Review: OQO Model 02
The OQO Model 02 was introduced at CES 2007 as the world's smallest Vista-capable personal computer and began shipping to customers (sort of) in late March.
The award-winning UMPC was updated with better specs and reduced prices in early September and a review unit from Dynamism found its way into my hands several weeks later. I've been using it daily for three weeks, and I honestly don't want to stop.
Read my complete review below to find out why.
System specifications
| Processor: |
1.5GHz VIA C7-M ULV |
| Memory: | 1GB DDR SDRAM |
| OS: | Windows Vista Ultimate |
| Storage: | 60GB shock-mounted HDD |
| Display: | 5” LCD (800 x 480) with active digitizer |
| Wireless: | EV-DO Rev A, 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth 2.0 +EDR |
| Size: | 5.6” x 3.3” x 1.0” |
| Weight: | 1.0 lb. |
The Model 02 is available in several configurations and price points. According to OQO's labeling system (below), my review unit is the "better" model.
Box contents
OQO's presentation of the 02 is simple and elegant.
Nestled inside the black outer box are three additional boxes: the unit on top, accessories in the middle, and documentation and reinstallation DVD on the bottom.
Along with a preinstalled screen protector, extra track stick cap, and standard 4500mAh li-ion polymer battery, the unit ships with a glossy black AC power supply and VGA/ethernet adapter.
Sadly absent from all models except those running Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 is a digital pen, which is required for interacting with the active digitizer. In other words, if you opt for any other operating system and don't already have a pen, you either have to go out and buy one (the official OQO pen is $29) or forget about touching the 02's display with anything but the mouse pointer.
Design
Fashioned largely out of rugged magnesium alloy and glossy black plastic, the Model 02 is really quite beautiful and classy (a nice improvement over its 01+ predecessor).
Build quality is outstanding: sturdy and solid with no loose parts or wobbly bits.
Even though the UMPC weighs a mere pound, it actually feels heavier than it looks. It is by no means a brick, but several people I showed it to did comment on its weight as soon as they picked it up.
Size
The only reason, really, to be taken aback by the 02's weight is because it's so small. When you see the little unit sitting on the table, you just expect it to weigh next to nothing.
Picking it up with that expectation in mind is sort of like grabbing an empty carton of milk that you actually think is full (well, it's the opposite reaction, really, but it's the same type of disconnect between your arm and brain).
Seeing the 02 alongside the HTC Advantage X7501, Nokia N800, and Archos 604 WiFi really drives home this point, as the other devices weigh 12.7, 7.3, and 10.2 ounces, respectively. None of the other gadgets are full Vista computers, of course, but you can see why one would expect the 02 to weigh less based on looks alone.
OQO has given the Model 02 the "world's smallest full-featured PC" title, which I believe is absolutely true (at the time of this writing). One of its closest competitors, in terms of size, is the Sony Vaio UX Micro PC series.
Display
The 02 features a 5-inch active digitizer LCD with a native resolution of 800 x 480.
With the help of metal side rails, the screen bezel slides up and down smoothly and easily.
Brightness
A light sensor in the top right corner of the display frame detects ambient light and automatically adjusts screen brightness for optimal viewing. Brightness levels can also be set manually, but the sensor does its job nicely so there's little need to fiddle with it yourself. Over the last three weeks, I've kept my review unit set at mid-brightness (10 of 20) and it's been perfect. Unlike the Model 01+, the 02's display is plenty bright and somewhat readable outdoors.
Resolution
Although it introduces horizontal scrolling on certain websites and causes some programs to fall off the screen a bit, the 02's native 800 x 480 resolution on its 5-inch display is quite nice and very easy on the eyes. It's more comfortable for extended viewing than the Vaio UX's higher resolution, which begins to cause a bit of eyestrain after about 30 minutes for me.
The 02's display supports 1000 x 600 and 1200 x 720 interpolated resolutions, which are usable to an extent but obviously not as pleasant to look at as the native resolution. Text and graphics look slightly fuzzy up close but are otherwise fine from a normal viewing distance.
Rotation & Active Digitizer
There's a keyboard shortcut to rotate the display into portrait mode, but every time I tried it, the system either crashed or ignored the command. The active digitizer is another feature I wasn't able to use during my time with the unit because:
- OQO doesn't include a digital pen if the unit isn't running XP Tablet.
- I don't have a pen from another device at home (all of my touchscreen devices have passive/resistive displays).
- None of the brick-and-mortar electronics shops here in Hawaii carry digital pens (or even Tablet PCs).
Since the functionality was nonexistent for me, I'll redirect you to Ultra Mobility for a nice overview of the inking experience afforded by the Model 02.
External Display
The OQO can be connected to external VGA (using supplied VGA/ethernet adapter), HDMI (through built-in HDMI port), and DVI (using HDMI-to-DVI adapter, sold separately for $19) monitors with resolutions up to 1920 x 1200. Dual display in both mirrored and extended desktop viewing modes are also supported.
Controls
Even without the use of the active digitizer, there are still a lot of other ways to navigate through Windows XP or Vista on the 02. Most of the hardware controls are on the keyboard, which has its own section below, so let's take a look at everything else first.
At the bottom right corner of the display frame are horizontal and vertical capacitive TouchScrollers. As their name indicates, sliding your thumb across and/or up and down these scrollers allows you to scroll through web pages and documents horizontally and vertically. They're pretty responsive and easy to reach and use whether the display is in its open or closed position.
