I think this is pretty cool - PDA making a come back?

[Dieselboy]

I'd use this as a work phone doubled as a laptop. Would have been perfect when I worked for an IT firm, and also perfect for the mid to late 2000's.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/gemini-pda-android-linux-keyboard-mobile-device-phone#/

Still think that this would be good now though

[deanwebb]

What about just a 3G/4G attachment for a laptop? When I get a keyboard, I *don't* want one that's all crowded and stuff. My 15" laptop for work is as small as I want to go. I use a 17" laptop for home because it's got that extended numpad, which I can use with great effect.

[Dieselboy]

 

Have a look at the keyboard, it's not crowded imo.

As an example use case, I've bashed out many a email or designs and other stuff whilst on a packed London underground train. I did a lot of Cisco study on public transport between office / home and customer offices. Admittedly at the time I had a cheapy work Dell laptop that was about the size of a typical patio floor slab but even though my current laptop is lighter, wider and thinner than back then I'd still prefer not to get it out on a train / plane / taxi etc. I presently use my Google pixel xl phone but although it's probably the best phone in the market at the moment, I hate the touch screen keyboard and it really sets me back if I keep making typos because my thumb was half a mm too far one way. The swype keyboard definitely helps but it's not perfect.

I have wifi tethering from my phone to my laptop when I need it but a laptop is really for sitting down and doing (planned) stuff. Phones etc are always on you and I reckon this would be a big step forward from the annoying touch screens that are out there at the moment.

[deanwebb]

True... points in its favor, it looks like it can be used while sitting on a plane in coach class, very handy to have.

[wintermute000]

Screen too small for technical books IMO. just read pdfs on tablets.
All 2 in 1 designs just end up on me wishing for a real laptop. I tried a surface and 90% of the time I was using it like a laptop

[Dieselboy]

Screen too small for technical books IMO. just read pdfs on tablets.
All 2 in 1 designs just end up on me wishing for a real laptop. I tried a surface and 90% of the time I was using it like a laptop

Exactly! Thats why I think this unit will be pretty good and from previous experience a touch screen seriously impacts business productivity. Touch screens are good for tablets and for doing stuff quickly, a few times. But repeatedly using the touch screen quickly like for a keyboard = crap. This device has both touch and keyboard, so can suit both

A Surface is a bit special as it's halfway between a laptop and a tablet. I get that it's a laptop that you can use like a tablet, really. This unit is a phone / PDA. With that much power in a small device as well, you could use it like a laptop.. Leave a keyboard / mouse / screen in the office, come in, plug the unit in and bam - desktop.

If I was working for my last company where I'd be in the office at random times, randomly attending customers offices all around the city of London this unit would be perfect for me back then. One of my problems back then was serial console cables, I needed a Dell paving slab for that. With this unit I can simply use my bluetooth serial cable and the in-built keyboard.

That also reminds me, there's these USB bars that you can attach to your laptop to make your laptop have a touch screen. And I have wanted to try one of those laser keyboards, use case is that you get a full size qwerty keyboard from a lazer projection onto a flat surface.. Although I think the same issue with the touch sensitive screens might come into play. If it's fast / responsive then would be good to set up for attaching to phones etc.

I guess I'm just a bit excited about tech

[deanwebb]

I've seen the lazer keyboards in action... PROTIP: don't use them where it's dusty!

[Dieselboy]

If it was dust particles suspended in the air, do you get a nice light-show?

[deanwebb]

If it was dust particles suspended in the air, do you get a nice light-show?

Yes, and keyboard errors.

[dlots]

I have actually concerned getting a smart phone with just a data plan, and installing a SIP phone on it, go wireless when you can, and 3/4G when you can't.  Just have the SIP phone connect to my cloud Astrisk server, and it has a SIP connection back to a provider.

Would have done it if where I lived and my commute path had better data coverage.

[wintermute000]

Maybe different where you are but carriers basically give away calls (unlimited from mid range plans and up) and that has killed that market/ idea

[Dieselboy]

I have actually concerned getting a smart phone with just a data plan, and installing a SIP phone on it, go wireless when you can, and 3/4G when you can't.  Just have the SIP phone connect to my cloud Astrisk server, and it has a SIP connection back to a provider.

Would have done it if where I lived and my commute path had better data coverage.

I've thought about this but you will need a SIP provider that can handle a codec suited to 4G/3G data transmission. I think the opus codec can be okay but I've not found any SIP provider to support it. Plus the whole sip registration, keepalive thing doesn't seem to work too well in my experience. I've tried this out whilst travelling and I think once it all went smooth: registration and could make a call. But doing the same another time was problematic. I have tried sip apps and the native android sip over anyconnect vpn and PPTP vpn.

Have you ever made a call from Facebook or Cisco Spark or whatsapp (facebook)? I'm not sure quite how those programs work with voip but most of the time they're pretty good, unless your signal is very crap. They must use a codec that copes with packet loss as a start. Second, they dont have the sip register issues, although they must do some kind of register / sign in I expect.