Does anyone in health care still use the OQO model 02?

I was one of those early adopters who got an OQO model 02. This tiny little computer runs Windows XP, Vista, or 7 and has the ability to function like a standard PC. OQO is no longer in business (however, it's possible that a company in China has taken over the development and distribution of the OQO).

OQO closed in 2009.

If they hadn't, they probably would not have lasted very long because the Apple iPad came out in 2010. Most people working in health care have found that the iPad is able to meet most of their computing needs. If not, they can use a remote desktop app (like LogMeIn Ignition) to access their PCs.

I still have an OQO model 02 and I often wonder if it will go into my personal computer museum (along with my Apple Newton MessagePad).

Anyone want to purchase an OQO model 02?

I have a used OQO model 02 in excellent condition. I'm thinking about selling it, but I don't want to list it on eBay. It's a great little computer and I have Windows 7 loaded on the device.  Gently used, mainly for corporate testing. No cracks or dents on the case.

Quick specs:

• OQO model 02
• 1 GB of RAM
• 60 GB hard drive
• Docking station with DVD-RW
• Batteries (standard and extended)
• AC and DC chargers
• Case

If you're interested, please contact me.

Missing the OQO at CES

I wonder if anyone attending CES misses the OQO. If I were in Vegas right now, I think I'd be looking for the OQO booth (I know that the company went out of business, but CES is the type of meeting where you'd expect surprises like an OQO exhibit).

There's a lot of buzz regarding slate mini-tablets. The HP Slate has drawn considerable attention. The Lenovo IdeaPad U1 Hybrid has also received a lot of attention due to its innovative design. Forget about mini computers that have buttons and keyboards. Will 2010 be the "year of the slate tablet?"

Sony Vaio P or Fujitsu LifeBook UH900?

The Sony Vaio P is a tiny little computer. The Fujitsu LifeBook UH900 is also a tiny little computer. So which one is better?

If you're a fan of tablet computers and touch screens, then the UH900 is the obvious winner. However, neither device is "perfect" in my opinion. If you're a busy health care professional and you're looking for a tiny little computer that you can put in your purse or glove compartment, then either of these will suffice.

Unfortunately, these novel computers are not priced like netbooks. However, let's hope that prices will come down as more competition arises. I'm not sure that I'd buy a clamshell computer if I want something really small. I currently have both an OQO model 02 and a Samsung Q1 Ultra, so I've experienced the mini tablet, the slider QWERTY, and everything in the middle.

More thoughts (and reviews) about the Archos 5 Internet Tablet with Android

I've been talking with many people about the Archos 5 Internet Tablet with Android. There are people out there who want a really small computer that has excellent battery life. The OQO model 02 is a great machine, but it's no longer supported since OQO is no longer is business. That device does not have the best battery life, so you're also limited on that level.

The Archos 5 doesn't run Windows or Linux, but Android should be sufficient for most. I'm eager to get my hands on one so that I can test it out and see how this device would be used by health care professionals (such as gadget-loving physicians) who wish to have access to the Internet when they're out of the office.

Here are some reviews that you may wish to consider:

Archos 5 @ testfreaks.com

Archos 5 Internet Tablet

I'm excited about the upcoming Archos 9, but the Archos 5 appears to be a great little mobile device that you can easily slip in your pocket. Unlike the OQO model 02, the Archos 5 is very thin.

Archos has confused consumers by using the name "Archos 5" to refer to two different products:

• an Internet Media Tablet (I'll call this the media tablet)
  
• an Internet Tablet (I'll call this the Internet tablet)
  

Confused? They both have the word "Internet" and "tablet" in their names, so I agree that it's a bit confusing. The media tablet is a fancy media player that also includes a web browser. The Internet tablet includes some of the features found on the media tablet but it also runs Google Android and it has an internal GPS. So, the Internet Tablet is more like a mini computer. Would it be more clear to use the common phrase Mobile Internet Device (MID)? Archos likes to be different.

Now, some may argue that it doesn't make sense to purchase an Internet Tablet if you already use a smartphone. That's a reasonable argument. However, I have a smartphone and I also have an iPod touch. Some may say that the iPod touch is a media tablet. Others may call it an Internet tablet. I suppose if Apple releases a tablet some day, then things could start to get really interesting. However, until we see that happen, we're really talking about devices that are being defined by their screen sizes and storage capacities. Do you have a smartphone that has a 5" screen? Would you want to use a smartphone if it had a 5" screen?