On the left side of the unit are the integrated wi-fi and WWAN antennas, battery release button, security slot, and power button.
One of three fancy-looking air vents is located on the right side of the 02. Next to it are another housing for the wireless antennas and the retractable WWAN whip antenna (more on this in the "Connectivity" section below). Below that is the LED battery gauge.
At the bottom are a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, microphone, HDMI port, the second fancy air vent (the third is at the top), docking connector, and USB 2.0 port.
Nothing but the removable battery is on the back. Actually, the battery is the back.
Keyboard
The Model 02's display slides up to reveal what is one of the best thumb keyboards, or thumboards, I have ever used.
The same light sensor that automatically adjusts screen brightness also controls the thumboard's backlight, which is visible in low-light environments (above middle) and in complete darkness (above bottom). This makes typing absolutely anywhere, absolutely possible.
Track Stick
To the left of the number keypad is a textured track stick used to control the mouse pointer.
The track stick is well placed for right-handed folks and its movement is relatively smooth. Controlling the pointer out of the box, with no practice, is easier and more accurate than on other devices will similar track sticks (e.g., FlipStart 1.0), but "mouse drift" can occasionally become an issue. It happened to me once during the past three weeks of daily use and could only be resolved with a restart.
Mouse Buttons
On the left edge of the Model 02 keyboard are left and right mouse buttons, which duplicate the typical left- and right-click functions on standard computer mice. Their placement takes some getting used to because most people expect the tab and shift keys to be on the left edge of keyboards. The mouse buttons being in their place can sometimes cause issues when thumb typing; I still occasionally press the right mouse button when I mean to hit the shift key instead.
SmartLock Keys
OQO equipped the keyboard with four of what it calls SmartLock keys.
They perform the same function as Windows' built-in StickyKeys feature, which allows key combinations to be pressed sequentially rather than simultaneously, but have LEDs next to them to serve as visual indicators for when the function is active (pulsing light) or locked (solid light).
Because so much of the navigational controls are on the keyboard, using the OQO Model 02 with its display in its closed position is difficult without the use of a digital pen (which, I can't stress enough, is not included with units running anything other than XP Tablet).
Typing
Although some of the keys aren't where they normally are on standard U.S. layouts and the dedicated number keypad introduces a bit of extra right-thumb stretching, the 02's thumboard is superb.
The keys are nicely sized and spaced, and tactile feedback is excellent. Excellent.
Here are my typing test results alongside previously published results from some of my other reviews.
| Handtop | Percentage of touch-typing speed |
| DialKeys on Samsung Q1P |
29% (25 wpm) |
| OQO Model 01+ | 34% (29 wpm) |
| Apple iPhone | 35% (30 wpm) |
| Kohjinsha SA1F00A (UMPC mode) | 36% (31 wpm) |
| Sony Vaio UX180P | 37% (32 wpm) |
| FlipStart, high-capacity (UMPC mode) | 40% (34 wpm) |
| FlipStart, both batteries (laptop mode) | 41% (35 wpm) |
| FlipStart, slimline (UMPC mode) | 43% (37 wpm) |
| Kohjinsha SA1F00A (laptop mode) | 51% (44 wpm) |
| OQO Model 02 | 51% (44 wpm) |
| Pepper Pad 3 | 54% (46 wpm) |
Being able to type at 51% of my average full-size keyboard typing speed on a thumboard of this size is nothing short of amazing to me.
Of course when extensive typing needs to be done, connecting a portable Bluetooth keyboard is always an option.
Connectivity
With ethernet (via supplied VGA/ethernet adapter), wi-fi, Bluetooth, and EV-DO Rev A connectivity, the OQO Model 02 almost makes it impossible not to be online at all times.
The wireless dashboard utility makes it easy to monitor and switch between various connections.
EV-DO Rev A mobile broadband is available (with activation and contract; monthly plans start at $60) through either Sprint or Verizon. The retractable antenna is housed in the top right corner of the 02, extends about 4 inches, and can be rotated in just about any direction.
My review unit didn't come with an activated account, so I couldn't test the speeds or coverage here in Honolulu. I have been on Sprint's network using the FlipStart 1.0, though, and found performance to be acceptable (scroll down or do a Ctrl + F search for the "Connectivity" section of the FlipStart review for more information).
Since the Model 02 is a full-featured computer running Windows Vista Ultimate, web browsing is as rich and enjoyable as it is on a regular notebook or desktop. Horizontal scrolling is something of a given, as few pages these days are optimized for 800 x 480 resolutions, but the TouchScrollers and other navigational controls make it easy to work around.
YouTube and most other online videos play back with no problem on the 02's VIA C7-M processor.
Performance
As I often say around here, even with benchmark results and other technical data, how well a system performs in the real world is really based on individual perception.
If you can tolerate nothing less than the top-of-the-line powerhouse desktop systems, then something like the OQO Model 02 (or any UMPC, for that matter) will definitely not make you happy.
My personal processing requirements are very low. I'm more of a computer neat freak than a multi-tasker, so aside from whatever background nonsense Windows is doing, I typically have only one program running at a time (I can't stand seeing too many open windows and apps on the taskbar). And that one program is usually just Firefox.
