libretto Handheld PCs, NEC Handheld PCs, Psion handheld pcs, Sony CLIE PDAs
Price: $200 on ebay Device type: Handheld PC Special features: one of the last handheld pcs, runs linux, unavailable in USA, touch screen, camera, keyboard, screen rotates, last Zaurus made OS: Linux Related: Psion Handheld PCs, NEC Handheld PCs, Toshiba Libretto Handheld PCs
Price: $60 on eBay Device type: smartphone Special features: dual slider, camera, one of the greatest non touchscreen phones OS: Symbian Related: Nokia E series, Sony Ericsson walkman & cybershot phones
Price: $200 used on eBay Device type: UMPC Special features: most powerful UMPC ever, slide out keyboard, touch screen, runs full Windows OS: Windows XP Related: OQO model 2, Samsung Q1, Viliv S5, Vulcan flipstart
Philips PMC 7230 (2006)
Philips PMC7230
Price: $90 on eBay Device type: PMP Special features: last Media Center OS PMP, has kickstand, built in TV recording abilities OS: Media Center OS Related: Creative Zen Portable Media center, iRiver PMC
Price: $60 on eBay Device type: PMP Special features: The last hard drive based mp3 player from Creative, one of the most best mp3 players ever, touch strip, plays many video/audio formats, FM radio recording and voice recording OS: Creative OS Related: Apple iPod, Archos PMPs, Cowon PMPs, iRiver PMPs
Price: $100 on ebay Device type: Smartphone Special features: the last communicator made, dual screens, dual touchpad and keyboard OS: Symbian Related: Nokia N series
Price: $200 used on eBay Device type: PMP Special features: the last PMP with DVR recording capability, plays many video/audio formats, touchscreen, can go on internet, can be GPS and FM radio OS: Archos OS Related: Apple iPod, iRiver PMPs, Cowon PMPs, Creative Zen Vision W
Price: $100 on eBay Device type: Pocket PC Special features: touchscreen, one of the last and best Pocket PCs, last iPAQ made OS: Windows Mobile 6 Related: Dell Axim pocket pc, Palm Treo pocket pc
Price: $60 used on eBay Device type: PMP Special features: Last Zune model, multi touch screen, can go on internet, inspired Windows 7 Phone OS OS: Zune OS Related: Apple iPod Nano
Fujitsu UH900 (2010)
Fujitsu UH900
Price: $500 used on eBay Device type: netbook Special features: smallest and best netbook, runs full windows, 2 usb ports, 2gb ram and SSD, multitouch high res screen OS: Windows 7 Related: Sony Vaio P series, Asus EEE PCs, Viliv S7/N5
Price: $700 on eBay Device type: UMPC Special features: Last Libretto PC made, one of the last UMPCs, dual 7inch touchscreens, virtual keyboard OS: Windows 8 Related: Netbooks, Fujitsu LOOX, Fujitsu Stylistic
Price: $40 on eBay Device type: Smartphone Special features: Dell’s last smartphone, multitouch screen, slide out keyboard, one of only 2 windows phones to have a keyboard OS: Windows 7 Phone Related: HTC 7 Pro
Price: $80 on eBay Device type: smartphone Special features: slider, camera, keyboard, the last phone to use WebOS OS: WebOS Related: Blackberry, iPhone, Android phones
Price: $100 on eBay Device type: smartphone Special features: multi touch screen, camera, only phone to run MeeGo OS: MeeGo Related: Blackberry, iPhone, Android phones
Price: $130 used on eBay Device type: tablet Special features: the only tablet that can be folded, dual screens, multi touch screen OS: Android 3.1 Related: Apple iPad, other Android tablets
Price: $130 used on eBay Device type: tablet Special Features: combination game console/tablet, built in controller, multi touch screen, game streaming from PC OS: Android 4.2 Related: Wikipad, Archos gamepad 2, Sony Xperia Play
Price: $200 on eBay Device type: smartphone Special features: multi touch screen, dynamic 3D perspective, Firefly, Mayday, runs Fire OS OS: Fire OS Related: Blackberry, iPhone, Android phones
Neptune Pine (2015)
Neptune Pine
Price: $300 on eBay Device type: smartphone/smartwatch Special features: Smallest phone/tablet to run full Android, touchscreen, camera OS: Android 4.2 Related: Moto 360, Apple Watch
I’ll have pictures and video up soon for these gadgets, as I own most of them. Stay tuned!
Edit: review is up!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UdDM83Spm0
Second edit
One of my pipe dreams is to build one of those old school like UMPC devices except with modern components. The problem with new tablets these days is that they still can’t match up with the old UMPC form factor – like the old OQO model 2 or Sony Vaio UX, its just cool to have a 5inch Windows PC with keyboard in the palm of your hand.
Its fully possible to build a much slimmer, much faster PC, with better battery life these days using modern components. Unfortunately with Windows 8 tablets, there’s still no tablet thats 8″ and below and has full USB and keyboard support. You can use bluetooth sure, but thats not the same. That’s 2 devices you have to carry. I’m talking about one device. If I build a device it would have the following components:
-5″ IPS FHD capacitative touch display (1080p)
-a sliding keyboard form factor a la the OQO model 2 / Sony Vaio UX or a convertible display a la the Sony Clie UX-50 or Fujitsu U820
-an HD front camera for web conferencing
-an 8MP back camera for pictures
-micro-HDMI output
-miniUSB for charging
-SD card reader
-2 USB 3.0 slots
-Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11ac wireless
-fingerprint reader for security
This won’t be a tablet.. its a full PC running Windows 8.1
Running internally:
-Intel broadwell processor ensuring its fanless – speed should be ~1.3-1.6Ghz
-4GB RAM
-256GB SSD
…I’m sure if Lenovo can make a fanless 13″ convertible, then they can make this.