Babies, sleep, and handheld computers

What's the link? Well, I have a new baby at home. The last time I had a new baby at home, I was severely sleep-deprived. However, I still wanted to do a bit of computing (sorry, I can't help myself) and I was able to do this with different handheld computers.

Now that smartphones are becoming more powerful, I may be able to use my HTC Touch Pro2 running Opera Mobile 10 (beta) to do most of my computing. However, I also have the option of using my OQO model 02 or my Samsung Q1 Ultra. Both of these are handheld devices and I use a wrist strap so that if I accidentally drop it, it doesn't hit the floor.

Continue to follow this blog and you may see me holding a baby and doing some handheld computing...

Tumi made accessories for the OQO

Did you know that Tumi made a case for the OQO model 01? (they never made one for the model 02). Tumi makes many different computer cases, but I'm not aware of any case that's made just for a single type of device like the OQO. Then again, they do make an iPod case. However, when's the last time you saw Tumi make a case for a single type of computer?

Windows 7 running smoothly on my OQO

Soon, no one will know about the OQO. Even now, only the "serious" technology fans know that the OQO was a mini computer that fit inside your pocket. I only know a handful of physicians who actually purchased an OQO, but when they found that the hardware couldn't adequately support speech recognition software like Dragon very well, they quickly moved on to faster machines.

As for me, I still have my OQO model 02. Windows 7 has been running impressively well on this slow machine that only has 1 GB of RAM. I'm impressed that Microsoft was able to streamline and optimize this new operating system so that it runs well on old (and slow) machines.

Computers at the beach

OK, so I take my computer with me so that I can keep up with my blogs. A few months ago, I took my computer when we went camping with the family. Over the long weekend, we'll be at the beach. I plan to take my computer so that I can be productive while the kids are playing in the sand. I've taken my OQO model 02 before and I think I'll do the same thing this time. That thing is so tiny that it hardly weighs anything. I use my smartphone to tether and get online when I'm not within any Wi-Fi signals. I haven't seen too many Wi-Fi hot spots at most beaches.

I hope everyone has a lovely long weekend!

Windows 7 on the OQO model 02

I have an OQO model 02. It's probably one of the smallest computers in the world. Although this device came with Windows Vista, I made the decision to run XP because Vista was simply too slow on this tiny PC.

The other day, I decided that it was time to try Windows 7 on my OQO. So far, it's been working fine. I'm eager to see how Win 7 compares to XP on this tiny little thing that only has 1 GB of RAM. I've seen how Win 7 runs on older machines that have slow processors. The 1.5 GHz OQO processor will clock down to 400 MHz to save battery life and to minimize heat, so let's see how it does with Windows 7.

Will OQO get acquired?

Jenn at pocketables.net wrote about how OQO might be acquired by the Chinese distributor known as AudioTone. Then, she updated her post by indicating that Picasso (the OQO Talk forum moderator) told her that these are old rumors that have dissolved. So, what's the truth? Does OQO have a chance at survival? It's too bad the major players like Samsung or HTC don't acquire this great technology. It appears that the OQO will suffer the same fate as the Apple Newton Messagepad. Long live the Newton and OQO! I hope that my OQO lives a long life. Although my Newton still works, I don't use it because the grayscale screen just isn't very practical these days. The OQO can always become a small digital picture frame at the least.

Should mobile PCs have a thumb keyboard?

As more healthcare professionals use smartphones (BlackBerry, Treo, etc.) that have a thumb keyboard, they're getting fairly proficient at thumb typing. You don't need to have a T-Mobile Sidekick to know how to use a thumb keyboard.

Does it make sense to include thumb keyboards on more mobile devices such as ultra-mobile PCs (UMPC)? The OQO model 02 had a thumb keyboard. The Sony Vaio UX series also had a thumb keyboard. Samsung added a thumb keyboard to the Q1 Ultra UMPC series when the original Q1 did not have a thumb keyboard.

Does it make sense to have a thumb keyboard on smaller slate tablet PCs? If we follow the Samsung model, we see this:

• Original Q1 (slate only, no thumb keyboard)
• Q1 Ultra (slate plus thumb keyboard)
• Q1 EX (slate only, no thumb keyboard)

Does this reveal that the thumb keyboard on an ultra-mobile slate tablet PC was a flop? What about sliders? The OQO and Sony UX both included a thumb keyboard. Even the Nokia N810 MID has a thumb keyboard. However, the Viliv S5 does not. Does that make sense?