That said, I'm rather pleased with the 02's performance. The fan can get quite loud (sounds like distant rain or white noise) at times, but otherwise it's a relatively quiet machine.
There's been a lot of talk about Vista having no place on an ultramobile device, but I don't agree with most of it. Vista is much faster than XP in awakening/resuming from standby/sleep, which means relatively quick access to email, the web, and other important information (and who can complain about that?). To illustrate, here are the OQO Model 02 results from a series of timed tests I performed this afternoon with the 02 in its out-of-box state (i.e., no optimization or tweaking).
| Sleep: |
5 seconds |
| Wake: | 6 seconds |
| Restart: | 1 minute, 55 seconds |
| Shut Down: | 1 minute, 4 seconds |
| Cold Boot: | 1 minute, 47 seconds |
| Launch Firefox: | 10 seconds (first launch after restart) 3 seconds (subsequent launch) |
| Launch IE7: | 8 seconds (first launch after restart) 3 seconds (subsequent launch) |
| Launch Origami Experience: |
8 seconds (first launch after restart) 3 seconds (subsequent launch) |
| Launch WMP11: | 6 seconds (first launch after restart) 3 seconds (subsequent launch) |
| Wake to Firefox Launch: | 14 seconds |
| Wake to IE7 Launch: | 16 seconds |
| Wake to Origami Experience Launch: |
17 seconds |
| Wake to WMP11 Launch: | 11 seconds |
The unit doesn't have any LEDs to indicate disk activity, so testing was a bit tricky.
Comfort
Generally speaking, the Model 02 is comfortable to hold and use in one or two hands. Its compact frame makes it easy to hold in just about any position and if the screen rotation feature on my review unit worked properly, the device would be great for reading eBooks or for taking handwritten notes because it fits very nicely in hand when in portrait mode.
Nothing on the device is sharp, but more rounded corners or some additional contour would eliminate the possibility of ever being jabbed (even if very slightly) in the hand when holding the unit in certain positions.
As one of the lightest (if not the lightest) UMPCs currently on the market, the 02 can be used for extended periods of time without causing any fatigue in the forearms, wrists, or hands.
Battery life
The standard 4500mAh lithium-ion polymer battery (3.7V) included with the unit is given an "up to 3 hours" estimated life by OQO.
While this figure may be accurate under a specific set of conditions, based on my usage (wi-fi on, bluetooth off, screen at mid-brightness, system's "balanced" power plan), the 02 is really only about a 2-hour device.
Light browsing (no online video) via Firefox for an hour, for example, knocked off 52% of the standard battery's charge. The drain rate in sleep mode seems a bit inefficient as well, as 11 hours of sleep drained 44% of the battery. This suggests that if the 02 is kept in sleep mode for a full day, it will be almost dead when you turn it on the following day.
Conclusion
Starting at $1299, the OQO Model 02 may be more expensive than most are willing to pay for a pint-size PC, but its outstanding thumb keyboard, beautiful design, compact form factor, connectivity options, easy navigation, and respectable performance make it well worth the cost.
Substandard (for a second-gen UMPC) battery life and the fact that a digital pen is not included unless the 02 is preloaded with Windows XP Tablet are incredibly annoying, to be sure, but both problems can be solved with a single swipe of your credit card; OQO sells the double-capacity battery for $199 ($189 at Amazon
That aside, the Model 02 is an amazing upgrade to previous models and definitely steps up and delivers on all of its pre-release promises.
Tomorrow will be
a very sad day
FedEx will take
my review unit away
This article is part of the Quick Takes series. Quick Takes are based on short-term usage of various gadgets provided by Dynamism, the best place to find next-generation notebooks and consumer electronics from Japan and around the world.
Excellent review as usual Jenn.
51% typing speed is good but I suspect you'll get better, closer to 60%, after time. I'm at over 50% on my Everun now and thats nowhere near as good as the OQO KB. 2 hours battery life is the problem for me though. I'd rather sacrifice 10-20% typing speed and keep my Everun which will go min 4 hours on the standard batt. Min 7 on extended battery.
However, the OQO looks very cool indeed.
Thanks for a super review.
Steve
Posted by Steve Paine | 10:54 PM on Oct 14, 2007
nice review, appreciate your honesty plus comparison to your Sony UX.
There might be a fix on the rotate on OQO's kb support site, mine has never froze w/XP Tablet or Vista Business, although I have some tweaks & all the latest drivers.
Trackstick mouse drift quick fix is to slide screen closed & open again. Some have said this issue is common with tracksticks, still iritating.
Battery life can be improved with posted tweaks, I know it should be decent out of the box. Vista does have nice power options readily available thru System tray power icon to switch from Power Saver, Balanced, to High Performance, plus you can customize their settings.
Anyway, I appreciate your more down to earth assessment over a high tech number comparison, because in the end it's the the real world experience that count's.
Posted by Opus | 02:17 AM on Oct 15, 2007
Nice review Jenn, its great to be able to look at all those close up pictures. I can't believe they don't include a pen. That seems... well, stupid. They make a pretty big feature of the OQO 02 useless, that'd be like and Xbox 360 not coming with a controller.
I'm still really disappointed with the battery life of all these UMPCs, I don't care how fancy they are, two hours doesn't give you near enough time to get work done, especially when we are talking a $1000+ device.
