Does this exist?

[WildW]

I am not very up on gadgets, particularly in the area of phones/PDAs/tablets and so on. I have a netbook which is the most convenient computing device I've ever had when I'm out and about, but it's still not something I can quickly pull out and use in the way that other folks can pull out a phone. I'm vaguely tempted by an iPod touch or iphone, but they strike me as a bit small. I'd like a single device that could do everything.

I reckon what I'd like is some kind of device in the form of a tablet, about the size of one of the larger Sony e-readers (the touch one, 5 or 6 inch screen), with a touchscreen, either stylus or onscreen keyboard for input. An LCD rather than e-ink kind of display. It would do web browsing, email, instant messaging, with wifi and perhaps 3G net connection. It could display ebooks and pdfs, play mp3s.

Phone facilities are optional - perhaps via bluetooth headset. The ability to send/receive texts would be great. It would not need to be a general Windowsy computer, more of a phone interface would make sense, with the ability to download various apps. It would be more instant-on than a PC, or indeed always on like a phone.

Possibly I'm describing the fabled Apple tablet, or just a 6 inch iPhone, or a Star Trek PADD. Does anything like this exist already?

 

[mmntech]

I think what you're describing is a MID, a Mobile Internet Device. Larger than a smart phone or PDA but more compact than a netbook. On the larger end, you have the 8'' Sony Vio P Series, which actually boasts an Atom processor and a full version of Windows 7.

Intel has a list of Atom based MIDs.
http://www.intel.com/shop/internet-...sPerPage=10&processorFamily=&processorNumber=

 

[tdawg]

There are a couple of tablets on the horizon. Google JooJoo or Notion Ink's Adam. Rumor is Apple will be releasing a tablet as well. Not sure how these will pan out.

 

[jtusa]

Check out the Archos 5 Internet Tablet.

 

[Chapbass]

Check out the Archos 5 Internet Tablet.

Took the words out of my mouth.

Theres also a 7" version, but it doens't have 3g nor android (runs on an Archos based OS). Bigger hdd if you want it though.

 

[WildW]

The MID devices look like even smaller netbooks. . . I think I want to get away from Windows and have something more phone-like.

The Archos looks interesting, but it still looks like an MP3/video player with tacked-on web browser. It doesn't look like there's much you can add on to it, unless there's a 3rd party software community for it? Or is it all locked down?

It looks like an Android based tablet it more like what I'm looking for, when they show up. I guess what I really want is an iPhone/iPod Touch kind of device with a 6 inch screen.

 

[hanoverphist]

The MID devices look like even smaller netbooks. . . I think I want to get away from Windows and have something more phone-like.

The Archos looks interesting, but it still looks like an MP3/video player with tacked-on web browser. It doesn't look like there's much you can add on to it, unless there's a 3rd party software community for it? Or is it all locked down?

It looks like an Android based tablet it more like what I'm looking for, when they show up. I guess what I really want is an iPhone/iPod Touch kind of device with a 6 inch screen.

itouch is an mp3 player with a browser added in...

 

[WildW]

itouch is an mp3 player with a browser added in...

Yes, I see what you're saying. What I couldn't tell from the videos on the Archos site (which seem to be old and out of date) is how input is done once you're on the web. For instance, I'd like a device I can use for instant messaging, forums, etc. It looks like Archos is switching to become all Androidy. . . I'm currently waiting for Youtube reviews to load so maybe I can get a better feel for it.

My understanding of the iPod Touch is that it's an iPhone without the phone and the extortionate monthly contract payments, and that it still does web and IM with input via stylus. I got the impression that it does ebook and PDF display from folks I've spoken to.

 

[jtusa]

The MID devices look like even smaller netbooks. . . I think I want to get away from Windows and have something more phone-like.

The Archos looks interesting, but it still looks like an MP3/video player with tacked-on web browser. It doesn't look like there's much you can add on to it, unless there's a 3rd party software community for it? Or is it all locked down?

It looks like an Android based tablet it more like what I'm looking for, when they show up. I guess what I really want is an iPhone/iPod Touch kind of device with a 6 inch screen.

The Archos 5 runs Android, so you can install any Android app on it, which makes it a lot more than a media player.

 

[hanoverphist]

Yes, I see what you're saying. What I couldn't tell from the videos on the Archos site (which seem to be old and out of date) is how input is done once you're on the web. For instance, I'd like a device I can use for instant messaging, forums, etc. It looks like Archos is switching to become all Androidy. . . I'm currently waiting for Youtube reviews to load so maybe I can get a better feel for it.

My understanding of the iPod Touch is that it's an iPhone without the phone and the extortionate monthly contract payments, and that it still does web and IM with input via stylus. I got the impression that it does ebook and PDF display from folks I've spoken to.

itouch has no stylus,the screen is capacitive. gotta have the finger touch for it to work. not sure about the pdf thing, but i know you can surf the web, check email and install crazy amounts of apps on it. the zune hd does the same thing and gives you FMradio along with it. both play back videos.

what i was pointing out was that you seemed to see the archos as a mp3/4 player with a browser tacked on, yet the itouch not as that. it is exactly that. but with a smaller screen.

 

[WildW]

what i was pointing out was that you seemed to see the archos as a mp3/4 player with a browser tacked on, yet the itouch not as that. it is exactly that. but with a smaller screen.

Yes, my bad. I made the mistake of looking up the Archos site first of all, which just has some very old videos of the Archos 5, pre-android with the original Archos OS which looked pretty poor. It does look more promising now I've seen some YouTube videos with a more up to date interface.

 

[gaidensensei]

There's also the rumored Microsoft Courier ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmIgNfp-MdI ) but I have yet to hear much more than what's already shown in the video.

 

[tdawg]

SmartQ 7 looks like it might fit the bill