Does the Viliv S5 have problems with heat?

The Viliv S5 is such a tiny computer that I wonder if it has any problems with heat. My OQO model 02 has a pretty loud fan that does a decent job at keeping the entire thing relatively cool. Too bad liquid cooling technology hasn't been adopted for these tiny little computers yet.

Heat can really damage computers. Don't ever let your computer get too hot. It can ruin your hard drive (which stores all your data) and before you know it, you'll be shopping for a new one. Portable computers have some of the biggest problems with heat. Heat can also quickly ruin lithium ion batteries. That's why I remove the battery when I'm using my OQO via AC power. Most laptops place the battery away from any major heat sources. With these tiny computers or ultra-mobile PCs, you can't avoid placing a battery near a heat source. As a result, these batteries probably end up having shorter lifespans.

Viliv S5 - coming very soon

I'd like to get my hands on a Viliv S5. The X70 EX also looks really nice, but the S5 might make a nice replacement for my OQO model 02. It's not easy to find imported electronics like the Viliv S5, but if you're an early adopter and you want to get your hands on this technology, then you should take a look at Dynamism.

• 3G HSPA (optional)
• Wake up to XP in 5 sec
• 6 hour video playback
• 200 hours Standby Time
• 4.8" WSVGA display

Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? How does $599 sound? July 16 is the magic day this little item will be available through Dynamism.

I'm keeping my OQO model 02

I had to be out and about yesterday. I was going to be standing most of the time so I decided to take my OQO model 02 with me. To be honest, I had not used this device in quite some time. It was such a handy device that I had forgotten how innovative and "cool" it was to use. OQO may not be in business, but I wonder if there's still hope for this company. Perhaps someone will purchase their technology. It's a great little device for mobile health computing and I'm sure we will see many other devices that resemble it, but the OQO will be the original in my mind.

Sony Vaio UX Used by John Connor in Terminator

I thought the Sony Vaio UX was dead. However, you may have caught a glimpse of it in the movies. It appeared in the latest James Bond movie, and it's also on the new Terminator movie. I don't have a Sony Vaio UX (I decided to get an OQO model 02 instead of the Sony Vaio UX series). Had they used the OQO in the new Terminator movie, would this have saved the sinking company? (I doubt it)

You'll see some interesting biomedical concepts in the new Terminator movie. I don't wish to spoil things for people who plan to watch it, so I won't go into any details. The movie wasn't great, but it wasn't too bad either. My wife and I were both entertained. The critics gave it a C+ and I give it a solid B.

Windows 7 Beta Will Expire

Microsoft has been kind enough to send me an e-mail about the Windows 7 beta test. The note indicates that the "Beta expires on August 1, 2009. On June 1, 2009, the PC you’re using to test the Beta will begin shutting down every two hours."

I'm currently running Windows 7 RC on my Samsung ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) because it runs so much better compared to Windows Vista. The RC version will run into 2010, so I won't be annoyed with automatic reboots. I've also been meaning to install Windows 7 RC on my OQO model 02, but now with the recent news about the death of the OQO, I'm not sure if I'll ever see drivers for Windows 7.

Bye Bye OQO

According to the rumors that are circulating among UMPC websites, it sounds like OQO is dead. Will it ever get revived? It had so much potential in the healthcare sector. I remember when NFL Super Bowl photographers used the OQO to upload photos in real-time. So, what should I now do with my OQO model 02? I'm an early adopter and I got the model 02 with high hopes that this would have some tremendous potential in the medical world. I guess I'll just use it like a collector's item and hope that it doesn't die anytime soon.

Swine Flu and Twitter

Many people use Twitter while they're on-the-go. Many use a smartphone, laptop, or other mobile device. I use my convertible tablet PC (Lenovo Thinkpad X200 Tablet) when I'm at home, but I'll also take my OQO model 02 if I'm heading out to the mall or coffee shop. Mobile computing technology has made it so easy for us to stay connected. SARS threatened the world in 2002-2003. Looking back, those years seem like the "Dark Ages" of computing. Think about the types of hardware we had! You were lucky to find a Pentium 4 processor on a mobile device. I hope that we'll get to leverage moden computing technology to combat this possible swine flu pandemic.