Does the OQO 02 actually support native output of 1920 x 1080 (1200?) or does it go up to 1600 x 1200 and then start duplicating pixels? I'd be curious to know how well the OQO runs at true 1920 x 1080 output, it would probably be pretty straining on the device. They probably should have included a VGA port in place of the HDMI.
Posted by Benz145 | 02:19 AM on Oct 15, 2007
I've said it before and will say it again. Two hours of battery life does not make this a portable device. Two hours is useless. At the point in time that I MUST carry around my charger to make the device practical to use, the device is no longer a portable device. That was my issue with the Sony UX series and is still my issue with the OQO.
I would rather take with me the Sony TZ series, which is infinitely more portable then the OQO - size notwithstanding. You can get 7-10 hours of battery life with the TZ as opposed to 2 with the OQO. Yes, the OQO is nicely designed and a real marvel of engineering - but 2 hours of battery makes it a brick unless you carry around the charger and have readily available juice.
Posted by Lee | 04:22 AM on Oct 15, 2007
Out of curiosity, how did you obtain a review unit?
Posted by Solidus Obscura | 05:42 AM on Oct 15, 2007
It's funny... I was browsing your site at work just last week instead of working, and I was wondering if I missed an OQO 2 review. I knew you'd come with some UX comparisons. I'm personally a fan of the UX's resolution due to my freakishly good eyes, but I was looking into getting a UMPC for my girlfriend, and this may fit the bill. I'll have to forward her this review.
Posted by Rorschach | 07:06 AM on Oct 15, 2007
44% battery drain in 11 hours of sleep is odd - mine only drains about 10% after 8 hours on standby. Even though the standard battery is only good for 2 hours I can make it through the day if I use standby and don't have to use it continuously for over 2 hours.
Posted by Kenrick | 10:36 AM on Oct 15, 2007
I still don't know why people insist on using standby instead of hibernate. I might take a few more seconds to go in/out of hibernate vs. standby, but there is zero battery drain.
Posted by Benz145 | 11:55 AM on Oct 15, 2007
@ Steve: Wow! Over 50% on the Everun is pretty incredible. Assuming that's with two thumbs in portrait mode, I'm curious to know how feasible it is to type with just your right thumb in landscape mode. I've been thinking about the Everun as my next UMPC purchase but lately the Fujitsu U810 has been on my mind instead.
I've completely lost interest in buying the HTC Shift (and all 7-inch UMPCs, really).
@ Opus: Thanks for the info. I thought I'd be able to rotate the screen in the display settings, but the drop-down menu only included landscape orientation. I wish I had known about the automatic screen rotation app from OQO Talk sooner (my unit is already on its way back to Dynamism). Have you tried it?
Posted by Jenn | 12:55 PM on Oct 15, 2007
@ Benz: I'm not sure. Since OQO advertises 1920 x 1200 and doesn't mention anything about pixel duplication, I would think the unit supports it natively.
@ Lee: I've read that some people are able to squeeze out about 2.5 hours, but of course that still has no impact on being able to leave the charger at home.
Even though the 02 has the battery life of a first-gen device, UMPC batteries in general are improving. It was only a handful of years ago that most laptops could barely last 2 hours, so I think handtops will eventually follow suit.
@ Solidus: My review unit was supplied by Dynamism.
@ Rorschach: Those are freakishly good eyes! I think I may actually be legally blind without my contacts. How long are you able to look at the UX's screen before your eyes get tired? Did you increase the DPI?
Posted by Jenn | 01:15 PM on Oct 15, 2007
Sorry, I didn't think to mention ealier the auto rotate app found thru oqotalk.com, some of owner/developers are totally incredible. Acts like the iPhone auto rotate.
As far as battery life, current standard battery is restricted to keeping size & weight down, don't know how much different Sony TZ is. I'm fully mobile w/o my power adapter with a spare extended capacity battery and it is still pocketable. And I don't think the Everun has as much Windows Vista functionality?
You can swap batteries while hooked up to power, powered down, or while in hybernate (fully off) but you can't while in sleep or "stand-by" mode. I have mine set to sleep mode when hitting the power button so it comes up faster, & have BT, WiFi, & WWAN disabled when out of the house.
OQO base model does not have an active digitizer screen to support tablet interface. I agree it sucks for the others, XP Pro shouldn't even be an option, and I think they should all support tablet, provide a wacom pen, plus have a built in pen silo. From what I hear even in other portable forums, not everyone is interested in the tablet interface, with some insisting on a built in keyboard. OQO 02 is best of both worlds for its size.
Posted by Opus | 01:48 PM on Oct 15, 2007
Jenn, its probably the same for Rors as it is for myself, I don't wear any sort of corrective vision, I can't say I've ever gotten tired or had eye strain while using my UX. And I've used it for several long video watching/web browsing sessions. My DPI is default, but sometimes I increase the font in my Firefox so I can be a bit further away from the screen.
Posted by Benz145 | 05:38 PM on Oct 15, 2007
@ Kenrick: Really? 10% after 8 hours is really good. I wonder if something was wrong with the battery in my review unit.
Opus, what kind of battery drain do you get from sleep mode?
The Sony TZ ships with a 5800mAh li-ion. 10 hours of sleep on mine has been draining between 16% and 24% of the battery. I still haven't run any formal tests, but I think I'm getting about 6 hours of wi-fi time.
