Another great article at Geekzone has really caught my attention. They're talking about an ultra Personal Computer (uPC) from OQO which is planned to debut in the second half of 2004. This is a "complete Windows XP wireless handheld computer", measuring just 4.9 inches x 3.4 inches x 0.9 inches (12.4 cm x 8.6 cm x 2.3 cm). It's reported to be fully capable of running standard Windows XP applications, and has the following specifications:

Specifications

• 1GHz Transmeta Crusoe™ TM5800 series processor
• 20GB hard drive (shock-mounted)
• 256MB DDR RAM
• 800 x 480 W-VGA 5" transflective display (indoor / outdoor readable)
• Thumb keyboard with mouse buttons and TrackStik™
• 802.11b wireless
• Bluetooth™
• 4-pin FireWire™ (IEEE1394)
• USB 1.1
• 3.5mm stereo headphone jack (supports stereo headphone or mono headset plus optional multimedia controller)
• Microphone
• Integrated pen-based digitizer with OQO digital pen
• Removable lithium polymer battery
• OQO docking cable includes
  
  
  • 3D accelerated 1280 x 1024 video output (VGA and LVDS)
  • Serialized PCI  
  • Additional USB  
  • Additional FireWire (IEEE1394)  
  • Ethernet  
  • DC power  
  • Audio out

Additional features

• External antenna connector for 802.11b
• Active HDD protection instantly parks hard drive upon detecting freefall
• Thumbwheel allows for traditional scrolling as well as enhanced features for easy closed-mode navigation
• Screen slides on rack and pinion mechanism to reveal thumb-style keyboard
• Keyboard has smart-lock with LED indicators on shift, control, function and alt keys
• Ambient light sensor automatically adjusts backlight to appropriate level

Included accessories

• AC adaptor
• Docking cable
• Desktop tray
• OQO digital pen

Let me make no bones about it - this is a very cool device! In a way, it's a shame that there's no GPRS / GSM module, as this seems to be almost the only thing missing. However realistically although it might make some inroads into the current market for Pocket PC, it seems to me that there certainly will be a different market for these devices, and in fact a Pocket PC Phone Edition or Smartphone might actually complement - rather than compete with - this kind of device.

This device puts me very much in mind of Chris De Herrera's article, which highlighted the possibility of convergence between the Pocket PC and Tablet PC. Perhaps this is a step along that path.

I'll be watching this device with quite some interest. Thanks to Geekzone for putting me onto it!