Pocket computing: Android v. Micro PCs (UMPC, Sony UX)

[insight spinner]

Okay, so let's talk computing power in your pocket. I almost bought a UX a year ago (and i'm really glad i didn't because of the price...), but one thing i really value is having access to computing tools on the fly for my business. Mainly the ability to create and share docs with clients, send notes immediately after meetings have occured and having client files in hand in case people bring something up. I like being always at the ready.

I'm excited about maximizing some programs like Google Docs and thinking about getting a bluetooth keyboard so I can write more effectively on the fly. I'm optimistic about apps development, because I come from the happy Palm land and until 2006 was pretty content with the functionality I got using the PDA.

Anyone with micro PC experience care to share thoughts about using Android OS to provide PC in you pocket functionallity?

And how do you think the experience will compare to the micro pc? ...I mean, besides all the money we'll save.

[sullitf]

As far as creating offices documents, it doesn't look like it will be possible out of the box. That is also one of the big uses I'll have for the G1 (well, more viewing than creating I guess, but I'll do both). From the emulator it seems that you can get onto google docs and view, but not edit, your documents. Not to say that this won't quickly be fixed by developers out there, hopefully QuickOffice will soon be ported over to android. I never was a big fan of using Google Docs to create documents anyway so I don't mind that not working right now, but I hope another office doc editor gets released soon after the G1 drops.

The G1 doesn't really compare to UMPCs in general, though. Android is still a phone operating system and will not be nearly as powerful as full-blown, albeit small, PCs are. Though I think developers could start to create more of a gray area between Android phones and PCs, you'll never (in the near future) be able to do processor intensive tasks like recoding DVDs or compiling JAVA code (though that would be awesome to be able to write Android programs right on your Android phone). IMO the power of the G1 and similar devices is pretty much on par with the physical restraints, there's no way anyone would want to type a 10 page essay or a few thousand lines of code on a thumb keyboard. Taking short notes and making basic documents won't be tiresome, but theres a fine line where pecking away at a keyboard with your thumbs could drive a person insane

[Darrell]

I think that the gap between Smartphones and Mini PC's will always remain, after all as the chips in Smartphones get smarter so will their big brothers in the mini PC's and while they may get closer, like desktops and laptops have done, the extra space provided by the larger form factor will always allow for things like bigger batteries and more storage. Maybe one day when when all have basicly dumb devices and all computation and storage is done in the cloud there will be no difference but thats a way off yet.

[hawtseks]

I think that the gap between Smartphones and Mini PC's will always remain, after all as the chips in Smartphones get smarter so will their big brothers in the mini PC's and while they may get closer, like desktops and laptops have done, the extra space provided by the larger form factor will always allow for things like bigger batteries and more storage. Maybe one day when when all have basicly dumb devices and all computation and storage is done in the cloud there will be no difference but thats a way off yet.

I have to disagree with you here. This laptop (see link below) has a built-in 3G card, and a 16GB solid-state drive (basically a glorified memory card), 7.5 hours (allegedly) of battery life AND its set to be offered by a cellphone provider with a data plan. The gap you speak of gets smaller and smaller every day.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/28/t...h-built-in-3g/


i have no exp with any micro PC's but i'd really love to give this one a 'go' haha but at $450 for the non-3G version thats already out right now, you're not spending as much as you might think Anyways, I probably wont buy it because i dont need that mobile functionality, yet, but i'm VERY interested to see how it sells. It might have a very very cool impact on both mobile computers, cellphones and wireless services alike.

To keep things on topic for the OP, all i need is a full featured web browser and gmail in my pocket so a G1 is the obvious choice for me and i think it will do just fine.

[Darrell]

I have to disagree with you here.

But you aren't disagreeing. What you are talking about is a mini pc (a beleive we are suposed to call them webbooks) that has the same functionality as a smartphone, but the added bonus of a larger keyboard and screen,a better processor and probably more memory. So it is staying ahead of the smartphones.

[insight spinner]

As far as creating offices documents, it doesn't look like it will be possible out of the box. That is also one of the big uses I'll have for the G1 (well, more viewing than creating I guess, but I'll do both). From the emulator it seems that you can get onto google docs and view, but not edit, your documents. Not to say that this won't quickly be fixed by developers out there, hopefully QuickOffice will soon be ported over to android. I never was a big fan of using Google Docs to create documents anyway so I don't mind that not working right now, but I hope another office doc editor gets released soon after the G1 drops.

The G1 doesn't really compare to UMPCs in general, though. Android is still a phone operating system and will not be nearly as powerful as full-blown, albeit small, PCs are. Though I think developers could start to create more of a gray area between Android phones and PCs, you'll never (in the near future) be able to do processor intensive tasks like recoding DVDs or compiling JAVA code (though that would be awesome to be able to write Android programs right on your Android phone). IMO the power of the G1 and similar devices is pretty much on par with the physical restraints, there's no way anyone would want to type a 10 page essay or a few thousand lines of code on a thumb keyboard. Taking short notes and making basic documents won't be tiresome, but theres a fine line where pecking away at a keyboard with your thumbs could drive a person insane

Thanks Sullitf. Now we're getting somewhere. It's about processing capacity. Thanks for making that distinction.

I want my Android phone to substitute for what I used to do with my Palms and more--create documents and spreadsheets (although that was a bit of a pain, share files, show presentations (although again, screen too small, but there was a box to translate to projectors). And the handiest apps for me kept track of information you might need to reference or update on the fly.

I also agree that as we get more comfortable with manipulating and storage of data in the cloud, we will see more similarities. The devices won't be dumb terminals, but a lot of the processing will happen off the device, allowing them to be more economical in more ways than price.

I don't see the file creation as an issue as we know document creation for googledocs, openoffice and msoffice will be coming along pretty quick and I assume current bluetooth keyboards will or will soon work with the G1 and upcomoing devices will benefit from what HTC/T-mobile learn about the hardware.

So I have no problem entering those 10 pages of text and will likely do very little thumb typing because I love my joints and don't mind carrying a keyboard around.

I had thought about getting the Sony UX to run statistical software on the fly, but really, what is the point of that except to make you work everywhere you go? That ain't healthy either.