Posted by Jenn | 05:38 PM on Oct 15, 2007
I'll have to pay closer attention when I wake my 02 from sleep. I think mine is similiar to Kenrick's in battery drain, but when on battery power I usually interupt its sleep.
I usually have it plugged in at home. At work on battery power it is always on sleep mode in a 10 hour timeframe with intermitttent use since I use my company PC for most work & only use my 02 for meetings inking notes & pulling out documents related to the meeting.
If I think I'll use my 02 a lot outside the house like a 3 hour meeting, I'll use the extended battery, otherwise I'll use the standard but it has to be very "lite" use.
Posted by Opus | 02:02 AM on Oct 16, 2007
Great review Jenn, I very much appreciate the attention to details about the unit and the many pix that actually provide useful perspectives. Thanks also for the pointer to the Ultra-mobility blog. For those interested, there are three articles over there on the model 2 that come at the unit from a usability standpoint including the UMPC, laptop, and desktop modalities. Interesting reading and informative in a way that is orthogonal to Jenn's.
It sounds to me like you'd rate it a keeper but elsewhere here you mention the Everrun or Fujitsu are your current front runners?
Posted by dlach | 01:37 PM on Oct 16, 2007
Thanks, dlach.
The Model 02 is certainly something I would love to own, but the configuration I'd want along with the extended battery would turn it into a $2K+ purchase, which is too much for me to spend on something that wouldn't be my primary machine (especially since I just bought my Vaio TZ).
I'm getting an Everun later this week to play with for a while (review to follow), but I think I'll buy the Fujitsu by the end of the year. I had been thinking about the Q1 Ultra again (which I previously ordered and then canceled in favor of the HTC Advantage), but I think my interest in 7-inch UMPCs is pretty much over. I'm already in the process of getting rid of my Pepper Pad 3 and Samsung Q1P . . .
The Everun's price point is very appealing, but the Fujitsu has more of what I'm looking for right now.
Posted by Jenn | 11:27 PM on Oct 16, 2007
Yesterday when I got home from work I remembered to check battery life in sleep mode wiht my OQO 02, with the 4-6 hour extended capacity battery it was at 92% after 12 hours of non use in sleep or stand-by mode. This is with all wireless off & power saver, which shouldn't matter in sleep but is what I use out of the house until I need to be connected.
I agree the price is a bit expensive, but figured any PC I get would require extra batteries, docking station, DVD drive, etc... to add at least another $1,000 which also makes me wince.
I'm into my OQO 02 at $3,200 for the original best with Sprint WWAN, 3 yr. warranty, DVD-r docking station, accessory bundle with extended battery, 12 volt adaptor, & a few miscellanous items. I saved $300 buying MS Office 2007 Student & Home edition which gave me OneNote instead of Outlook in the Business edition OQO offered.
Was it worth it? Still expensive for my wallet but yes it was worth it because I use it everyday both personal & professional, and is easy to keep it near & always available. I wouldn't have it as available if it was any bigger in size like the Sony UX, 7" UMPC's, etc..
Posted by Opus | 02:33 AM on Oct 17, 2007
Thanks for the follow-up, Opus. Oh my, that is expensive! But it sounds like it was money very well spent. Your PCs are very lucky to be showered with so many gifts. :-)
Does the added thickness from the extended battery affect your typing speed at all?
Posted by Jenn | 11:37 AM on Oct 17, 2007
Jenn: I see that you are ahead of me gadget-wise! :-) I have been looking at OQO a while back (not physically - they are impossible to find in stores, aren't they?) but the low resolution was a deal breaker - a full OS the way I use it needs at least 1024x600 pixels. Of course on a screen that size it makes it difficult to work with it for an extended period of time. The battery life is not convincing either.
I can see however how this could be perfect for someone who works at home and at the office - have a docking station at each place and carry the OQO in between.
Great review as always!
Posted by Bruno | 01:02 PM on Oct 17, 2007
I swapped in my standard battery and left it alone all day on sleep, after 10 hours it still showed 100% charged with same settings as last, but it started charging when I plugged it into power.
Thicker battery does not affect my typing speed at all, but swappping to standard makes it feel featherlite.
I was getting attitude when I approached my wife about a personal mobile PC for work & play, so I figure if she is going to be miffed might as well get it all over with in one purchase. My 02 is very pleased :)
Posted by Opus | 01:36 PM on Oct 17, 2007
Are pdf documents readable with 1000x600 or 1200x720?
Thanks for your answer...
Posted by Simon | 02:13 AM on Oct 18, 2007
Simon: PDF documents are readable at any resolution as far as I know. Dependent on the way the PDF dcument was created you may need to either zoom in or scroll if the page does not fit on the screen.
Typical A4 of letter sized page will fit on a 1024 pixels wide screen easily though.
Posted by Bruno | 02:50 AM on Oct 18, 2007
That's my understanding of PDFs too. Thanks, Bruno. I returned my review unit on Monday, so I can't test it out to make sure, but maybe someone else with an 02 who's tried it can confirm?
Posted by Jenn | 02:06 PM on Oct 19, 2007
Very impressive to get Vista in that tiny footprint. What I was really hoping for though, was for OQO to come out with a new model that had a touch type keyboard. They could make it an inch or so longer and a bit deeper and it would still be jacket size but then much more useful and justify the price.
