News Freescale unveils smartbook concepts

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2009/06/08/freescale-unveils-smartbook-concepts/1

Freescale has unveiled a range of concept designs for "smartbook" systems - devices based on the company's ARM processors that sit between smartphones and netbooks.

 

Now that, looks cool Pity they won't make it though.

 

Actually, dependent on how big the keys/spacing is... text input on that wouldn't be all that hard. "Two thumb" text input works fine, provided you don't want to bash out a 200,000 word novel.

Pity they won't actually make it to market... unless someone works with Freescale... but they sound pretty inventive, anyway. The portable device market badly needs a shakeup...

 

Where's my sub £100 desktop ARM/Linux computer please ?
A net-top version of the ARM netbooks would be fantastic; heck, build them into televisions.

 

The problem with that keyboard design is that it leaves little space for internal components, especially if the two halves overlap inside to give a bigger keyboard. I also don't like the fact that the "d-pad" is in the keys, you won't be able to navigate around a site and have text input at the same time.

Also, the keys are all lined up above each other and the space bar is in a silly place.

 

Oh my that's fugly! I think I'll keep my OQO thank you very much

 

You should check out the other ones though. The detachable keyboard/mouse/screen one is pretty cool and I'm very fond of the modular idea.