OQO readies its Model 1 uPC

And 2) "We've got built in WiFi and Bluetooth in the device now which is more than most notebook PCs, so we're ahead of the game even without 3G networking."

Again, to be fair, I'm not sure what the company could easily do short of adding a PC-Card Slot that would solve this problem. So on this issue we agreed to disagree. OQO thinks that WiFi networking is pervasive today to allow you to use their device just about everywhere. I think they've created their own networking problem by making their device so small. With a regular notebook it's not really an issue setting yourself up at Starbucks, since you've got to unpack the thing and sit down to use it anyway. With the uPC you just slip the thing out of your pocket and start using it. This easy access is what causes networking problems, since the places you're likely to whip out your uPC aren't likely to have WiFi access.

Granted, if you have a GSM phone that's Bluetooth compatible you could use your phone as a modem for your uPC. With such and impressive design team, and incredible first product we'll just have to hope that they'll have a high speed WLAN solution in the future, even if they won't talk about it today.

Competition

There's really three types of competitors that are vying for mind share in the small portable space. The first are other uPC manufacturers. In the uPC space there is only one other company of note, Paul Allen's Vulcan Ventures. This investment company headed by a Microsoft co-founder got so frustrated with the lack of availability of a handheld PC that they decided to build their own. The result is the FlipStart PC. While sharing similar specs with the OQO Model 1, the FlipStart PC differs in a few key areas, not the least of which is that no one that I know of has actually seen one of the devices. It wasn't all that long ago that OQO itself was in the running to be inducted into the vaporware hall of fame, so I don't want to be too hard on the FlipStart, but I can't consider it a viable competitor until it's actually seen and used by someone outside their company.

The second class of competitors are ultra portable notebook manufacturers. Small lightweight notebooks are twice as heavy and have 4 times the footprint of the OQO uPC, but they've got the advantage of having faster processors, larger screens and full sized keyboards. In situations where flexibility is more important than portability it's more productive to use a small notebook. I think that this is where OQO is going to find they have the most competition, with lots of customers being impressed with their product, but "compromising" and buying the notebook anyway.

The last class of competitors are the uber-PDA manufactures. The Windows CE .Net devices like the Nexio and Power Handhelds mentioned above are meant to used full time with 3G networking and make better calendar and e-mail devices. If you need a device that keeps you connected to the office and allows you to occasionally use Microsoft Office applications, these devices are better suited to the task.

So is it worth the wait?

...continued