Posted by Ralph | 11:37 AM on Oct 20, 2007
I liked the review and am still impressed Vista can fit in that small form factor. What I was really hoping for was an OQO with a touch type keyboard not a thumb input. They could make it an inch longer and even a little wider and that would still fit in my jacket pocket. Then it would easily justify the price and be a true usable computer.
Posted by Alexander | 11:40 AM on Oct 20, 2007
Dear Mr. Ralph Alexander. I feel obliged to say as politely as possible that I couldn't disagree more. The point of the OQO is ultra-portability and usability in different modal settings. I think it probably barely fits in anyone's pocket as it is. Any bigger and you'd need a backpack and it would then blend in with the metoo origami crowd. Yes the price is high but they've spent a considerable amount in R&D/QA to get it to fit the form-factor and target market they've picked and when you're a small company you need to keep your cash flow going until volumes pick up. As more people buy it you'll see the price go down as new models with more/better feature are introduced (indeed we've just seen the first round of this).
If you want touch-type, I suggest you either consider a Stowaway bluetooth keyboard to use with it or just get an HTC shift for your evidently rather large jacket pocket.
Posted by DLach | 04:59 PM on Oct 21, 2007
there are a few non owners trying to psoin the OQO form factor also. I would like to see the OQO a bit thinner & lighter, not longer. OQO is perfect in dimension, in fact the max size before not being pocketable, any bigger & I'd go with a bigger screen UMPC since it no longer has that advantage as a real PC.
Would also be nice as with othe UMPC's in need that they take advantage of the excess screen bezel & make the screen bigger without increasing the overall dimensions, don't need the wide sides.
You want touch type ask fujitsu, storm trooper a better candidate.
Posted by Opus | 04:48 AM on Oct 22, 2007
I do not understand the use of Vista with a thumb input? To me when you want to run desktop softwares which is what Vista would enable you would be touch typing. If I am just doing quick views and short acknowledgements wouldn't a pocket pc or one of the new phone/pda's suffice?
I would buy one when the come out with a real keyboad version so I could replace my laptop most of the time. If they had one like that and kept the price the same that would be a bargin to shed 20 lbs of junk and always worrying about it getting stollen.
Posted by Ruben | 06:46 AM on Oct 23, 2007
I would not agree to Delach, I think it could be a little longer, even a bit wider so a keyboard could be incorporated and still be pocket size and small purse size for us ladies. Maybe that larger size would enable them to slim the height down too?
I used to own a Psion and think that it would be great to somehow use that keyboard in an OQO device in the future? If you carry a stow a way keyboard that is just as large as and OQO almost and I think many would love to see a pocket and or small purse size device not a sub notebook device.
Posted by Alice | 07:04 AM on Oct 23, 2007
Great detailed review!
Cool technology to make it so small. I think the price is a bit too high for something that does not have a touch type keyboard? Maybe if it was the cost of a pocketpc it would be a worthwhile alternative as it would run more softwares.
Posted by Tim S. | 07:08 AM on Oct 23, 2007
I would like to know that what is the different between the "OQO model 2 with Vista" and "OQO model 2 with XP tablet" version??? Can Vista version still can use the digital pen same as tablet version???How come the Vista Version will cheaper than Tablet Version? (Since the price different is more than the price of digital pen)
Posted by Jason | 07:09 AM on Oct 23, 2007
Is it just me or does someone have both high interest in a OQO with touch type keyboard and a multiple personality disorder?
Posted by Bruno | 08:51 AM on Oct 23, 2007
Too bad they could not also run two operating systems like what Dualcor is trying to get on the market. That way the windows mobile OS would increase the battery life for the typical MS suite of apps that way the battery would last longer yet still be able to run desktop apps when required. I could use one as another mobile device along with a laptop and cell phone. If they did add a real keyboard it could then replace the laptop so I'd carry just two devices. Thats a good thought or if they could add the cell phone capabilities with a blue tooth headset then I'd be just going mobile with one device. That would be the best!
Posted by Rick Z. | 01:30 PM on Oct 23, 2007
It's not just you, Bruno. Am I unknowingly running some sort of "leave a comment and I'll choose a winner at random" contest? The more entries you submit, the more chance you have to win, I guess.
There are currently 13 names associated with two of the same IP addresses. Unless it's a school or some sort of fan club, I'm rather bewildered.
Posted by Jenn | 02:45 PM on Oct 23, 2007
Alice,
You're free to disagree. I disagree with you too. I think you want the Fujitsu Lifebook UMPC or Samsung SPH-P9200. The OQO should only get thinner ;^)
For your reference see Jenn's entries:
http://www.pocketables.net/2007/09/fujitsu-lifeboo.html
http://www.pocketables.net/2007/10/samsung-sph-p92.html
Posted by dlach | 08:53 AM on Oct 24, 2007
dlach,
I checked out those links and I do not like the fujitsu as it is a bit too large but the samsung sphp9200 looks incredible! Thanks for the links! Sorry but I'm just a keyboard gal so the OQO is not for me.
Posted by Alice | 05:16 PM on Oct 24, 2007
I think I need to try one of these with my own hands? Pretty cool concept of vista in my pocket but I am very reluctant as it uses thumb keyboard. So for 700 to 1800 dollars more I have the equivalent of thumbing with my pocket pc but now I can run vista? That seems a bit pricey compared to some of the other devices people mentioned with keyboards. On the other hand this fits in a pocket and the others do not? Why do we have to compromise so often in technology?
