Very Small Computers

I've always been a fan of small computers. Read about my reflections on two of the smallest fully-operational PCs made: the Sony Vaio UX and the OQO model 02.

Goodbye OQO

The writing is on the wall. OQO has canceled pre-orders for the new model 02+. This probably means that the model 02 will be the last OQO. I now own a collector's item. Of course, I could also say that about the Apple Newton Messagepad 2100 (which is now a relic, but was very advanced for its time). I used to carry my Newton in the hospital. It was a bit heavy for the white coat, but it was very useful because I kept all my patient notes on it. I was paperless even before most hospitals had computerized physician order entry (CPOE)! Will we ever see another gadget that compares with the OQO? I'm sure we will as more manufacturers build small PCs that have full capabilities. As hardware technology improves, we'll see more tiny devices permeate the healthcare industry and soon hospitals will be full of gadgets and gizmos.

The Viliv S5 and the Buzz about UMPCs

Do you use an ultra-mobile PC (UMPC)? I'm not talking about those tiny netbooks that you see at Best Buy. I mean a touch-screen tablet that you can carry in your pocket. Tiny tablets are becoming more popular in the healthcare industry.

I love my OQO, but I fear that the company may not be here much longer. What will I do if I can't carry a full PC in my pocket? The Viliv S5 Premium may become the OQO replacement for those of us who have an OQO model 02. From a distance, it looks like the model 02. However, it's not a slider and it doesn't have a built-in keyboard. The Viliv S5 looks like a solid little device, but who's heard of Viliv? Viliv is a Korean company that creates ultra-mobile PCs like the S5 which fits in the palm of your hand. Would you pay $599 for this computer? You won't find it at Best Buy, but you can get one at Dynamism. This little computer has generated a lot of buzz recently and it may be a great little mini table for those of you who need a full PC but don't need a small built-in keyboard like those found on netbooks.

OQO Future is Uncertain

What's going to happen to OQO? I've had my OQO model 02 for a while now and I'm torn about the news that the company might not survive. I wonder if Dennis saw the writing on the wall and decided to leave the company. I was scarred when Apple decided to kill the Newton. Now I'll be scarred again if OQO dies. The company is managed by MIT and Harvard alumni, so you'd have to think that they're doing everything they can. Jory Bell is an MIT alumni and one of the founders of OQO. I wonder what he's up to these days.

What's Happening at OQO?

There are many rumors floating around the web about the future of OQO. I've had an OQO model 02 for a while now and I love this tiny little device. It's a fantastic micro PC (or ultra-mobile PC if you prefer) and I hope that the company survives these economic times of uncertainty. The OQO has been piloted in various healthcare settings and as more patients require digital monitoring and electronic devices, ultra-mobile PCs are needed in the clinical setting. I hope we see the model 02+ that was revealed at CES this year.

Will OQO Make a Device Just for Healthcare?

Some people are eagerly awaiting the new OQO model 02+ which will be available very soon. I've been happy with my OQO model 02 (except I wish the fan was not so loud). This micro PC (or some may even call it an ultra-mobile PC or UMPC) has even been used in various healthcare settings. As younger physicians and other healthcare professionals get more familiar with mobile technology, tiny devices like the OQO will become more ubiquitous within the healthcare setting. The landscape of medicine is changing quickly, so gadget lovers should rejoice!

Are You Ready for Windows 7?

Have you tried Windows 7? I've been so unhappy with Vista that I've gone back to XP on most of my machines, including my mission critical PC. However, I'm quite intrigued by Windows 7. We will probably see a slim (or lite) version of Windows 7 for UMPCs and netbooks. I'm still running XP on my Samsung Q1 Ultra UMPC and my OQO model 02. Will Windows 7 be the ideal operating system for power PCs and ultra-low-cost machines?

In the healthcare field, XP will probably continue to dominate for a few more years because of the way many EHR/EMR systems are configured. Plus, you're often using older peripherals like scanners, printers, bar code scanning devices, and other devices. Some ambulatory EHRs have an EKG attachment that hooks up via USB. My guess is that most of those older connections will only work on PCs running XP. So, I think that health IT will lag behind other industries and we'll be using XP for a long time.

Sony Vaio P

So, when will Sony add a backlit keyboard to their Vaio P series? I'm a big fan of Sony products, but I will not purchase the Vaio P unless it comes with a backlit keyboard. I'm willing to pass on a touch screen (unless we're talking about a convertible tablet), but I must insist that the device have an illuminated keyboard.

Why am I so insistent? Well, I spend a fair amount of time doing work while I'm sitting in my bed and my wife is asleep. I have a USB light that shines down on the keyboard, but this can be quite disruptive. My wife has a MacBook Pro that has a backlit keyboard and it's a great machine (but a bit too big for my uses). I like tiny gadgets - that's just who I am. I used to use my OQO model 02 (which does have illuminated keys), but that's just too small and the fan is too loud. So, I often sit in bed typing on my Lenovo Thinkpad X200 tablet and using the USB light that has a bright LED on the end.

Lenovo Pocket Yoga - A Touchscreen Netbook?

Looks like Lenovo is releasing a netbook-type of pocket notebook/UMPC that looks almost like the Sony Vaio P with a touch screen. Is that right? I wonder if this has a backlit keyboard (I doubt it). I imagine that the screen is a passive touch screen.

