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Reinvented
Maplin have been selling a cheapish 7" Linux netbook (128mb and 4gb storage) for a while, but the low specification and some other limitations (most notably, the hardware doesn't support flash web pages or external drives and it apparently isn't possible to change the onboard software) have made it less than ideal for most people.
So I noticed last night that this seems to have been relaunched - as far as I can tell it's the same basic machine, but they're now selling it with Windows CE as the OS, still priced at £130. That makes a lot of sense - by Windows CE standards that's a hell of a lot of memory (you can run it reasonably well in 16mb), it's an OS that was designed for netbook-like operations to the extent that there is usually no "shutdown" option on the Start menu, just "suspend", and for most people it's easier to use than Linux.
The big snag, I suspect, is that it probably isn't compatible with any fully featured word processor etc.; CE includes "pocket" versions of Word etc. but they lack a lot of the features of the full program, and I don't think that there are any alternatives - I've never heard of a version of Open Office, for example, though it's possible that one exists. There may not be any alternatives to Internet Explorer as browser, and again the CE version of IE is feature poor.
It's not something I'd want to buy - it's too big to fit in my pocket, which is my main goal with a netbook-style machine, and there are better alternatives for not much more money. But it's a sign that people may be thinking about alternatives to the standard netbook features.
So I noticed last night that this seems to have been relaunched - as far as I can tell it's the same basic machine, but they're now selling it with Windows CE as the OS, still priced at £130. That makes a lot of sense - by Windows CE standards that's a hell of a lot of memory (you can run it reasonably well in 16mb), it's an OS that was designed for netbook-like operations to the extent that there is usually no "shutdown" option on the Start menu, just "suspend", and for most people it's easier to use than Linux.
The big snag, I suspect, is that it probably isn't compatible with any fully featured word processor etc.; CE includes "pocket" versions of Word etc. but they lack a lot of the features of the full program, and I don't think that there are any alternatives - I've never heard of a version of Open Office, for example, though it's possible that one exists. There may not be any alternatives to Internet Explorer as browser, and again the CE version of IE is feature poor.
It's not something I'd want to buy - it's too big to fit in my pocket, which is my main goal with a netbook-style machine, and there are better alternatives for not much more money. But it's a sign that people may be thinking about alternatives to the standard netbook features.
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I'm wondering what the battery life is like?
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Hadn't realised there was a CE version of Opera. Wonder if it runs on the Jornada...
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(Slightly bigger and heavier than the old HP Journadas, infinitely better screen and keyboard, modern stuff like wifi and bluetooth and USB, and runs Android. As it's based around an 0.8 or 1.0 GHz ARM cpu, it'll probably be good for a 7-12 hour battery life.)
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(If it went up to 1Gb RAM or ran Linux I'd be in there like a shot.)
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I have a bit of a problem finding software that actually runs on its WinCE5.0 OS (everything seems to require the newer Windows Mobile versions).
It has got a few drawbacks compared to its Linux cousin.
It cannot use USB memory sticks or 3G modems.
Browser Favourites are lost as soon as you turn it off, as well as everything added to the desktop (And yes, it does turn off, no suspend there).
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Aah, I was a bit quick on the "no suspend" bit. It can do it, just not by hand. But it is in the power settings for the automatic switching.
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