Posted by Terrance K. | 05:24 PM on Oct 24, 2007
Jenn & Bruno: There is a similar tag team working the OQOTalk.com forum but the names ring more familiar. Most owners that plunked their cash down on one like the form factor just fine with a few minor improvements. I'd like to see it just a bit thinner & lighter, not longer, and maybe increase screen size out/decrease screen bezel width w/o increasing total dimensions.
I have full XP, XP tablet, or Vista functionality including use of MS office, Visual Studio Express editions, Internet/email, etc with built in thumb keyboard, trackstick mouse, and wacom pen.
When I'm on the go I don't need anything else like right now sitting in an airport with no table to set a laptop on. I can use BT or USB for a full size keyboard & mouse but have yet to do that since I've had this unit in April 2007.
I have no use for a PDA, PPC, or whatever Mobile PC, I need a full blown Windows PC packed into a pocket size unit like the 02.
Posted by Opus | 07:12 AM on Oct 25, 2007
I too need to have a computer that "full blown windows" but I can see the point of other people wanting a conventional keyboard. I really would like to not have to carry my laptop on the tube or trains and just have some type of coat pocket alternative.
I have a windows mobile phone and dread the thumb arrangement so if I were to use the OQO I would have to have a secondary keyboard. That would limit the input to the train and only in first class where they provide a table tray.
Posted by UKsalesman | 10:35 AM on Oct 25, 2007
UKsalesman: Off-topic, but what train do you take? I do not pay for first class but I stll get a table tray! :-)
Posted by Bruno | 11:47 AM on Oct 25, 2007
Great review. For myself, I love the layout and thumb board. Sure, there are compromises, but the sheer portability sure is nice. There are many times I'd like to the my PC with me, but my Lenovo x61 is just too big. I'd easily take the OQO with me.
I do have a question. when inking... my main input method is inking with the TIP. I'm concerned about the size, and where to rest one's writing hand. I typically place my hand m the screen below where I write. The OQO is so small... does this work well?
Posted by Just a visitor | 01:44 PM on Oct 25, 2007
Impressively small, a bit pricey and not a winner to me. If I wanted to thumb input I'd get a phone device. I do want windows in small pocket size but I'd want it to have a regular keyboard so that I could touch type.
Posted by JeffereyR | 05:14 PM on Oct 25, 2007
this thing on touchhtype, why are you even concerned about the OQO then? Even with a keyboard you describe and still make it pocketable would be difficult to touchtype without a solid base to sit it on so you might as well get an ultra mobile laptop or convertable.
For on the go mobile input not on your lap, tray, or whatever, you either ink, touchscreen, or thumb keyboard/mouse. To touchtype you need to set it down somewhere unless you're a magician & can make it float in the air. Very contradicting statements.
Jav-when I either ink with my hand not touching the screen bezel or I anchor the side of my hand kind of over the the edge of the bezel. I'm new to Tablet PC inking so I don't know the proper pose, but I do just fine. I have read critiques from experienced inkers saying the screen is too small for inking, but I've had no problems.
Posted by Opus | 02:51 AM on Oct 26, 2007
First, thank you Jenn for another very valuable review.
I would like to respond to some of the comments. First, they key to the OQO is its size. It is pocketable which is not something that can be said for any other device with the OQO's capabilities. It is a PC that you can carry with you "just in case." 7 inch UMPCs (and even most of those with smaller screens) are PCs you take because you plan to use them.
As far as a "real" keyboard, for true touch typing you are talking about something about 11 inches long. Even a 7 inch keyboard is a compromise for touch typing. Either way, it wouldn't fit in my pocket and I have not yet gone the "man purse" route.
I came to UMPCs from a Tablet PC slate. I find that for anything other than long document creation I can productively use pen input via the TIP (Tablet Input Panel). I would urge anyone who has invested in an OQO to buy a pen for it. The Wacom website has a selection including ones with a clip to keep in your pocket (I really like my Cross model).
I would also recommend ultramobility.blogspot.com for Neil Balthazar's review which discusses pen input in detail. Also, take a look at OQOTalk for a very active user community and at dbmoore.blogspot.com for the President of OQO's blog. The fact that OQO's President blogs and reads and participates in other blogs is one of the things that sold me on the company.
Posted by Dave P | 11:35 AM on Oct 26, 2007
The OQO 02 seems to get contradicting critiques from different directions, but in the end it stands on its own for a unique target consumer.
Even with the Via cpu & graphics, it has a nice balance of performance, functionality, & battery life for a unit of it's size. More powerful than the Everun and more pocketable than Sony UX & Vulcan FlipStart. As far as battery comparisons, that is something you work around with all ultra small PC's by tweaking performance/power, use extra capacity battery, & swap batteries.
User Input is excellent with active digitizer screen and thumb keyboard/trackstick mouse. Agree pen & Tablet supporting OS should always be included, needs pen silo, plus I'd rather OQO keep all models supporting Tablet PC but they chose to target non-tablet users with discounted non-tablet version or sans wacom pen.
I ordered XP Tablet version (upgraded to "free" Vista Business "express offer") which came with a clip case that protects the screen for "it should be a clam shell" naysayers & wacom pen that fits in case's side sleeve. I took a metal pen clip from a skinny highlighter pen and use it on my OQO pen if I want to clip it in my shirt pocket.