So, is this practical for healthcare professionals? Is this new innovation in technology applicable to the medical/healthcare industry? Will you see doctors carrying this device around the hospital and using it to run EHR/EMR applications? In the healthcare world, productivity is key. Therefore, you really need something that has a larger screen so that you can be efficient and productive with your time. However, if you're a doctor who takes call from home, this may be a great little gadget to carry around with you when you go out for social events (and you're on call). Imagine being at a restaurant or a party. You get a phone call from your intern/resident/patient, and you whip out your pocket notebook to look up labs, patient history, etc. Or, you use this to enter electronic orders. Either way, you can carry a full PC in your pocket. That's what made the OQO so popular among some healthcare professionals.

MobileBlogger for Windows Mobile

Do you blog when you're on the go? Many people are embracing microblogging these days. Twitter and other sites are becoming increasingly popular. Well, if you want to use your PDA/smartphone to blog when you're on the go, then try MobileBlogger. This application works on Windows Mobile devices (soon to be called the Windows Phone if you have a smartphone). I just can't type very fast on my mobile device (which is a Verizon XV 6800), so I prefer using my Samsung Q1 Ultra UMPC, my OQO model 02, or my Lenovo Thinkpad X200 Tablet. What about you? Do you blog on the go?

OQO model 02+

Do you plan on getting one? There's a tight knit community of OQO users on OQO Talk. Among them, it seems like 34% have either ordered one or plan to order one. That's dedication!

I don't personally plan on ordering a model 02+ right now. The OQO is a great little device, but it's not as practical for me as some of my other UMPCs. Therefore, I will stick with what I have and maybe I'll upgrade one of them in 2010. By then, most (if not all) will be running Windows 7 and devices should be much faster overall.

Buy a MacBook Air Just for the SSD?

There are some incredible deals out there for the older MacBook Air with a 64 GB SSD (solid state drive). I'm very tempted to get one of these so that I can perform a hard drive (HD) transplant. I'd use the SSD in another device (either my Samsung Q1 Ultra or my OQO model 02).

To purchase a 1.8" SSD, I'd have to spend over $1000 (unless I get a RunCore or PhotoFast, in which case I may still spend nearly $500 just for the drive). It really doesn't make sense to go out there and purchase an SSD as an upgrade right now.

However, if I can get a cheap MacBook Air for $1200 (and this includes a 64 GB SSD), then I could do some HD swapping and maybe even sell the MBA. Tempting...

Details on OQO model 02+

Interested in the real details? Then take a look at the discussion on OQO talk

We have someone from OQO answering questions about the new model 02+ that will be coming out this summer. Touch screen, OLED, ATOM processor, and cooler (physically speaking) temperatures. Oh, and you'll get it for less $

Are you waiting to get an OQO model 02+? You may find some incredible deals on the model 02 (although with the lower price of the model 02+, I don't know how much you'll really save)

Owls and Fans

I've been thinking about the fan issue for a while. I have a Thinkpad X200 tablet and the fan is barely audible, even when it's on high. The Thinkpad fan blades reflect some of the innovations in design found in nature:

ThinkPad Silent Owl Blade

I wish OQO could refine or improve the fan so that it's much quieter. I have a model 02 and I really like it, but the fan can get disruptive if you're in a quiet room.

While you still have the chance to improve the fan on the model 02+ (since we're still several months away from May), please improve the fan! Thanks.

New OQO at CES

According to a post at GottaBeMobile, it appears that OQO will be coming out with a model 02+ at CES 2009. The post reads:

OQO, Inc. announces the new model 2+ with the Intel® Atom™ processor, the world’s first PC OLED display, and worldwide 3G capability. Based on the 1.86GHz Intel Atom processor and 2GB RAM, the OQO model 2+ offers performance up to twice as fast as its predecessor and includes an embedded touchscreen for easier input.


Exciting!

OQO and Intel Atom

OQO and Intel have developed a prototype for the purposes of a "demonstration." According to Dennis Moore, CEO of OQO, the use of the Intel Atom processor in the OQO is a technology showcase. Does this mean that future OQO models will use the Atom processor?

Sharp Willcom D4 (WS016SH) or OQO model 02

So the Sharp Willcom D4 is one of the latest micro PCs that has emerged. Some are calling it a UMPC while others are calling it a MID. Well, if it's running Microsoft Vista, then I would call it a UMPC. Unfortunately, the D4 is not being sold in the USA by any major retailers. You can purchase an Asian model through certain online sources if you're dying to try one out.

The big question for me is: how does this new device compare with the OQO model 02? I'm still a big fan of my OQO and I'm using it more and more. Everyone seems to agree that you need the extended battery for the Sharp Willcom D4.

Syncing Outlook on different computers

FolderShare is still FREE (but also still a beta service that is part of Microsoft Live). However, FoderShare is a great way to synchronize your Outlook PST files on different computers. This is great if you happen to do some work at home, on the road, and at work (of course).

I have my Outlook PST files synchronized on my workstation at work, my laptop, my UMPC Samsung Q1 Ultra, and my OQO model 02 miniature - no micro - no nano PC. So, that means I have access to my important files all the time. Thanks FolderShare!

Using my OQO model 02 and loving it!

My faithful OQO model 02 served me well today when I was out all day on the field. Well, I wasn't technically on the field. I was outside though - for several hours for that matter. As usual, I was connected through my Verizon Wireless XV6800 so I was checking my e-mail, doing some PubMed research, and reading medical news.

I don't use my OQO as much these days since I'm not traveling very much. For a while there, I wasn't sure how to best use the OQO since I have other small devices. However, I've been giving this tiny little machine another shot because it's so small and yet so useful. I really hope that the UMPC market picks up in the healthcare sector. There is so much potential for ways to improve healthcare if clinicians leverage the different capabilities offered by emerging technologies.