As I said, 02 size does not need to be any bigger. There are plenty other "micro" size WinTel PC's close to what mobile touch typists are looking for.
Posted by Opus | 08:01 AM on Oct 27, 2007
Does anybody has tried the new version with 32gb sdd? Does performance euqally improve like it does in the sony ux (just seen a video compare for the ux sdd versus hard drive)?
Thanks
Simon
Posted by Simon Jung | 12:40 AM on Oct 30, 2007
there some comments at oqotalk.com, only recall someone that swapped in an SSD themself so far.
I get the impression from various souces of factory & do it your selfers that the improvement is not as significant as most would expect... but I would think it has a major improvement for the 02 with any additional battery life, cpu & graphics performance, and minimizing heat/fan noise.
I'd still wait for an affordable 64gb SSD & have concerns about lifespan of such a device since Windows, especially Vista, does quite a lot of rewrites for caching. With all my R&D & media downloads, I'm already at 40gb on my 02 but could offload a lot to an external drive if needed.
Posted by Opus | 04:17 PM on Oct 31, 2007
Thanks.
Do you expect that there will release of a new version model 03 in the next year?
Thanks
Simon
Posted by Simon | 01:16 AM on Nov 01, 2007
I don't have an inside to what OQO has planned.
I know in the past they have been fairly tight lipped about upcoming releases like other PC manufacturers, but they have demonstrated very progressive improvements in very consistent & timely increments.
It is probably a good guess that CES 2008 will bring another exciting announcement from OQO and other vendors in January.
Recent updates were real nice with 1.6ghz cpu, EV-DO Rev A, & various new HD options. An affordable 64gb SSD release will take quite some time dependant on the SSD vendors.
I hope they increase to 2gb RAM; higher res & bigger active digitizer screen; Aero glass capable & high performance graphics; improved performance, battery life, & cooler/quieter fan; and not increasing dimensions but trim size thinner & lighter a tad; maybe a flush mount memory card slot; and cost reasonable.
Posted by Opus | 06:08 PM on Nov 02, 2007
I forgot one more thing (sorry...), a built in pen silo and include wacom pen with all tablet capable models. Oh and some form of durable slip cover included.
Posted by Opus | 01:33 PM on Nov 03, 2007
New virtual on-screen keyboard. Ideal for Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC).
Site: http://www.virtual-keyboard.net/
Download: here
Posted by Mister | 12:25 AM on Dec 18, 2007
There is a solution.
1. Give the OqO a hinged screen.
2. First slide reveals current keyboard- like now.
3. Second slide bends the screen to laptop state, retracts the current keyboard into a slim slot and reveals a psion type touch type keyboard.
Notes: For said to happen the device must either lose a little height and gain less than 1 inch in lenth- as psion 5 was pocketable so too will this. And last the device must go on a diet read lighter then thinner.
If enough effort is put forth this design could be made.
Posted by jl123 | 11:20 AM on Dec 27, 2007
Mister (spammer), 02 don't need a virtual screen keyboard.
another primaz, 02 don't need a touch type keyboard. give it up. Plus "There is a solution"?, never was a problem and none of the threads or the review even started the it needs a touch type keyboard drivel. get a life...
Posted by Opus | 03:14 AM on Dec 31, 2007
sorry everyone, didn't scroll up far enough and it's been awhile, forgot the early montage of bs on keyboards. As an actual owner since April 2007, thumb keyboard & trackstick is fine for mobile or couch surfing use. Always can hook up a full keyboard when docked if needed.
Posted by Opus | 03:21 AM on Dec 31, 2007
I just bought one of these at my local Micro Center on Feb 16th and it was one of the defective ones that would not wake up or charge the battery at all luckily Micro Center without any hassles exchanged the unit for me and the new one works perfectly and so far I am very happy with it, I also own a Samsung Q1 and this is much better than the Q1 at least for me anyway, good thing my eyes are good and they don't get tired too much with the OQO even afer using it for over an hour.
Posted by Jesus Diaz | 12:46 PM on Feb 19, 2008
I just hope OQO sells enough of theese to build a new Model. A lot of us still wait for improvements which were not included in Model 02. So I hope there will be Model 02 + , which will include HSDPA and possibly 1024x600 resolution to compete with other UMPCs. A lot of people are waiting for this and would pay any price for such a device.
Posted by megaace | 01:25 AM on Apr 19, 2008
I have a fairly high-end model with 32GB SSD and 1.6 Ghz processor. I use it for work, personal, everything I can. It's a great little computer. I run a lot of fairly memory-intensive programs (I'm a java programmer) and it actually seems to handle extended use of virtual memory (Commit Charge: > 1500M) fairly well, all things considered. The processor is the bottleneck for me and probably for most people but that's to be expected with something this portable. One user reported it plays videos fine, I found that with high-res videos (like some from NASA) it is kinda jerky. I carry it in my front pocket most everywhere, it's a little bulky but not too much so.
Posted by Bryan Klumpp | 09:47 AM on Apr 21, 2008
I should add that I do have Verizon Internet on my OQO. Reception quality seems to be decent, especially in 3G areas where there is a very significant speed boost as well. However I am not qualified to compare it to other cellular internet providers/cards/etc. It does support my work VPN (IPSec) which is important for business use.
Posted by Bryan Klumpp | 10:08 AM on Apr 21, 2008